The summer holidays are a well-deserved break for students and their families. It's a time to relax, enjoy fun activities, and take a step back from the daily grind of schoolwork. However, it's essential to ensure that students continue with some form of consistent learning during these six weeks to avoid the negative effects of the summer slide.

Understanding the Summer Slide

The summer slide, also known as summer learning loss, refers to the phenomenon where students lose significant progress in reading and maths during the summer break. When children are not practicing the skills and knowledge they have developed over the school year, they can experience a decline similar to losing proficiency in a language or musical instrument without regular practice.

Studies on the summer slide date back to the early 1900s. One comprehensive review of 39 studies concluded that "the summer loss equaled about one month" of learning, with the effects being more pronounced in maths than reading, particularly in math computation and spelling.

More recent research suggests the loss could be closer to two months for reading and two and a half months for maths, with these deficits compounding over time. Teachers often report that it takes students 3-6 weeks at the beginning of a new school year to relearn lost knowledge. These setbacks affect not only maths and reading but can also impact all school subjects and reduce students' confidence.

It's crucial to balance relaxation and learning during the holidays. While students shouldn't be spending their entire break on schoolwork, maintaining a small amount of consistent learning can prevent the summer slide.

Strategies to Prevent the Summer Slide

The good news is that research indicates even a small amount of consistent learning over the summer can mitigate the effects of the summer slide. Studies show that just 2-3 hours of learning per week can be effective in preventing learning loss.

Encourage reading: Role model and encourage regular reading. Find books that interest your child and visit the local library or check out recommended book lists (like this one). For reluctant readers, consider comic books, graphic novels, or audiobooks. All forms of reading help improve spelling, writing, and comprehension skills across various subjects, not just English.

Stay active and engaged: Keep your child active by visiting places where they can learn and explore, such as museums, galleries, and outdoor experiences. Participate in local community activities that stimulate curiosity and learning.

Challenge with brain teasers: Encourage your child to engage in brain teasers and puzzles to enhance problem-solving skills and memory. These activities can be both fun and educational.

Enroll in summer classes: Consider enrolling your child in summer classes or workshops. Research indicates that students who participate in summer reading programs tend to achieve higher exam grades when they return to school compared to those who do not engage in additional learning during the holidays.

At EduBridge Tutoring, we aim to provide our students with opportunities to continue learning throughout the summer holidays. We understand that organising educational activities can be challenging for families, so we are planning this year’s program of summer workshops to keep our students’ minds active. This way, they can return to school in September ready to build on their knowledge rather than having to recover lost ground!

Stay tuned for more information about our summer program, or email us at support@edubridge.org.uk to learn more!