Issue 10 November 2018

Supporting your Child’s Learning
I
’m sure many of you will have heard most of this before but, as a parent
myself, I always find it reassuring to know I’m doing the right thing…
Get them off to a positive start each day by getting them to pack their
bag the night before. Being organised and bringing the correct books
and equipment to school each day will help them to avoid picking up
detentions.
Make sure they have breakfast, the brain works best when it has the right fuel. Make sure
they bring a water bottle to school, being hydrated is also essential for the brain to function
properly. Remember if you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated, so encourage your child
to drink frequently throughout the day.
In the evening look for opportunities to ask them about their day. Recalling what they have
done during the day will help to embed the learning in their long term memory.
Check their planner, what homework has been set? Which homework needs to be
completed for the following day? Check that your child is using their planner properly, are
they recording all of the homework set?
Make sure we have your most up-to-date contact details. Many of our letters are now
sent out electronically. You may be missing information about assessment deadlines,
examinations and other useful information such as educational visits. If you think you are
missing out on vital information it’s worth contacting the school on 01827 831300 to check
whether we have the most up to date contact details.
To support older children in Key Stage 4 test them regularly on the topics they have covered
in class. Most subjects have a recommended revision guide and work book. Look out for
these on sale via Parent Pay or check out the subject pages on the school website. Research
shows that regular low stakes testing helps the brain to store long term memories. Why not
test them on Key Words needed for each subject? Encourage them to use online resources
such as GCSE Bitesize and Doddle Learn, these have lots of useful information about each
subject and quizzes to test their recall of key facts.
Wellbeing is just as important as physical health. Research shows that the most successful
students have parents that provide them with support, challenge and unconditional love. As
students progress through their GCSE courses there may be times when they feel anxious
and insecure, this is when your support is vital. Good communication between home and
school can help to sort problems at an early stage. Your child’s teachers are a good place to
start when seeking guidance and support in a particular subject. Pastoral House Managers
are another useful contact as they can often have a better overview of your child’s worries
and concerns.
Finally, SLEEP - are they getting enough? Research shows that sleep plays a vital role in
laying down long term memories. If your child isn’t getting sufficient sleep not only they
will find it harder to concentrate the next day they will also find it more difficult to recall the
previous day’s learning.
Further reading & useful links:
Why is breakfast so important?
www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/children-who-eat-breakfastbefore-school-twice-as-likely-to-perform-well-in-tests-a6736496.html
The importance of sleep for memory and learning:
https://www.tes.com/news/importance-sleep-memory-and-learning-0
BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/levels/z98jmp3
Doddle Learn: https://www.doddlelearn.co.uk/app/login
Helen Tonks
Deputy Headteacher (Student Progress)