See what seems to help your child, and why we think so

Many parents ask us the same thing: what works for my child? Your child's page now has a section that tries to answer it. We call it the Learning Support Profile.

What it shows

• Strong and still growing. Topics that are secure, and topics that need more practice, with the number of questions behind each one.
• What appears to help. We look at four things: using a hint, reading the worked solution after a wrong answer, short reviews of earlier topics, and shorter or longer sessions. For each one we check how your child did on the same topic a day or more later.
• Mistakes that keep coming up, such as misreading the question or slips in a method.
• Exam skills to work on. For example, two-mark questions with more than one step, or giving the answer in the form the question asks for.
• A weekly plan, and the reasons for it. We suggest 5 to 8 hours of Maths a week. We add time if the exam is close or several topics need work. We say which. You set the actual number.

How careful we are about it

We only say something "appears helpful" after it has happened at least 3 times and we have seen a result at least a day later. Until then the profile says "too early to say". Even then it only describes recent activity. It never calls your child a "visual learner" or any other type. A practice app cannot know that.

Does something not match what you see at home? Press "This doesn't match what I see" to hide it. You can show it again at any time. Your child gets a simpler version on their "My progress" page, and they can say "Not for me" too.

What it does not do

It doesn't add catch-up time for missed days. It doesn't rank your child against others. And hiding a statement doesn't delete any of their answers.