Suggestions for Parents / Carers in supporting your more able child

There are many practical steps that you can take to support and nurture your child, for example by encouraging them to:

  • Use the local library and the internet as learning and research resources
  • Visit museums and art galleries
  • Play logic games, word games, card games and board games which all help to develop thinking skills whilst encouraging social interaction
  • Watch educational and current affairs programmes such as the news, wildlife/nature programmes and documentaries, and discuss them
  • Read a quality national newspaper
  • Discuss and debate topics, such as politics, the environment and the media
  • Discuss homework and schoolwork
  • Take part in extra-curricular activities
  • Take an active part in family decision-making
  • Listen to different types of music
  • Read for pleasure, including demanding/challenging books
  • Socialise and relax in between work and learn to ‘switch off’
  • Encourage free time through physical exercise or activities

You can also support your child by:

  • Providing suitable learning resources such as books, magazines, computer software etc.
  • If possible, organising day trips and visits to places of cultural, historical and educational interest and building cultural experiences, trips and excursions into family holidays if applicable

Websites

There are a number of websites that parents/carers can use to find out more information and ways to encourage and support more able learners:

https://www.potentialplusuk.org/ 
– A very informative website. Potential Plus is a UK charitable organisation that works with families with more able children

 

https://www.tomorrowsachievers.co.uk/
– Tomorrow’s Achievers provide day and residential masterclasses for able young people across the country. Topics covered include science, technology, maths, philosophy and the arts.

 

http://www.excellenceeast.org.uk/ 
– Although set up for students, parents /carers in East Anglia there is a wealth of information and websites for  both students and parents/carers- click on the relevant ‘zone’ to access  the links

 

https://copnorprimary.co.uk/uploads/more%20able/NACE_Essentials_4_Informed_Parent_Carer_Final_Colour.pdf 
– The NACE (national Association for Able Children in Education)’s essential guide for parents/carers of More Able learners

Post school options

When it comes to deciding what to do after school, everyone benefits from the support of the family and friends who know them best. Having said that, it’s not always easy to know how to help, so we want to make sure you have to hand the information you might need. Here you will find a brief insight into student life at Oxford, plus our top tips on the admissions process.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/familysupporters