September is nearly two months away. But many parents and pupils will be nervous about the easing of restrictions, the changes to school bubbles and routines that will come with the new school term.

Our experts discuss some of the issues families will face this September and their recommendations on how to tackle them.

CEO and founder of online tuition company Tutor House, Alex Dyer, looks at the problems in education brought about by the government’s lockdown measures.

On the status of children’s mental health, he said: “The pandemic has made us all a bit anxious and worried. According to the latest stats, 25% of kids in the classroom will experience a mental health problem. So now more than ever, we need to be careful about how we interact with kids in school and support them.
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“On the flip side, we do know that some kids felt much happier learning at home. This is especially true for those who have learning difficulties. We’ve found that homeschooling made kids feel safer and more excited to learn because they were in a more comfortable environment. They could learn at their own pace without any pressure from teachers or classmates. In fact, many families are even considering full-time homeschooling!”

When asked how kids should catch up on missed education, Alex said: “This is a tricky question — and one that probably doesn’t have a right answer.

“What we do know is that pupils were out of school for a total of nine months (give or take). Yes, they may have tuned into Google Classroom, but teachers will tell you it wasn’t a fool-proof solution.

“Now with the summer holidays coming up, we’re caught in the crossfires — do we let kids (and parents!) relax or find some sort of summer school?

“I think one way to resolve this dilemma is by offering some private catch-up lessons. At Tutor House we’re actually offering free catch-up lessons in English, science and maths for pupils in years 10-12 from August 9th – 27th. Also, during this period we will be offering free advice if students need to retake their GCSEs or A-levels. Hopefully, this will help pupils get back into the swing of things and regain the education they lost. But families still catch a break too!”

There’s also a lot of discrepancy as to how different age groups will adapt to missed learning.

Alex explained: “Younger children should be able to catch up quickly and may not need extra lessons or longer days. That cannot be said for older children. Those starting from year 10 onwards really need extra support to prepare for important exams.”

On the prospect of school isolation bubbles ending, Alex said: “Finally! The biggest upset for most children was the rule of 6. Imagine if you were the seventh child in that group. Excluded and not (legally) allowed to meet up with friends. That was a detriment to schoolchildren’s social wellbeing.”

Whilst it’s true that group settings can facilitate learning and boost intellectual development, the ex-teacher suggests forming an all-inclusive club or bubble instead.

The pandemic has transformed views on education and wellbeing alike. Many want to know whether online learning is over.

On this, Alex said: “We probably won’t be going ‘back to normal’ even when school reopens in September. It wouldn’t surprise me if we actually implement an 80/20 split on classroom vs online learning. That’s the best of both worlds.”

Sheni and Teni produces African-themed toys, books and puzzles for children. Founder Fola Williams gives this advice to parents. She said: “I often say it’s a good idea to get back into the term-time routine at least a week or two before school starts.
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“This includes scaling down screen time and getting back into the general daily routine, so it becomes less of a shock come the first day of school.

“I also think it’s important to talk about school a lot in the run-up to term time and always in a positive light. This is especially helpful if starting school for the first time or for those in younger years. They will sense any apprehensions or anxiety you might have and this will rub off on them.

“Working parents could also ensure they secure breakfast and after-school club places as soon as possible as these will fill up very quickly.

“Having spent the summer working and trying to keep the kids entertained, coming off the back of homeschooling and working from home, parents need the necessary headspace to concentrate on themselves and their work.

“Meal prepping and having a plan for kids’ lunchboxes in advance is a life-saver in terms of ensuring good and filling nutrition for kids during the school day. It’ll make a positive difference to their energy levels and concentration.”