Top tips to help kids catch up this summer

Education experts Dr Angelina Osborne and Joss Cambridge-Simmons are here to reassure parents that help is at hand

The pandemic has had a huge impact on everyone, not least children and young people who have had their education and school experience disrupted by lockdowns, self-isolation and remote learning. It’s no surprise that parents, teachers – and even pupils have expressed concern about the effects the Covid-19 outbreak could have on their education

To support parents and children to fill gaps in their learning, the Department for Education has launched a new website featuring catch-up programmes and fun activities for children and young people in England.

Everything from support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and early years to mental health is covered. And there are a range of resources to suit children of all ages and suggestions for activities parents can do with their children and ones that kids can do independently.

Dr Angelina Osborne, historian, lecturer and co-author of 100 Great Black Britons, and Joss Cambridge Simmons, nanny, childcare specialist and founder of Jossy Care, have come together to reassure parents that they can support their children’s learning over the summer through fun and educational activities.

Here they share some of their top tips on how you can help your kids catch up over the summer holidays.

Sign your children up for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Good nutrition is crucial for children’s health and development. As a nanny, I make sure that the children I care for eat well and healthily but this isn’t always easy – or even possible – for some families. And the pandemic has meant even more parents have faced challenges in putting food on the table. The Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) provides healthy food and enriching activities to children who need them.

What’s more, families who take part in HAF receive access to information and support to help them develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting.

The programme is run by councils and is free for children who receive free school meals.

To find out how to get involved, contact your local council.

For extra summer support, your child might still have the opportunity to take part in a summer school, mostly aimed at new Year 7s, where they can take part in a mix of lessons and fun activities. Contact your child’s school to find out more.

Joss Cambridge-Simmons

Explore activities in your local area and around the country

As an expert in black history, I’m a huge advocate for educating our children about their heritage. With many of our favourite cultural venues and museums now open, summer offers a wonderful chance for families to explore history. Many of the landmark British museums feature extensive collections relating to black heritage and culture, but there are also dedicated spaces such as the Black Cultural Archives and various temporary exhibitions that offer great opportunities to learn about historical black figures and rarely told stories.

Aside from heritage activities, there are a whole host of creative ways you can approach learning. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, together with the  Department for Education, has put together a guide of what’s on offer around the country. It features information about challenges, events and resources relating to creativity, sport, nature and much more.

Read the Rediscover Summer guide here.

Dr Angelina Osborne