The school holidays are upon us – a time when children can enjoy the long break ahead of them. But what do parents think about the summer break? Our latest research reveals some interesting findings!
We surveyed over 2,000 parents and discovered that while the summer is a fantastic time to relax, three quarters (74%) of parents of children under the age of 14 say their children’s academic abilities have dropped by the time they return to school in September.
So what else did they say?
One in five (21%) feel their child is significantly less engaged in their studies by the time they return to school.
More than half (59%) of parents go so far as to wish the school holidays were shorter in order to keep children’s learning at a constant standard throughout the year.
Do you agree? Chris McGovern, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, shares his views in a blog post.
Back to school
When it came to returning to school in September, there is a 50:50 split as to how positive children feel, with half of parents saying their children dread going back while half say they don’t mind. In fact, 16% say they can’t wait to get back to school.
Charlotte Gater, Curriculum Manager at Explore Learning say: “The summer is a time for fun and relaxation but this research has shown that many children’s academic abilities drop over the break, therefore undermining all the hard work they, and their teachers, have done over the year. While it can seem a little daunting at first, it’s very important for parents to actively encourage their children to keep learning to avoid the negative impact it can have on their return to school in September. However, it doesn’t need to lead to arguments; learning can be done in a fun, effective way – through games, technology, extra tuition and interaction with their friends and the outside world – which all combine to keep their educational engagement ticking along over the break.”
You can also see our research featured across the news!
The Huffington Post
The Telegraph
BT.com
Sunday Post Online
One mother who has witnessed first-hand the impact that the summer break can have on her children’s educational levels is Jazmin Speede from Palmers Green in London. She has three children aged 10, 9 and 7. She says: “The summer break can be a tough time, especially for my son, 9 year old Malachi, whose maths attainment certainly dropped before we took him to Explore Learning regularly over the break.
“However, it’s up to parents to be firm with children and encourage them not to just play with iPads but to proactively continue with their learning. Language, literacy and maths are all around us and there are affordable ways to keep it up. For example, every bedtime I make my children read a chapter of a book each night and during the summer holidays we’ll go to library so that they don’t just look up things on google but actively look for an answer in a book. We also go to museums as much as possible and visit the park regularly; but while doing so rather than just playing on the swings, I will encourage the kids to look around them – see the flowers and the insects, and really appreciate the world as a bigger place they can learn from, helping them on their journey to become well-adjusted adults.”
If you’d like to keep your children engaged with learning this summer, why not come to a free trial at an Explore Learning centre near you?
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We’re celebrating children’s achievement over the holidays – meet our superstar summer learners who can’t wait to say #NowICan!
