June 2024

Summer Holiday Literacy Tuition: Making an Informed Decision.

Phew! It’s June again - and school is nearly out! The collective sigh from students is palpable as they look forward to a well-deserved break from rigorously timetabled term-time.

But what does this mean for learners who need to catch up on skills, or maintain skills towards greater confidence next year?

Here are some considerations to help you make an informed decision:

Professional guidance on what your child needs: Your child's teachers can provide insights based on your child's need for booster support. They can help you determine whether summer holiday learning could be beneficial in addressing those needs.

Progress and Gaps: Consider your child's academic progress and any potential learning gaps that may have developed during the school year. If there are significant areas where they need to catch-up, summer learning can help prevent regression and maintain continuity.

Motivation and Readiness: Evaluate your child's motivation and readiness for summer learning. Some dyslexia learners may benefit from a break to recharge and relax, while others might thrive in a structured learning environment during the holidays. Consider their personal preferences and overall well-being.

Balancing Rest and Recreation: Consider how summer holiday learning fits into your child's overall summer schedule. Ensure they have sufficient time for rest, recreation, social activities, and pursuing non-academic interests. Striking a balance between structured learning and relaxation is important for their well-being.

Available Resources: Explore the availability of appropriate summer programmes, tutoring services, or resources that cater specifically to dyslexia learners. Look for programmes that have experienced professionals, evidence-based methodologies, and individualised approaches to support your child's learning needs.

Claire Simpson, Dyslexia and Literacy specialist

Summer holiday learning for learners with dyslexia: Pros and cons.

Summer holiday learning can have both pros and cons for dyslexia learners. Both should be kept in mind to ensure a healthy and balanced approach to summer learning.

The Pros

Continuity of Learning: Summer holiday learning allows learners with dyslexia to maintain continuity in their education. It helps prevent a significant learning gap from forming over the extended break, ensuring that they don't lose the progress they've made during the school year.

Summer Holiday Remediation and Skill Development: Extra learning during the summer can focus on specific areas of difficulty for learners with dyslexia. It provides an opportunity for targeted interventions, remediation, and skill development to address their reading, writing, and spelling challenges.

Individualised Attention: With potentially fewer students during summer programs or tutoring sessions, learners with dyslexia may receive more individualised attention from teachers or instructors. This can be beneficial for personalised instruction, addressing specific needs, and providing targeted support.

Reduced Academic Pressure: Summer learning can occur in a less stressful environment compared to the regular school year. The absence of academic pressures, time constraints, and rigid curriculum requirements may allow learners with dyslexia to approach learning with a more relaxed and positive mindset.

The Cons

Burnout and Overwhelm: Learners with dyslexia may already experience fatigue or mental strain from their learning challenges. Engaging in summer holiday learning without adequate rest can potentially lead to burnout and overwhelm, diminishing the overall learning experience and affecting their motivation and well-being.

Lack of Rest and Recreation: Summer holidays are typically associated with relaxation, rest, and recreational activities. Engaging in structured learning programs during this time needs to be balanced with the opportunity to recharge, socialise, and participate in non-academic pursuits.

Isolation: Engaging in summer holiday learning while friends are on vacation or enjoying free time may make learners with dyslexia feel isolated. The potential social impact of being perceived as "different" or "behind" can affect their self-esteem and sense of belonging.

Claire Simpson, SLS.