While recent news suggests online schooling may be missing the mark, there’s growing evidence around the ability of tuition to fill the gap. And here at Figtree, we’re already seeing the benefits of additional, dedicated support. Here’s how our one-to-one and small group sessions have helped students over lockdown – and a sneak peek into the summer support we’ll be offering.
We know the large online class sizes of home schooling have proven problematic. Conversely, students have missed the stimulation of working alongside their peers. That’s why we designed a range of one-to-one and small group sessions to support children over lockdown, combining the interaction of a shared learning environment with the tailored focus a one-to-one session can provide.
We’ve been offering a small comprehension session for children in Year 4 and 5, and the impact across both age groups has been tremendous. The Year 5s have really thrived, and it’s been wonderful to see how they’ve supported each other and helped pushed the Year 4 students to achieve above their age group. Similarly, our one-to-one sessions have proven successful for children as young as three – with students benefiting from the undivided attention of a tutor, and parents enjoying an hour or so off! And while screen time is understandably a concern, it provides a far more formal and focused environment than a distracted, uncomfortable session in the garden, to meet government guidelines.
Many parents are concerned that the long summer will cause their children to fall further behind. But with studies showing two hours of tuition a day over just 12 weeks can deliver an average of five month’s additional progress, there’s still plenty of time to catch up and get ready for September. Another study by the Education Endowment Foundation found that short, regular sessions over a set period – say 30 minutes, three to five times a week for six to twelve weeks – had the maximum impact.
We’ve been talking to lots of families about how to prepare for the new term, and with the flexibility to design a bespoke approach, we can help ensure every child feels confident and engaged come September. We’ll be sharing details of a whole programme of summer support soon, but in the meantime please do get in touch if you need any help. Whether it’s the interaction of a small group or the structure of a one-to-one session, we will tailor our tutoring to meet your individual needs.
