As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its final stages in the UK, people are finally heaving a sigh of relief. The pandemic brought about its fair share of changes, including remote working, increased online shopping, and online schooling. In light of the pandemic, these changes are expected to crystallise.
As the internet takes centre stage in 2021, people are quickly realising the benefits of moving to the digital realm. Over the past one-and-a-half year, the digitisation process has unexpectedly escalated. Today, almost everything has “gone digital,” including work, shopping, education, socialisation, and entertainment.
While this transition was initially met with scepticism and cynicism, it has been smoother than anticipated. According to research, the number of people working from home in the UK has significantly increased. In addition, online schooling has emerged as one of the most effective, reliable, retentive, and safest forms of learning across the UK. As these patterns crystallise, we may be moving towards a new age of digitisation that enhances convenience, accessibility, performance, and cost-efficiency across the board.
As more parents make the switch to online learning for their children, one paramount question has been running across their minds: “Is parental involvement necessary for online schooling?” Today, the large majority of parents have fairly hectic schedules. As they navigate work, family time, household chores, and other responsibilities, their plates are already full; they simply cannot make space for more.
Their busyness begs the question of whether online schooling is a welcome convenience or an extra portion on their plate. As their children attend online classes, are parents expected to be involved in the process? In this blog, we’ll explore this question in detail, and help you gain more insight into the nature of modern online schooling in 2021.
How Much Flexibility Are Parents Granted?
The answer may surprise you, but a lot. It’s not uncommon for people to assume that online schooling is an additional “full-time job” for parents. It’s often presented that way from the sidelines. However, once parents are thrust into the world of online schooling, they quickly realise that the process is smoother and easier than anticipated.
Today, esteemed online schools like Cambridge Home School have a team of MA/PhD qualified subject specialist teachers on board. The teachers are assiduously interviewed prior to being taken on board. Their credentials, soft skills, hard skills, and mediation abilities are closely vetted.
Ultimately, the focus is on hiring capable, experienced, and accomplished teachers who can a) provide individualised attention to each student, b) keep the class on track at all times, c) keep students thoroughly engaged, d) convey the course material in an absorbable and effective manner, d) help students secure top grades, and e) provide the support and guidance students need outside of class. This is just a glimpse of the many aspects that are taken into consideration when hiring teachers.
By providing a team of experienced, proficient, and involved teachers, online schools help parents heave a big sigh of relief. The teachers are capable of expertly managing classes at all times. As a parent, you don’t have to worry about being asked to provide assistance every now and then. In other words, parental involvement during classes is not required.
Recommended Read: 8 Ways Online Schooling Benefits Both Students and Parents
If you choose to assist your child between classes, you are more than welcome to do so. However, it’s not an obligation. The teachers will provide your child a quality online education and keep them engaged through and through.
At Cambridge Home School, we understand that checking in on your child during work can be extremely challenging at times, especially if you’re in the middle of an important meeting. Today, many families comprise two working parents. If the parents aren’t working from home, assisting their children during online classes can become virtually impossible.
Our teachers cover all the bases, so parents can work without feeling stressed about their children requiring additional help or guidance. In terms of parental involvement, there’s no difference between online schooling and conventional schooling. Parents can reap all the benefits of online learning without feeling compelled to remain present during the classes.
The Structure of Online Classes
While online schooling grants parents a lot of leeway, there’s still some doubt regarding the structure of classes. As a parent, make sure you understand this structure to get a clearer picture of your role in your child’s online learning journey.
At Cambridge Home School, we keep the classroom size small (8 to 10 students per group). This is one of the foundational reasons why our students stay on track and don’t require parental assistance during the classes.
Since the classrooms are small, teachers can evenly distribute their attention to the students. Each student receives ample one-on-one attention. Consequently, they are more involved in the classes than usual. As the teachers frequently interact with each student, the overall engagement levels of the class increase significantly. Students are less likely to zone out, become recalcitrant, or feel fidgety.
By creating a professional and focused learning environment, the teachers set the tone from the get-go. If your child gets easily distracted or has a contumacious personality, the teachers will reel them in and help them focus on the lessons. This isn’t an issue among older students, but it’s a very common predicament faced by teachers and parents who are offering lessons to young, obstreperous children.
Our experienced teachers are adept at understanding children’s unique personalities and using the right approach accordingly. Owing to the structure of online classes and the methodical approach used by teachers, your children will receive a quality online education.
As a parent, you can limit your involvement during the classes without worrying about affecting your children’s academic growth or personal development. Following the classes, we recommend assisting your children with homework or revision. This is a great way to get up to speed with their progress for the day.
As you spend quality time with your children after their online classes, you’ll manage to remain actively involved in their life while giving your work the focus and time it needs. We don’t require parents to interrupt their work and assist their children. As stated earlier, our faculty shoulders that responsibility so parents can work attentively and uninterruptedly.
Recommended Read: 3 Useful Soft Skills Students Develop Through Online Schooling
Does Parental Involvement in Online Schooling Affect Children’s Performance?
Once parents begin to realise that online schooling doesn’t hinge on their involvement, they probe deeper into its benefits. Do students perform better if their parents are involved in their online schooling experience? Or are performance levels consistently high among the top online schools regardless of parental involvement?
Before unpacking these loaded questions, it’s important to understand that every child is different. Some children are more dependent on their parents, while others aren’t. For the former, it takes more time to acclimatise to online learning. For the latter, online learning without parental involvement is like second nature.
With time, your child will adjust to online school, irrespective of whether you are present or not. Granted, it may take longer for children who are with their parents 24/7. However, this is extremely rare. In most cases, working parents are absent for several hours. During this period, children are left under the care of experienced nannies, caretakers, or grandparents.
If your child is already used to this rhythm, they will quickly adapt to online schooling. However, if they’re excessively reliant on you, expect an adjustment period of a few weeks. We always encourage such parents to remain involved in their child’s online schooling journey. In most cases, these parents are working from home, and have greater flexibility. They are able to check in on their children every now and then without affecting their work.
You can continue with this routine and frequently help your child with an online class activity or lesson every now and then. However, this is strongly discouraged for older students. Since they have a rigorous syllabus and more on their plate, they have to follow a structured study schedule to secure top grades. Any interruptions during classes—even by parents—are discouraged.
Following the class, you can check in with your teenage child’s coursework and progress. However, avoid checking in during classes as this could potentially serve as a distraction.
At the end of the day, parental involvement doesn’t affect a child’s performance. By developing an independent curriculum and providing a comprehensive, fully updated, and advanced online library of resources, we equip students with all the tools they need to excel academically. Whether you participate in their academic journey or not, your children will perform exceptionally well at Cambridge Home School. This is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.
Recommended Read: How to Navigate the Homeschooling Adjustment Phase as a Parent
Getting Started with Online Schooling: The Basics
If you’ve been considering enrolling your children in a reputable online school, start by meticulously doing your research. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, online schooling has quickly popularised across the globe. Consequently, there has been a recent increase in the number of online schools.
We recommend being cautious of this sudden spike. A handful of new institutions have been established solely because of the high demand for online schools. Steer clear of new institutions with questionable intentions, and opt for one that was established long before the pandemic.
Established in 2002, Cambridge Home School has 19 years of experience and counting. We’re recognised for providing a quality online British education across four schools: Primary Prep/Key Stage 2 (ages 8 to 10), Lower School/Key Stage 3 (ages 11 to 13), Upper School/IGCSEs (ages 14 to 16), and Sixth Form/AS & A Levels (ages 17 to 19). We welcome motivated English-speaking students from across the globe, including the UK, Europe (including Western Russia), Africa, and the Middle East.
Most of our parents have little to no involvement in their children’s online schooling routines. Instead, they play an active role in assisting them with homework and revision after class. We strongly encourage this approach to help students become responsible, well-rounded, and independent individuals.
Our MA/PhD qualified subject specialist teachers work assiduously to help students secure top grades and get accepted to some of the most renowned universities across the globe, especially in the UK and the US.
As stated earlier, we have a razor-sharp focus on ensuring student attentiveness and engagement. By delivering each lesson in an engaging, stimulating, easy-to-absorb, and retentive manner, our faculty goes the extra mile to keep students engrossed in the classes through and through.
Before you get started, we strongly recommend having a conversation about the transition with your child, especially if they attended conventional school prior to the pandemic.
As students were thrust into the world of online learning because of the pandemic, they had mixed reactions. While some were elated, others weren’t so pleased. It’s possible that your child was hoping that conventional classes would resume soon. In this case, walking them through the benefits of online learning is essential.
We suggest giving them an overview of the exceptional quality of online education at Cambridge Home School. In addition, emphasise the benefits of switching from conventional schooling to online schooling.
The risk of school bullying and/or harassment is eliminated. If any such threat is posed during a classroom, the teachers quickly thwart it.
In addition, online learning is much safer. It’s important to note that many people are refusing to get vaccinated. Until we reach herd immunity, the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus is still significantly high. If vaccinated children interact with non-vaccinated children in conventional school, they could potentially contract the virus. Online schooling eliminates this risk altogether.
Students also enjoy greater flexibility. Since they don’t return home tired and overwhelmed from conventional school, they retain high energy levels. They also free up a lot of time, which can be utilised in sports, outdoor activities, socialising, family trips, hobbies, and other excursions. Students enjoy a healthier study-life balance, which goes a long way in improving their mental health.
As you prepare your child, they’ll feel more enthusiastic about attending online school. Make sure you get a good grasp on any reservations they may have. Take some time to compile a set of questions and address their concerns promptly and comprehensively. As they gain peace of mind, the transition will become easier for them and you.
If you’re ready to get started, browse through our admissions process. We also recommend getting a glimpse of our reviews to see why to see why parents trust our international school for British expats. Start investing in your child’s future today; we’re here to help you initiate the process.
Find out more about Virtual children learning from home here.
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FAQ
Is parental involvement necessary in online schooling?
While it might seem that parents would need to be heavily involved in online schooling, this isn’t the case. Online schools like Cambridge Home School have highly qualified teachers who manage the classes expertly. Parents aren’t required to be present during the classes, allowing them to focus on their work and other responsibilities.
How flexible is online schooling for parents?
Online schooling is more flexible for parents than you might think. The notion that it’s a “full-time job” for parents is a misconception. With a staff of qualified teachers to manage the learning process, parents are freed from the obligation of constant involvement.
What’s the structure of online classes in Cambridge Home School?
The classes at Cambridge Home School are structured to be small, with around 8 to 10 students per group. This allows for individual attention from the teachers, resulting in increased student engagement. Parents are not required to be present during these classes, which makes it convenient for them.
Does parental involvement impact a child’s performance in online schooling?
Whether parents are involved or not, the performance levels among students in top online schools like Cambridge Home School are consistently high. Parental involvement is not a factor that affects a child’s academic performance in these settings.
How can parents be involved post-class?
Although not required to be present during classes, parents can assist their children with homework or revision after the classes are over. This is a recommended way to keep up with your child’s progress and to remain actively involved in their academic life.