Home learning tips and advice
This is a difficult time for everyone and with the added pressures of home schooling, it can feel an overwhelming time for the whole family. We have partnered with educational experts to bring you their top advice for learning at home during this latest lockdown period and we hope this information will be of help and support to you throughout your family’s home learning journey.
Preschool tips
- Minimise distractions - Ensure the environment is free from distractions as much as is possible
- Be consistent - Be consistent with the learning, activities set for Early Years children work best when repeated, for instance when counting; count the stairs each time you walk up them
- Stay calm - Be calm and supportive, ensuring you let children have a go as best they can
- Keep things clear and simple - Give children clear and simple instructions to follow - too many words in a sentence can cause confusion
- It’s ok to make mistakes - If they get something wrong, that’s okay! It is all about the process of learning not just the final product
Foundation tips
- Stick to a routine - Children have a clear routine at school where they know exactly what happens and when throughout the day
- Allow time for movement breaks - Children need to move, allowing time for movement breaks will help to improve concentration and increase focus
- Be fair - This is a difficult time for us all and it is something we are not used to. If children are not feeling up to doing schoolwork, allow them some time to themselves but explain the expectation that they will have to complete some activities later on
- Little and often - Especially for the younger children. When at school, they take part in short sharp bursts of teaching and are not expected to sit and focus for longer than 15/20 minutes
Key stage one & two tips
- Create a quiet space - By creating space for children to concentrate you are removing distractions and allowing them to focus on their work
- Create a balance between online time and offline time - Be as active as you can and try to get away from the screen as much as possible. You can make your own timetable of your day together and take it in turns at being the teacher!
- Get outside if you can - Lots of activities can be done outside and in the garden and will get you all out of the house
- Make activities as practical as possible - Even though the children are not in the early years anymore, this does not mean that they should be sat down all of the time. Getting physical and practical is really important
- •Establish a timetable that suits you and your family - Not every family is the same so should you work in a way that suits you. It is really important that home schooling does not spoil your family time and your family space
- Buddy up with other parents to share the load - Don’t try and take on the role of an experienced teacher by yourself. Share your positive experiences with other parents to help each other out
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