Responding to the Government’s announcement that schools in England can now register to offer a summer school to help children recover learning they have lost during the pandemic, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER’s) Chief Social Scientist, Angela Donkin, said:
“Targeting support to those who need it most is the right thing to do, and more funding to help reduce the attainment gaps caused by the pandemic is always welcome.
“Running summer schools can help children make progress, but they don’t appear to be as effective at supporting children’s academic learning as other measures, such as small group tuition.
“However, a broader focus on well-being is welcome and there may well be more benefit to summer schools for new Year 7s, to aid with transition.”
Background:
NFER will later this week publish the results of its Teacher Voice survey. The findings will include teachers' views on a range of recovery strategies including the merits of summer schools.