Supporting My Child at Home

How You Can Support Your Child’s Learning

At Old Buckenham High School, we know that families play a vital role in supporting children's education. Evidence consistently shows that when families are engaged, young people achieve more and feel more confident in their learning.

We also recognise that not every parent had a positive experience of school themselves, and it isn’t always easy to know how best to help at home. That’s why we’ve created this page — to offer clear, practical advice on how you can support your child’s revision and study habits, helping them know and remember more.

Every OBHS student takes part in weekly metacognition sessions, where they are taught how to learn more effectively. When pupils hear the same messages reinforced at home, it gives them confidence and helps build strong habits over time.

 

Top Ways to Support Learning at Home

 

 

1. Establish a Routine

 

  • Routines help your child manage their time and prioritise both schoolwork and rest.
  • Consistency matters: small, regular study sessions are more effective than occasional long ones.
  • Encourage a routine from Year 7 onwards — it helps prepare them for the increased demands later in school.
  • Routines should include breaks and time for fun as well as learning.

 

2. Prioritise Sleep

 

  • Teenagers need 8–10 hours of sleep per night (National Sleep Foundation).
  • Sticking to a regular bedtime helps improve mood, memory, and focus.
  • Avoid screens and caffeine in the evenings.
  • Consider keeping mobile phones out of bedrooms overnight — an alarm clock is a great alternative.

 

3. Minimise Distractions

 

  • Multitasking is a myth! — the brain can only focus properly on one thing at a time.
  • Even having a phone nearby while studying can reduce performance by up to 20%.
  • Encourage your child to work in a quiet, tidy space, without screens or music playing.

 

4. Praise Effort, Not Results

 

  • Children who focus on effort rather than outcomes are more resilient and less likely to become discouraged.
  • Praise persistence, not just grades. Remind your child that failure is part of learning.
  • Success is built over time through regular effort — it is not due to natural talent.

 

5. Encourage Spaced Practice

 

  • Studying in smaller chunks over time is far more effective than last-minute cramming.
  • For example, three hours spread across a week is up to 40% more effective than three hours in one go.
  • Help your child plan short, focused revision sessions in advance of assessments.

 

6. Support Active Recall

 

  • The most powerful way to learn is by retrieving information from memory.
  • Ask your child to test themselves (or test them!) instead of just re-reading notes.
  • Encourage the “look, say, cover, write, check” method — especially for key vocabulary or core knowledge.
  • If they get it wrong, it’s okay — encourage them to try again.

 

7. Use OBHS Study Techniques

 

  • Our students are taught tried-and-tested methods including:

 

    • Flashcards
    • Mind maps
    • Brain dumps
    • Self-quizzing

 

  • These approaches help reinforce memory and deepen understanding. If you’re unsure how they work, ask us — we’re always happy to support families in using these at home.

 

8. Use OBHS Core Questions

 

  • It can be hard to know how to support your child with school content.  You may not be confident with a subject or are unsure of what is taught when.
  • Every subject at OBHS releases a set of core questions each half term (look in their curriculum section).
  • These questions always include the answers and can be used as a simple memory test at home.
  • Ask your child the question, check the answer, if incorrect ask them to repeat the answer and ask again later.
  • Practicing a couple of core questions everyday will build the foundations for your child to succeed in lessons.

 

Want to Learn More About How to Support Your Child?§

If you're interested in understanding more about how children learn and how you can help them at home, we recommend these helpful websites and books:

 

InnerDrive – Blog for parents

The Learning Scientists – Science-based learning advice

Study Like a Champ – Regan A. R. Gurung & John Dunlosky (ISBN: 1433840170)

Outsmart Your Brain – Daniel T. Willingham (ISBN: 1788167767)

Atomic Habits – James Clear (ISBN: 1847941834)

 

If you ever want to discuss how best to support your child, or you’re looking for tailored advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’re here to help every step of the way.

 

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