{"id":1305,"date":"2019-12-20T18:42:10","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T18:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/summerboardingcourses.com\/?post_type=blog&p=1305"},"modified":"2026-10-16T11:52:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T10:52:11","slug":"summer-learning-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.summerboardingcourses.com\/blogs\/summer-learning-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Learning Loss and How you can Prevent it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Summer Boarding Courses<\/p>\n

\n Summer Learning Loss and How you can Prevent it<\/h1>\n
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Summer learning loss is a real concern for teachers and parents. However, you will be pleased to hear there are a number of ways to prevent learning loss over the summer holidays. We have put together some frequently asked questions and three ways academic summer schools can prevent summer learning loss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n

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What is summer learning loss?<\/h3>\n

Summer learning loss often described as summer setback or summer slide, is when students return to school after their summer holidays at a lower academic level than the end of the last academic school year.<\/p>\n

Over the summer holidays, students tend to switch off from all academic study which can result in the loss of information and a decline in academic performance.<\/p>\n

So, what are the facts connected to summer learning loss?<\/h3>\n

Teachers have long complained about the fact that when your students come back to school after a long break it can be like starting all over again. But what are the facts connected to learning loss? Well if you\u2019re familiar with the phrases \u2018use it or lose it\u2019 and \u2018out of sight, out of mind\u2019, these in essence tell us what experts have proven to be the effects of summer learning loss. When we stop going to school, stop reading those textbooks and stop concentrating on something, our mind pushes that information away and stops us being able to recall it easily. Studies started in the late 1960s, and the research consistently shows that summer learning loss is more than a feeling or a hunch.<\/p>\n

Recent studies show that during the summer holidays we can lose knowledge that has taken us an average of one month to acquire.\u00a0 In some subjects that loss can be as high as 2.6 months\u2019 worth of study. According to\u00a0NWEA research<\/a>, summer learning loss becomes more severe as you progress though school. It is more pronounced in reading and maths, two of the most important skills we learn at school- anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of our skills can be lost over summer months.<\/p>\n

What activities help to prevent summer learning loss?<\/h3>\n

Summer leaves lots of time for reading and getting stuck into a book can be a great boredom buster when; relaxing at home, waiting at the airport or on a long journey! Reading in English will help you to maintain your reading level and expand your\u00a0English vocabulary<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You could also make use of the long summer days by learning a new skill such as cooking.\u00a0Finding a new recipe in English will help to develop your vocabulary, measuring ingredients is great for mathematics and understanding how long to bake your cake for is all down to science.<\/p>\n

Museums are a great place to go on summer holiday too. If you are visiting an English-speaking country, or if museums in your home country have sections in English, you can learn new things and keep your mind sharp. Lots of museums have hands-on exhibits for kids, especially during summer.<\/p>\n

Anything communicative is great for preventing summer learning loss. Playing a team sport is great for physical activity and to keep up the teamworking and communication skills.<\/p>\n

After using lots of energy running around and playing sports, you could relax by watching an educational tv show or documentary. You could also play games such as Scrabble or Cranium which will keep you thinking.<\/p>\n

Another great idea is to write a summer journal. It\u2019s a creative way to keep track of all the things you have been doing over the summer.<\/p>\n

Three ways summer schools prevent summer learning loss<\/h3>\n
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  1. Outdoor education and extracurricular activities<\/li>\n
  2. Apply academic knowledge to the real world<\/li>\n
  3. Reinforce knowledge learned over the school year<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n
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    \n 1. Outdoor education & extracurricular activities\n <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    Summer School is a fantastic way to prevent the summer slide but it\u2019s also about having an amazing experience surrounded by other students from all over the world. Alongside the academic programme, there\u2019s a huge range of activities to get involved in and excursions twice a week. Summer School is the perfect time to try something new, challenge yourself and keep your brain active! Preventing summer learning loss isn\u2019t just about the time spent in the classroom \u2013 there\u2019s growing evidence to show that being active is important for cognitive function. At summer school you\u2019ll have so many opportunities to get involved in our social programmes with sports, fitness, outdoor adventure and challenge events to keep you physically active. An active summer as well as an academic summer provides you with the perfect combination to keep the summer learning loss away.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/div>\n

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    \n 2. Reinforce knowledge learned over the year\n <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    Attending a summer course is a wonderful way for students to continue to reinforce their learning throughout the summer to avoid summer learning loss. Students on the General English courses will have a great chance to strengthen their language skills going into the next academic year, and students taking our academic courses will have the chance to go through their chosen subject and support their progression. Students will not only continue to maintain their learning through the summer on an SBC course, they will also continue to develop personally and socially in an academic setting. Students will have the opportunity to practise their leadership, teamwork and critical thinking skills throughout the summer, which will help them when they return to school.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/div>\n

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    3. Apply academic knowledge to the real world<\/h3>\n

    A 21st century academic curriculum must include not only the learning of facts but also the learning of real-world skills. This means learning skills which can be transferred to academic, professional and everyday situations. Every course at Summer Boarding Courses has embedded into its curriculum a focus on developing 21st Century Skills. Below follows a description of the skills we aim to advance at our schools, academies and colleges.<\/p>\n

    Young Learners (8-11)
    \n<\/strong>At SBC Oxford, our courses assist children in nurturing key learning and communication strategies, including:<\/p>\n