Children aged 11 to 16
You can support your children’s learning by giving them encouragement and company and by providing a suitable learning environment. For some tasks they may need peace and quiet, for others they will not.
Your children will be studying a range of subjects and you may have more knowledge of some than others. Remember that you are not being asked to teach your children, only to help support their learning. Here are some ways that you can do that.
- Establish a structure to the day with clear boundaries between learning and relaxing. Children differ and may need to manage learning differently. Finding the right balance isn’t easy, but protecting them from spending too much time on school work is as important as encouraging them to engage with their learning.
- Take an active interest in your children’s learning. Discussing tasks is an effective and powerful way of supporting your children. You could try reading the set task with them, discuss it together and even support research; it maybe something you are not familiar with.
- Support collaboration with others. Lots of tasks in class will have been paired or group activities. You may not be able to help with a task but you may know someone who can or they may be able to work remotely with friends.
- Support your children to practise and strengthen key skills that will help them through a range of tasks in all subjects; skills such as planning and organising, communication skills, reading, writing, number work, digital skills and problem-solving.
- Children starting their GCSEs this year may be particularly anxious about falling behind in their learning. Speak to your children’s school first if you need advice and support. The work set by school should be enough.
- Children in their final year of school may be anxious. Reassure them that they will not be disadvantaged by the current situation and that the work they have done and continue to do is valued. Speak to your children’s school first if you need advice and support. Further information about qualifications and grades can be found on the Qualifications Wales website.
- Encourage your children to do things they might enjoy outside of school work. This will energise them and is important for their general well-being.
You should contact your children’s school if you have questions about how to support your children’s learning. If you require any further learning resources, you might find these helpful:
S4C has brought together Welsh language resources for children.