The summer break is one of the best times to start tutoring. There’s no homework, no tests coming up and no rush to catch up before Monday. A child who finished the year behind, or who’s nervous about what’s next, has about six weeks to rebuild their confidence before school goes back. The holidays are one of the most optimised occasions to build capacity or fill gaps of knowledge within your child.
At Jumbo Learning, holiday sessions work the same way as term sessions: one hour a week, one-on-one, covering every subject your child needs. This guide covers who holiday tutoring suits, what the summer looks like on the calendar, and how to get started.
Key dates for the summer break
For South Australian public schools, the Department for Education dates are:
- Term 4 2026 ends: Friday 11 December
- Summer holidays: Saturday 12 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027
- Term 1 2027 starts: Wednesday 27 January
Independent and Catholic schools may have slightly different holiday dates, so check with your child’s school to confirm their schedule.
Jumbo Learning holiday sessions
There will be no tutoring sessions from 23 to 27 December 2026. Sessions will resume on Sunday, 3 January 2027, with regular weekly sessions continuing throughout the summer break.
Why does the summer break work well for tutoring or interventions?
During the term, tutoring has to compete with homework, sport and tired evenings. Over summer, a session can focus on what your child actually needs, rather than whatever is due tomorrow.
It’s also a good time to look back. End-of-year reports show where your child struggled, and you can bring that report to your first session. We’ll use it to work out where to start.
For many children, the bigger benefit is confidence. Walking into a new classroom in January feels very different when you’ve spent the holidays getting comfortable with the work, rather than avoiding it.
Who does holiday tutoring suit?
Children who finished the year behind
If your child is behind in reading, writing or maths, the gap doesn’t close by itself over summer. A weekly session keeps skills ticking over and fills gaps before new work gets added on top. Because every subject is covered in the same hour, you don’t need to book separate sessions for each one.
Children starting Reception
Starting school is a big change. Some children are ready to go. Others need help with early literacy, numbers, sitting at a table or following instructions from an adult. A few relaxed sessions before Term 1 can make the first weeks of school feel less overwhelming.
Children moving up to high school
New timetables, more teachers and more independent work catch a lot of children off guard. Holiday sessions can focus on the skills that make the move easier, such as organising work, reading longer texts and asking for help.
Autistic children and children with ADHD
For many neurodivergent children, the long break and the return to school are the hardest parts of the year. A weekly session gives the holidays some structure and keeps learning familiar, so the jump back into the classroom is smaller. You can read more about how one-on-one support helps autistic children.
NDIS families
Your child’s NDIS plan doesn’t follow the school calendar. If your child’s plan includes therapy supports that cover sessions at Jumbo Learning, those sessions can continue over the holidays. Our NDIS tutoring FAQs explain how sessions can be funded.
What a holiday session looks like
Holiday sessions run the same way as during the term:
- One hour a week, one-on-one, at our office on Glen Osmond Road in Parkside.
- Every subject in one session. The hour moves between subjects as your child needs, so reading, maths and writing can all fit in.
- Schoolwork and skill-building together. If your child gets anxious or frustrated, we work on that as well as the content.
- No homework pile-up. We keep homework to a minimum, so the holidays still feel like holidays.
Sessions are led by founder Priscilla Zephaniah, a registered teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Families travel from across Adelaide, and some come from as far as Mount Compass and the Fleurieu Peninsula for Saturday sessions. Find out more on our private tutoring in Adelaide page.
Questions parents often ask
Is tutoring over the holidays too much for kids?
Not when it’s one hour a week. That leaves plenty of time for rest, family and play, while keeping your child in a learning routine. Sessions are paced to your child, so a tired or unsettled child won’t be pushed through a worksheet.
When should we book holiday tutoring?
As early as you can, ideally before Term 4 ends on 11 December. That gives your child the whole break, and it means you can start with the end-of-year report while it’s fresh.
Can my child keep going once Term 1 starts?
Yes. Many families start over summer and keep the same weekly time when school goes back.
Do you offer scholarship exam preparation over the holidays?
We offer ACER scholarship training as well as general tutoring. Get in touch to talk about timing for your child.
Book a meet and greet before the break
The first step is a free 15-minute meet and greet at our Parkside office. We’ll talk about your child, look at their latest report and find a session time that works over summer. Contact us, call 0452 389 890 or email jumbolearning@gmail.com.
