Parents’ opinions of teachers have undergone a dramatic change as a result of homeschooling during the pandemic.
Two thirds of parents said their opinions of teachers have improved, according to a new survey by Learning Ladders, a primary school learning platform. The survey asked over 500 parents about their experiences of home learning, with 66% saying they now have more respect for teachers.
This comes after months of nationwide school closures, which resulted in many parents taking a more active role in their child’s learning.
The survey, created in collaboration with Twinkl Parents, found that 73% now feel more involved in their child’s education after helping them learn at home.
84% also said that they now have a better understanding of what their child is learning.
Jessica Robinson, who writes for The Speaking Polymath blog for parents, said she can now “understand the depth of the role teachers play in a child’s learning.” Not only that, she also feels “a great sense of gratitude” towards teachers.
Emilie Mason, who has two children aged 12 and 9, only had a basic understanding of what they were learning before school closures. However, helping them learn at home helped her to connect better with her children, and pushed her to study a few new topics herself. Overall, she says, “home learning has had positive effects on our family.”
Home learning did also pose many challenges, according to the survey. 65% of parents said they found home learning more difficult than they expected, although 16% said it was less difficult than they anticipated.
Matt Koster-Marcon, former teacher and founder of Learning Ladders, said: “Although home learning has been difficult for many parents who have had to juggle this and working full-time, our survey demonstrates it has been beneficial for families in many ways too.
“Teachers have had to work so hard over the past year to minimise disruption to their pupils, so it’s great to see that parents appreciate teachers even more after helping out at home.”
Learning Ladders is an all-in-one suite designed to connect parents, teachers and pupils to better support every child’s learning journey. Teachers plan learning objectives and identify gaps, and parents get regular updates alongside help to explain exactly how they can support their child’s learning.
Author: Matt Koster-Marcon
Matt Koster-Marcon
Matt is a parent and school governor based in London as well as being the founding CEO of Learning Ladders Education.
A mission-driven EdTech platform Learning Ladders Education helps primary schools accelerate pupil progress by creating better conversations about learning in class, in the staffroom, and at home.
