'My child is at a British school. Why is the homework so different from what I learnt?'
Families often encounter unfamiliar year-group labels, phonics terminology or maths methods. A parent educated in Spain may recognise the underlying topic yet not the approach used in class; a British parent may find that an international school's timetable and assessment choices differ from their memories of school in England. Neither is a reason to replace the school's method with a completely different one. Start by asking the class teacher for an example of the strategy being taught.
British curriculum is not one uniform timetable
A school might draw on England's National Curriculum, use a particular reading programme and introduce Cambridge or other examinations later. The precise year group, campus, school policy and exam specification matter. 'British curriculum support' should therefore begin with the child's own exercise book, feedback and teacher guidance. Generic online worksheets can be useful for extra practice, but they should not dictate what the child is expected to know this term.
Start with the school's curriculum
Ask for the current year group, topics, reading expectations and feedback from the teacher. Different schools and campuses may follow different sequences. An external tutor should not assume every British school uses the same materials.
Teach strategies, not just answers
The EEF's metacognition review supports explicitly teaching children to plan, monitor and evaluate their work. For example: identify what the question asks, model one step, let the pupil try and review the result.
Keep communication practical
Ask how support will identify a specific gap and communicate progress. For early reading, England's Department for Education reading framework offers useful background, but it is guidance for England rather than a Madrid-wide requirement.
A realistic conversation with a tutor
Try: 'Our daughter understands the science topic when we discuss it in Spanish, but struggles to explain it in English. Can you help her learn the subject vocabulary without writing the answer for her?' That question gives the tutor a measurable task. Ask to review a piece of independent work after a few weeks and discuss any concerns with the school.
When external support may not be needed
If your child is settling into a new language of instruction and the teacher reports appropriate progress, more tutoring is not automatically the best response. Reading together, opportunities to talk and sufficient rest may be more valuable than another scheduled lesson.