Do children forget over the summer? What we really know about 'summer learning loss'

A popular claim and its weak points

The idea of the 'summer slide' comes mainly from American research. For years it was repeated that children lose skills over the summer and that gaps between richer and poorer pupils widen precisely then.

Newer analyses have challenged parts of this. In 2019 sociologist Paul von Hippel and colleagues showed that in older studies autumn tests were sometimes harder than spring ones, which could artificially inflate 'losses'. In a 2023 summary, NWEA researchers Megan Kuhfeld and Karyn Lewis say plainly that the evidence is mixed — scores usually flatten or fall slightly, especially in maths and for upper primary pupils, but the size depends heavily on the test.

What newer data show

Several observations recur across analyses:

• Declines are usually larger in maths than in reading.
• Individual differences are huge: in one study a little over half of pupils lost ground and the rest gained over the summer.
• According to newer US data, income-related gaps no longer clearly widen in summer — earlier research from the 1970s–90s showed otherwise.
• Kuhfeld also found that those who lost most were often those who had gained most during the school year.

What this means for parents in Poland

Polish summer holidays this year run from 27 June to 31 August. There is no reason to panic or to fill every day with workbooks. The Brookings researchers do, however, recommend taking the risk seriously and giving children learning opportunities in summer — especially those who struggled during the year. The easiest ways are reading and everyday maths.

A light summer rhythm

Instead of 'holiday homework', a few habits that fit easily into free days:

• 15–20 minutes of reading a day — any book, a comic, a guide to the place you're visiting.
• A weekly library visit; many libraries run summer reading challenges.
• Maths 'along the way': a trip budget, converting distances, comparing prices.
• For pupils finishing the year with maths difficulties: two short reviews a week in August, not all summer.
• Movement, sleep and boredom — they are part of development too.

The last two weeks of August

The most useful thing is a gentle return just before school: gradually shifting bedtime, refreshing times tables or basic spelling rules, checking the textbook list. A short, planned return works better than a guilty conscience all summer.