Ask the experts: Simply Learning Tuition on the value of hiring a summer tutor

Nathaniel McCullagh, Managing Director of Simply Learning Tuition, on summer tutoring to prepare for the Common Entrance

Q: We’re considering hiring a tutor during the long summer break to help our son, 12, keep on track with learning so he’s confident about forthcoming senior school entrance tests. Can you advise on how to find the right balance between ‘down time’ and study?

A: For families, the long summer holidays are a welcome opportunity to rest and reconnect. While this is great for wellbeing, concerns can naturally arise around the balance of rest alongside keeping children intellectually engaged. This is particularly true as your son is preparing for an entrance assessment.

Senior school tests are so important that you could be forgiven for skipping summer entirely. However, I would caution against this. There is so much that can be done by parents to help improve attainment and, if your son is being put forward for the right schools, he should only need a small amount of ‘keeping up’ over the summer.

That said, summer learning loss is a recognised problem. According to the Education Endowment Foundation, students can lose up to two months of academic progress, particularly in literacy and maths. The good news is that there are some simple ways to ensure that children remain stimulated. If parents approach this with a sense of lightness, activities can be integrated smoothly into holiday time.

“Students can lose up to two months of academic progress over the holidays, particularly in literacy and maths”

Reading widely is the key to success. Encourage your son to choose his own books about things that interest him. Talk to him about the books he’s read. Asking him about characters, plot and what he did or didn’t like will hone his analytical skills. Not all children are willing readers and, if this is the case, try playing story CDs on car journeys – audio books also require deep listening skills and concentration.

Working on platforms such as Atom Learning is fine, but I would recommend something more human to bring the learning to life. You aren’t just trying to pass an online test but instil a love for learning. At some point there will be an interview and your son needs to have something interesting to say. Boys are notoriously reluctant readers and often dislike including more than the bare minimum detail in written work. With a little support, they can write and analyse material much more effectively. Past papers from ISEB (available from Galore Park) will help hone composition and comprehension. As a parent, you can read, give comment and – most importantly – spend time with your son to build confidence.

Back to the question of a tutor. Quite often families build in time with a private tutor over the summer break. If you are already preparing for the senior school assessments with your regular tutor, you might be able to book additional sessions. Or you can hire someone just for the summer. Doubling as a mentor, the tutor would help boost confidence as they adapt to your son’s interests, needs and pace. With a good rapport, a light-touch programme can be integrated to reinforce key concepts and keep momentum going.

A small amount of structure (2-3 sessions per week for a month, for example) could help your son return to school feeling enthusiastic and ready for the entrance tests. Alternatively, you might decide to book a week or two of tuition mid-summer as a check-in or a block of support early in the holiday. A personalised learning programme can make the difference between growing anxiety and deepening confidence. The right plan would offer time to plug gaps, refine exam technique and revisit tricky topics without the pressures of a classroom.

Simply Learning Tuition simplylearningtuition.co.uk

Further reading: Wolfthorn Knight on 11+ support for an anxious student