Written by Ryan Lockett, Headteacher of TLC LIVE Online School
Your involvement in your child’s education matters more than you might think. OECD research from PISA studies consistently shows that students whose parents actively engage with their school activities perform better academically and report higher life satisfaction. This positive impact is even bigger for disadvantaged students, who demonstrate up to 20% higher academic resilience when they receive strong parental support.
This blog explores how student progress tracking can have a positive impact on educational attainment and methods parents/carers can take into account for their children.
Why progress tracking matters
Tracking your child’s progress is a great way to stay up to date with how they’re doing, how they’re feeling and spotting any gaps or struggles they may have. It’s important for parents to remember that tracking progress is about more than results. Some children will put in lots of effort and hard work into a piece of work and come out with a lower grade than you may be expecting, but it’s important to celebrate their dedication. All progress is good progress, learning to empower your child so they feel set up to take on any task with independence and confidence is the most important factor.
Online learning offers different methods for tracking progress compared to traditional schools, but it’s easier to see how your child is building the foundations for academic success. Effective progress tracking helps identify learning gaps early, allowing for intervention at the right time so small issues don’t become major obstacles.
Real-time attainment tracking
The core way to monitor students’ progress is by staying informed from the school. At TLC LIVE, our parent portal provides 24/7 access to your child’s student data, making it simple to check progress whenever.
Through the portal, you can monitor attendance, review timetables, and access feedback from teachers after each lesson. This comprehensive view helps you stay informed about your child’s school life and understand what they’re learning and how they’re progressing, all in one convenient place.
Parents are able to spot if their child’s struggling with a specific topic and can implement additional support at home or ask teachers for guidance on how they can improve. For example, if you know they’re studying a particular novel, you can ask thoughtful questions about the characters or themes to encourage critical thinking. Or if they’re learning a new maths concept, you can explore it together using real-world examples like measuring ingredients while cooking or calculating change at the shop.
Engaging with your child about subjects they’re currently studying not only promotes active learning but also helps you understand what they’re grasping well and where they might need a little extra support. Ultimately, it’s a great way to boost their confidence too.
Regular communication with teachers
Open and clear communication with your child’s teachers is essential. Without it, you can feel disconnected from their learning journey.
At TLC LIVE, we offer weekly calls with the Headteacher where you can discuss progress and raise any concerns. It’s also a chance to collaboratively set goals for your child’s development. Additionally, each term, we hold a traditional parents’ evenings that provide opportunities for more in-depth discussions directly with teachers about attainment and next steps. This is a simple but effective way to monitor a student’s progress.
Having regular touchpoints with educators create a true partnership between parents and school, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks and both you and your child feel fully supported.
Personalised support and early intervention
Advocating for your child from the outset is crucial and should be applied to every learner. We believe in having adaptive lessons tailored to how the students learn best will help them reach their academic goals. When teaching is more tailored, every child can receive the support they need to reach their potential.
For children with additional needs, this approach is critical. At TLC LIVE, we’re experts in SEND support and how to best support these students. Our small class sizes mean teachers can quickly identify where a student might be struggling and adapt lessons accordingly. One-to-one mentoring provides additional support when needed.
Supporting your child’s success
We believe that effective student progress tracking combines all of these elements: real-time digital tools and regular communication with teaching staff. Being able to support your child and advocate for them inside of and outside the classroom is important in ensuring that no child’s needs go unnoticed. By following these steps, parents will find it useful in ways to monitor their students’ progress.
By fostering a collaborative partnership between parents, students, and educators, TLC LIVE Online School keeps you connected and informed every step of the way. When schools and parents work together with transparency and shared goals, every learner has the opportunity to thrive.
Outside of school, parents can support their child’s progress with simple things like making sure their child is eating well and staying active and giving them the skills to be confident. Students can’t bring their best selves to school unless they have enough rest and relaxation time.
Want to see how our progress tracking systems work in practice? Get in touch with our team today to discover how TLC LIVE keeps you connected to your child’s educational journey at our Online School.