How Covid reshaped children’s learning – and why one-to-one support still matters

When classrooms closed during Covid, millions of families were still navigating the stop-start chaos of home learning.

Kitchen tables became classrooms, parents became stand-in teachers, and children lost not just lesson time, but stability and confidence too.

And although life looks very different today, many of those disruptions are still affecting children’s progress.

Recent research shows that Covid-19 is still impacting pupil achievement, with over half of education professionals saying the effect remains ‘major’.1

Here, Becky Ward, education specialist at global tutoring company Tutor Doctor, reflects on how children are coping in the years since the pandemic – and shares simple ways parents can help boost confidence and close learning gaps at home.

Lingering learning gaps many parents still notice

Children are still rebuilding the foundations in key subjects like English and maths – reading fluency, comprehension, number confidence – could always be a challenge, but one only exasperated by Covid.

Some families see this as reluctance to read aloud, frustration with homework or children feeling 'behind' compared to friends.

For those who had fewer resources during the pandemic, these gaps can feel even bigger.

What parents learned when learning came home

If there was one positive from remote learning, it’s that parents got an unexpected window into how their child learns.

Some children thrived; others struggled without structure, peer interaction or teacher support.

Many parents realised their child needed more tailored help than the classroom alone can provide.

Why schools can’t plug every gap

Teachers worked tirelessly during and after the pandemic, but classrooms were stretched long before Covid.

With pupils’ needs varying widely depending on their lockdown experience, one-to-one support in school is often limited.

This is why so many families are now more proactive, seeking support earlier and preventing small issues from becoming bigger barriers.

The power of one-to-one attention

Personalised tutoring remains one of the most effective ways to rebuild confidence.

At Tutor Doctor, children start with a tailored assessment that reveals both gaps and strengths.

Sessions are then designed to suit the child’s pace, personality and learning style – making tricky topics feel manageable again.

Rebuilding confidence after a turbulent time

Many children still carry quiet worries about tests, participation or changes in routine.

A calm, one-to-one learning space helps them ask questions freely and make mistakes without fear.

Over time, they rediscover what it feels like to learn with confidence rather than pressure.

Six simple tips for parents to help their child at home

After hearing from thousands of families since the pandemic, one thing is clear: parents play a huge role in helping children rebuild confidence and fill in any missed foundations.

And while you don’t need to become a teacher, there are small, simple things you can do at home that make a surprisingly big difference to your child’s progress and mindset.

1. Keep homework sessions short and focused

Little and often works wonders. Ten to 15 minutes of focused practice can be more effective than an hour of struggling or arguing.

2. Celebrate effort, not just results

Praising perseverance (“I love how you kept trying!”) helps children take risks and builds resilience – especially after years of disrupted learning, also helping to develop a growth mindset.

3. Read together regularly

Whether your child is five or fifteen, reading together boosts vocabulary, comprehension and confidence. Even older children benefit from discussing what they’re reading.

4. Create a calm, predictable space for learning

A consistent spot – even just one end of the sofa – helps children settle more quickly and reduces overwhelm.

5. Break tasks into tiny steps

If something feels too big, motivation collapses. Turning a task into chunks (“Let’s do the first three questions together”) makes it feel achievable.

6. Don’t wait if something feels ‘off’

If your child is regularly frustrated, anxious or avoiding schoolwork, early support can make a huge difference. Whether it’s a chat with a teacher or one-to-one tutoring, acting early prevents issues from snowballing.

Moving forward with support that works

While the pandemic may feel like the distant past , the effects of the pandemic are still being felt – but the experience also gave parents a deeper understanding of what their children need. With early support, tailored learning and a strong focus on confidence, children can make huge strides.

One-to-one tutoring is helping many families rebuild momentum, close gaps and help their children feel capable again.

1 Parents Pay Group, Pandemic Learning Gaps, May 2025