It seems that your children have only just gone back to school after the summer holidays and the house has returned to a term time routine then it’s parents evening.

What are the teachers going to say? We all want that glowing report, to know that our child has settled in well and that they like their teacher. It’s a shock when the school says your child is under-achieving. We’ve all been there - but how can you help?

You’ll probably have some targets set by the teacher, maybe a list of recommended books; but do you really know how to go about giving your child the right support and encouragement? Have a chat with your child to make sure that the targets are agreed and understood?  This will put you in a better position to move forward together towards success.

Your child is unique and there may be many reasons why success isn’t happening right now. In a class of 30 pupils, the average teacher rarely has the time to address every child’s individual needs – it can be different!

Try to reinforce the idea that there is a point to learning, apart from in the context of school. There are many ways adults can demonstrate the value of education without delivering a lecture - such as reading, writing, doing puzzles, playing educational games or helping with measuring out ingredients for cooking.

All of these emphasise the value of basic numeracy and literacy, and can be a great source of fun for parents and children to do together. All of these emphasise the value of basic numeracy and literacy, and can be a great source of fun for parents and children to do together.

Sometimes, the answer is to seek help from someone with the knowledge and skills to help your child fill the gaps and overcome the present difficulties. Genie Tutors are here to offer support, advice and encouragement to you and your child, as you take those crucial steps towards success.