Making the most of it: what to do in the summer term

Many children are looking forward to the long hot summer ahead of them. However, before that kicks off there is a good six or seven weeks of learning to fill the school day – and we have some advice on what to do in the summer term!

Charlotte Gater, Head of Curriculum here at Explore Learning, gives her top tips on how to make the most of the final few weeks of the school year, while enjoying the class trips and sports days that the summer term will bring.

Talk about what your child wants to achieve before the summer holidays

Find out what to do in the summer term by talking to your child about something they would like to achieve at school by the summer holidays. This could be anything from becoming a free reader to being faster in the 100m at sports day. Then work together to reach their goal, praising the effort they put into it. Having a fearless attitude towards tackling challenges will see them progress in many areas.

Look over what they did last half term

Encourage your child to make a scrapbook of all the exciting things they have done in the last half term. This can be on the computer or handwritten - whatever inspires them. Get them to collect leaflets, postcards or photos on their trips and then they can write about what they did. They could even turn this into a blog.

Try learning outside

As the weather gets hotter and we head outside to enjoy the sunshine, use this as an opportunity for learning. Heading to the park? Get your children to work out what time it will be in 45 mins when you need to leave. Having a picnic? Ask them to do some multiplication by working out how many items you need to take if everyone needs 10 grapes, three rolls, two cheese sticks etc. Have story time outside; reading to children and reading for pleasure is clearly linked to attainment. 'Books Beyond Bedtime', a study by Oxford University Press, showed that reading together for just 10 minutes a day makes a major difference to your child’s progress, so make sure they keep this up over the summer term!

Give them something to look forward to as a reward

Work towards a treat in the holidays to keep your child focused. Set a challenge for them to come home and teach you one new thing they’ve learnt that day, this will help to consolidate their learning.

Find summer learning support

Find out what’s on in your local area to support your child in this important final term. For example, lots of libraries will have workshops to engage your child in learning that are usually free.

Let your child know how proud you are of their achievements

Lastly, when you get your child’s school report let them know you are proud of what they have achieved this school year and then set a summer goal to keep them engaged with learning over the summer holidays.

Do you want to help your child stay engaged with their learning all year round? We know it's important that children keep learning, even over the summer while still getting chance to relax and play. That's why we take a little and often approach to education support in the summer. So why not try tuition to help keep your child engaged all year round?