Supporting your child through the summer holidays

Discover how to keep your child engaged in learning over the summer holidays...

Did you know? Our brains are like muscles – the more they are exercised, the stronger they become! Soon it will be summer; a time of rest, relaxation, and a break from routine. However it’s also an important time for your child’s brain development, so we have put together some top tips to keep those brains gently ticking over this summer.

Give them a head start

Keeping up momentum and engaging your child’s brain over the summer will give them the best start for the next school year.

Having worked so hard in recent months, we are determined to support your child in maintaining their learning. Seeing your tutor once or twice a week during the holidays will consolidate existing skills and even get your child learning new ones before their return to school! 

We now have more options than ever to support you over the summer, with both online tuition and in our learning centres, speak to your centre team for more information!  

Ignite their imagination

“Research shows that reading just six books during the summer may help a struggling reader from regressing” (Francie Alexander, 2007).

Not only will reading improve your child’s writing at home, it will also keep their brain moving and will spark their creativity.

Why not take their creativity a step further and keep a journal! Encourage your child to put pen to paper to document their summer experiences. This process will not only maintain their writing skills but will support their wellbeing. It doesn’t have to be much; just a few sentences will benefit them.  

Keep their brains active

After the disruption and uncertainty of the past year, it has never been more important to take time to consolidate your child’s basic skills.

Did you know your child can complete an independent session on Compass whenever it suits you? This is an excellent way to maintain your child’s learning over the summer and get them feeling confident for September. With Compass’ unique logic, your child will spend time enhancing their top skills and work on their areas of difficulty.  

“On average, a child masters two new skills for every half an hour they spend on Compass. Fitting Compass into your weekly routine while the children are off school can make all the difference.” – Charlotte Gater, Head of Curriculum

Build their confidence over the summer holiday

A Parent Ping survey showed that 2/3 of parents worry about their child’s self-esteem.

Summer is an opportunity for young people to explore and try new things.

Why not get them stuck into gardening, crafts or cooking. Finding opportunities for your child to learn new skills and feel a sense of progress will really enhance their confidence and self-esteem across all areas of their learning.

Spend time as a family and get out those board games – these will boost a whole host of your child’s critical thinking and social skills!

If your child is planning on taking the 11 Plus exam in September, our 11 Plus Booster course could help build their confidence over the summer.

For more ideas on what to do to keep children's brains active over summer take a look at our guide of things to do over summer as recommended by our Head of Curriculum.