• Reach out and start a conversation to see how they are doing, try to go beyond just asking if they are okay and leaving it there, ask how they are finding school, if there is anything you can do to help etc.

• Be specific with your questions about how their day was for example ask how their English lesson went and what they learnt. This shows you’re taking an active interest in their lives and reminds them how much you care. This also helps them retain the information they have learnt throughout the day as they are actively recalling the content and rewording what they have learnt allowing for a deeper understanding

• Remind them of how much they mean to you and that you’re proud of the efforts they are making, as obvious as it seems it is so easily forgotten but hearing it does make the world a difference.

• Respect their wishes, if you ask how a test went and they don’t want to talk about it just yet that is okay. Let them have some space.

Make sure they are getting enough sleep. It is very easy especially during exam season to work until all hours of the night even though it is more likely that they will be less productive at night. A good night's sleep can:

• Boost your immune system

• Increased productivity and concentration

• Improves memory

• Reduces stress

• Keeps the heart-healthy

• Encourage them to take breaks from work, especially in exam times, there is often a tendency to cram revision and panic about how much they have to do in such little time. Instead, suggest that would benefit from doing little bits often.

• Help them put into place a strong morning routine to start the day off in a positive way - helping them feel refreshed!

• Try to lift some responsibilities from them, school is very overwhelming a lot of the time and having additional worries can add to this and add exam pressures to their day.

• Help them set up a routine to follow that provides a balance between work and rest to ensure they still are doing things they enjoy.

• If possible, provide them with a quiet place to work outside of their bedroom. It is good to keep separation between places of rest and places of work to allow for proper relaxation when it comes to times to sleep.

• Encourage them to dream big and to follow their dreams, nothing is impossible when they are dedicated and driven to succeed.

• Trust them, and to an extent trust that they are getting their homework done and are revising etc unless you have reason to believe otherwise. Independence when it comes to studying and time management is important in growing up and is a beneficial life skill to learn - especially for A-level students.

• If in doubt, put yourself in their shoes and consider what you would do and how you would feel if you were put into their situation.

• Encourage hobbies and extracurricular activities.

• Let them socialise and even encourage them to, spending time with friends and family is important for stress relief!