How did after school programmes enhance achievement and motivation?
The study compared children’s academic performance, as measured by levels of reading achievement and average school grades, with the type of after school care they received. Children attending an ASP, compared with those in any of the other three forms of after school care, achieved: • higher reading scores; and • higher average school grades. Children receiving after school care from their parents, or from a combination of parents and siblings, scored next highest on average reading levels. Children with a combination of unsupervised time after school and care from adults who were not their parents showed the worst average reading levels. The pattern for average school grades was similar to that for reading, but less marked. The study also explored pupil motivation. Previous research in the field has shown that children from deprived socio-economic groups don’t expect to do well on unfamiliar or difficult tasks, don’t expect to enjoy them and don’t want to tackle them. This study foun
