Tis the season to be jolly…despite the lovely lockdown and ongoing social distancing. So, in the spirit of giving, we would like to share some useful tips on how to support your child’s learning at home.
Recent research carried out by RS Assessment from Hodder Education, provides the first real insight into the impact COVID-19 has had on the academic attainment of young children. Data has revealed an average decline in performance of between 5 and 15% on previous years, with the biggest drop showing up in maths scores, and with seven-year olds being the hardest hit.
The Department of Education are only too aware of the problem and understand that some children need additional support to catch up as a result of the pandemic. For this reason, they have launched a £1bn Covid catch-up fund for schools to give ‘targeted support’ to those who need it most. A spokesperson for the DofE went on to say that, “The evidence shows high quality tutoring can make up as much as three to five month’s lost learning.”
If your child has not been eligible for this funding (and very few have) please have a read through of our simple suggestions on how to help your Year 2 child at home. Other year groups to follow over the next few issues.
Best Books
A few personal recommendations of popular books I have used successfully in school and will enthuse even the most reluctant readers.
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey, Cakes in Space by Philip Reeve, The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine, Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, The Hodgeheg by Dick King Smith, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and my absolute favourite – The Twits by Roald Dahl
This is a very useful website for additional recommendations: www.thereaderteacher.com/year2
Wonderful Websites
A list of my ‘go to’ websites for consolidating learning in a fun and engaging way.
www.topmarks.co.uk – Particularly Hit the Button for number bonds and times tables
www.ictgames.com – Look Cover Write Check is great for spellings
www.starfall.com/h/ltr-classic – Brilliant for phonics and basic reading skills
www.whiterosemaths.com – Lots of free resources available without subscription
www.literacyshed.com/home.html – If you would like some additional teacher input to support your child during this trying period, we have lovely small group online classes running during the week, at weekends and during holidays for just £8 per 45-minute session.
If you have any questions or need any support at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me at alison@goldenbrainacademy.com or via our Facebook Page or website.
