15th October 2020

Closing The Gap: The Benefits Of After School Tuition

As education professionals start to plan ways to close the attainment gap exacerbated by recent closures, we are working to support our partner schools with exploring different intervention options. Along with one-on-one or small group tuition in school time and virtual learning, after school tuition is one option being considered by many schools to offer students the chance to catch up with missed learning outside of the regular school day.

READ MORE: Closing The Gap: Small Group Tuition

What Is After School Tuition?

The Education Endowment Foundation recently published a toolkit of intervention strategy research and potential outcomes. You can explore the toolkit, which offers extensive evidence into various forms of intervention, here. The toolkit suggests that short, regular sessions of additional tutoring can have the biggest impact on a child’s learning. One-on-one and small group tuition is shown to be the most effective in short, regular sessions. The evidence suggests that a year’s worth of after school tuition will be enough to catch a pupil up on around two months worth of education.

After school tuition could be provided by schools or outside providers such as independent tuition centres. Providing tuition outside of regular hours can work alongside homework or afterschool clubs. There are various funding options available to help schools provide additional tutoring to reduce the attainment gap – book a call with your Engage consultant here to discuss what funding options may be available to your school.

What Should Be Taught In After School Tuition

Most tuition programs look to cover the core subjects of Maths, Science and English. These are considered the most important to children’s ongoing learning and development. Tuition should focus on the areas most affected by absence.

What Are The Key Benefits Of After School Tuition

After school tuition allows children that are struggling with certain topics or subjects to receive more tailored, individual support. Once pupils who require intervention have been identified, a strategy to tackle gaps in their learning can be developed. When school leaders and teachers are looking at what form to deliver support in,  there are some specific benefits that after school tuition provides:

1. Encourages effective study by giving individual pupils extra time and attention
2. Improves individual pupils confidence in topics allowing them to become a more active participant in-class learning
3. Promotes good learning habits at all ages
4. Can be tailored to individuals’ strengths and weaknesses
5. Students have extra access to materials and resources  that may need to be shared in a larger group during school hours

Research by the EEF and various other organisations has shown after school tuition to help struggling students enjoy learning and allow them to develop a deeper understanding of topics that would have been difficult in a full classroom setting. Tuition, whether it’s individual or in a small group, can build on students capabilities outside of the normal pressures of the school day. 

The smaller group size, more relaxed environment and tailored approach of an after school tuition program is just one way for schools to offer intervention that supports the learning of struggling pupils. Extending school hours for a limited number has some challenges, but open channels of communication between parents, teachers and pupils will contribute to successful implementation.

How Can Engage Support Your Intervention Programme?

We are already helping our partner schools build and implement their intervention strategies. We can assist in sourcing teachers or support staff able to provide additional learning for pupils outside of school hours and we can help schools to maximise available funding for intervention.