Most children will start a new year of school in 2025, whether it be at a new school or the next class level up at their existing school.
According to Michael Black, founder and CEO of Success Tutoring, it is extremely important for students to feel ready and fully prepared for their new school year. Unfortunately, many children start their new school year on the back foot.
By simply providing your child with additional support in the lead up the new school year, you can help them to kickstart things on a positive note.
"Starting a new school year is often very daunting. It is even more daunting if you are starting at a new school. Nothing helps a child more than bolstering their confidence and preparation for the year ahead with tutoring support," Black said.
"While the summer school holidays are a time of celebration and relaxation for the family, it is also a good time to provide your child with important educational support and preparation for the new year. Tutoring is the ideal way to ready them.
"Whether your child should do tutoring during the summer break depends on their academic needs, goals and how they respond to learning during downtime. However, summer tutoring can offer several benefits, helping them prepare for the new school year."
Black has outlined some reasons why tutoring during the break can be very beneficial.
Learning support during the summer holidays helps to prevent 'summer slide' and helps prepare children for the new school year
"Many children experience a decline in academic skills during summer break, known as the 'summer slide'. Learning support including tutoring helps to maintain and reinforce knowledge, keeping your child's skills sharp so they don't start the new year with learning gaps," Black said.
Prepare for new topics
"Summer tutoring can give your child a head start on topics they'll be covering in the new school year. Being familiar with the material can boost their confidence and make learning easier when school resumes," Black said.
"At the country's leading tutoring provider, we are across the curriculum nationally and understand what type of learning and content will be covered each year. As a result, we are able to provide children with a 'heads up' on what things they will be covering.
"This level of insight is incredibly beneficial as it ensures children are familiar and comfortable with the content."
Improves confidence and reduces anxiety
"If your child has struggled in certain subjects, tutoring can provide focused attention to address those areas. Strengthening their skills can boost their confidence and reduce anxiety, leading to a more positive attitude toward learning," Black said.
"Increasing their confidence and capabilities will not only help them to enjoy the new school year, it will boost their self esteem which helps them to connect, engage and build new friendships which is very important for their mental health and wellbeing."
Personalised learning
"Tutoring offers individualised instruction that caters to your child's learning style and pace. This can help them grasp difficult concepts in a way that classroom settings might not always accommodate, giving them a more solid understanding of key subjects," Black said.
"This prepares them so they are able to start the new on a positive note."
Builds strong study habits
"With tutoring, your child can develop effective study and organisational skills that will benefit them throughout the school year. These habits, such as time management and goal setting, can make a big difference in their academic performance," Black said.
"Forming good study habits is important as a child progresses through school. It helps them to be more organised and as a result, more confident and comfortable with their learning program."
Keeps learning fun and engaging
"Many tutoring programs incorporate fun, interactive activities, which can make learning during the summer enjoyable rather than feeling like a chore. It can help your child stay engaged with education without the pressures of regular school," Black said.
"Tutoring has really changed over the years. It is now a more social and fun activity. At Success Tutoring we have also introduced study hubs which enable students to learn in a more tailored way at their own pace in an environment that is interactive and enjoyable."
Important considerations
"When undertaking tutoring, it is important to balance tutoring with time for relaxation, play and other enriching activities. The goal is to keep learning light and stress-free during the break," Black said.
"Focus on key areas such as maths and English. Embracing the foundational basics helps children to excel in a range of other areas as well."
Black emphasised that summer tutoring, when balanced well, can give your child an academic edge and set them up for success in the new school year while still allowing them to enjoy their break.
This article was supplied to The Educator by Success Tutoring.