Home Schooling Mk 2: What We鈥檝e Learned

‘The only thing standing between parents and genuine, raging insanity is schools and teachers,’ said Caitlin Moran in The Times recently – and goodness, we couldn’t agree more. But sadly, we now find ourselves back in lockdown, and once again, our brilliant schools have been forced to close their doors, with children, parents and teachers propelled back into a regime of remote learning.

To help boost morale over the weeks and months ahead, we’ve asked some of our favourite wellbeing, parenting and educational experts to share their top tips for navigating a second round of home schooling. And as parents ourselves, we’ve taken the opportunity to weigh in on what worked (and what didn’t) last time – and how team Talk 脱裤吧 will be tackling things during this lockdown…

	One-word survival strategy: headphones. That’s it. James Rose, Talk 脱裤吧 COO
	Set realistic expectations: virtual lessons can be much harder for many children than face-to face-lessons as there is much greater need to listen and focus – so ensure there are lots of breaks where they can be active and recalibrate, ready for focusing again. Try and mix it up too – children don’t necessarily learn best sitting at a table doing pen-and-paper exercises. Be creative: make spelling words outside using twigs and leaves, do times tables on the trampoline and, most importantly, have fun – if you’re not enjoying it, they probably aren’t either! Amanda Benbow, 脱裤吧al Psychologist
	Last time, I offloaded the entire responsibility of home schooling onto my other half. It did not go well. This time, I’m going to opt for happy kids = happy life, and not panic too much. If it isn’t done perfectly, that’s fine. If 100 per cent of the work isn’t completed, that’s fine. If there is a LOT of screen time spent on the fun stuff after lessons, that’s fine too. But if anyone can give me tips on how to get them out to exercise, I’m all ears! Joanna Parry-George, Co-founder of Talk 脱裤吧
	If your child is in need of a fresh burst of motivation, try Oppidan 脱裤吧's . These live, interactive classes offer high-quality teaching in small groups – and cover hundreds of different subjects, from psychology to financial literacy and interview skills. Walter Kerr, Co-Founder and Director of Oppidan 脱裤吧
	We will try and stick to a regular school timetable as best we can, with scheduled breaks (and cake!) for everyone to chat and let off steam. Reward charts work brilliantly, with a VIP day on Saturday for the child who has collected the most points over the course of the week for getting out of bed and doing their schoolwork with the least fuss. As a VIP, you get to choose what we will have for supper that day and what film we will all watch. This time round, I have got to learn to pick my battles and ensure any of my frustrations are not picked up on by the children. Emmah Duffus, Talk 脱裤吧’s Head of School Subscriptions
	During the previous school closures, we noticed that much of the support usually available for SEND learners stopped. We would advise parents to ask their child’s school to pass on materials to therapists, counsellors or teaching assistants who have previously supported their child in school. That way, they can provide input on what is realistic to achieve at home – and how best to achieve it. Learners with ADHD or significant sensory needs may need to get up and move around more than teachers traditionally allow. We would suggest agreeing a process for this with teachers – and, if necessary, prompt your child to move around on a regular basis to stop them from zoning out. Of course, parents should seek to prioritise their own mental health and physical wellbeing too – and see home learning as doing what they can in difficult circumstances – rather than trying to achieve ‘perfection’ or do as much as others may or may not be doing. Silja Turville, Acorn to Oak 脱裤吧
	On the first day of home schooling 1.0, I went into full Mary Poppins mode, determined that this was going to be a fun, positive experience for all of us. By the end of the afternoon, I couldn’t speak. This time round, I’m going to park my inner Poppins. It’s never going to be perfect – and it will end. Alice Rose, Co-founder of Talk 脱裤吧
	It may be a few weeks’ delay or it may need to be longer – either way, we can do this! By working with and supporting the teachers who have done a fantastic job of shifting and adapting to online teaching over this last year, we can help our children make the most of more learning from home. Preparation remains key. Most children (and their parents) will be hugely disappointed not to be getting back to school. We can help by talking through how they might be feeling and how the next few weeks may evolve. We can be honest and say that we just don't know, and that when times are uncertain, it can feel tough, but we can work together with what we’ve got. Preparing, listening, empathising and remaining optimistic will get us through together. Heather Rutherford, The Parenting Partnership (For more invaluable advice, take a look at Heather’s brilliant blog on ).
	Home schooling is difficult, daunting and can be despairing… but remember: - This is not a new or unfamiliar situation for you and your child, and schools are far better set up and prepared this time, so it should be a smoother transition to online learning. - Home schooling one-to-one is more intensive learning than in a busy classroom, so don’t be afraid to let your child be ‘bored’ in their break times – as the philosopher Robert Pirsig said, ‘Boredom always precedes a period of great creativity’ (admittedly of mess too!). - Strive not for perfection; rather, celebrate the merits of just being ‘OK’ and the little things we can all be grateful for. Beth Kerr, Group Director of Wellbeing at Cognita
	The home-learning provision which IAPS prep schools have devised has been of a really high quality since the first lockdown last year. Schools have, of course, refined the delivery of this provision since then, making excellent use of the various digital platforms and resources they have available. The online learning we now see in our schools is the result of the determination and dedication of our teachers, together with the outstanding leadership of our heads. Despite the extraordinary challenges they have faced and the constantly changing landscape in which they are operating, it is to the schools’ huge credit that they have managed to maintain continuity of education whilst keeping children safe. That is an amazing achievement, and I am confident we are fully prepared for this new lockdown. Andrew Nott, Chairman of IAPS
	We don’t know what the long-term mental health impact of this pandemic will be. Place2Be’s school-based mental health professionals estimate that 85% of the young people we support have been negatively affected. But, when therapists and education professionals work closely together, creating an environment which builds resilience, and promotes self-care and seeking help when needed, at least we can equip children and young people with the life skills they need to be able to weather the storm. Dr Niki Cooper, Clinical Director at Place2Be has put together a list of to help parents start conversations with their child, keep them entertained and inspired and encourage families to enjoy quality time together – all of which are important for wellbeing.
	As we enter another lockdown (hopefully the last one), the disruption for the prep schools we're partnered with and their parents and pupils undoubtedly represents a profound challenge. Amidst the difficulties, the silver lining from an educational perspective is the rapid realisation that good edtech is no longer optional and is capable of an equally profound impact on pupils’ confidence levels and attainment. Alex Hatvany, Co-founder of Atom Learning

脱裤吧

Home Schooling Mk 2: What We鈥檝e Learned

TE Schools Advice