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FEATURE FOCUS: CLOSING THE LEARNING GAP


Keeping the virtual school gates open this summer


I


n our first feature this month looking at summer learning loss, we’re delighted to


hear from Christine Major, former teacher and CEO of EdTech provider GLUU, who explains how EdTech can help prevent learning loss and ease the transition to secondary school.


‘Learning loss’ is a phrase that used to be a bit of sector jargon, rarely seen in the mainstream media, that is until the pandemic hit. The ensuing school closures and lack of classroom teaching time became a major issue which continues to be a source of both debate and concern. For anyone working in education it is compounded by that perennial problem of the summer learning gap and how to make sure children don’t spend the first half of the autumn term relearning things they’ve forgotten during the long summer break. Learning loss can be a particularly acute problem for those who are moving up from primary school to secondary school, as that transition can bring enough social and emotional challenges for children, without them worrying about whether or not they are where they need to be academically. It is also crucial that children start Year 7 confident in their skills and abilities, as this introduction to a new tier of education can set the tone for their entire time at secondary school. I do not think teachers or children would


support a reduction in the summer break (though some parents might!) and clearly simply keeping students in school all year round is not the answer to combating the learning loss that happens


36 www.education-today.co.uk


during holidays. Children need a breather from the rhythm and routine of the school day, they just do not need to switch their brains off entirely for extended periods. Learning is not something that should be scheduled in at certain times of the year or certain times of the day, it should be a constant and enjoyable process. Tutoring obviously has a role to play in


addressing this issue, as teachers do all they can do within the school day, but, understandably, children may not be that excited by the idea of continuing their studies when school is not in session. I believe the best way to motivate them is to let them be in charge of their own learning, as we all work better when we have a sense of control. As the CEO of GLUU, a leading EdTech


provider, and a former teacher, I think the way to do this lies in harnessing EdTech more effectively to keep children learning in a way, and at times, that suit them through the holidays. The tutoring through the government schemes stops once the term ends. To me it seems that there is a massive opportunity to steer the catch-up funding into both helping students recover from the pandemic, and reduce the summer holiday


July/August 2022


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