Every child deserves teaching that helps them feel confident, capable, and successful in their learning.
At Flying Colours, one of the key approaches we use across all our programs is explicit instruction — an evidence-based teaching approach designed to support children by making learning clear, structured, and achievable.
For children with learning difficulties, this type of instruction can make a significant difference in both learning outcomes and confidence.
Rather than expecting children to “pick things up” independently, explicit instruction carefully guides learning step-by-step, helping children build strong foundations and experience success more consistently.
What Is Explicit Instruction?
Explicit instruction is a structured teaching approach where skills and concepts are:
- clearly explained
- directly taught
- carefully modelled
- practised with support
- reviewed consistently over time
Rather than assuming children will automatically work things out on their own, explicit instruction breaks learning into manageable steps and provides guided support throughout the process.
This approach helps reduce confusion, overwhelm, and cognitive overload — particularly for children who find learning challenging.
Why Explicit Instruction Is So Effective
Research consistently shows that explicit instruction is one of the most effective teaching approaches for supporting children with learning difficulties.
This is because it:
- reduces cognitive overload
- strengthens foundational skills
- improves memory and retention
- increases confidence and engagement
- provides repeated opportunities for success
Children are not left guessing what to do or trying to independently discover complex concepts without support.
Instead, learning becomes:
- predictable
- structured
- supported
- achievable
The Research Behind Explicit Instruction
Explicit instruction is strongly supported by educational and cognitive science research.
Studies show that children learn more effectively when:
- concepts are taught directly
- instruction is systematic and sequenced
- skills are modelled clearly
- practice is guided before independence is expected
For children with learning difficulties, this approach is particularly important because many struggle with:
- working memory
- processing demands
- executive functioning
- retaining new information
Explicit instruction reduces unnecessary learning load and allows children to focus on understanding and mastering skills step-by-step.
How Explicit Instruction Supports Children with Learning Difficulties
Reduces Overwhelm
Children who struggle with learning often become overwhelmed when too much information is presented at once.
Explicit instruction breaks learning into smaller, manageable parts, helping children process information more effectively.
Supports Memory and Retention
Children with working memory difficulties often need:
- repetition
- clear instruction
- guided practice
Explicit instruction provides these supports consistently, helping children retain and apply new learning more successfully.
Builds Strong Foundations
Many learning difficulties stem from gaps in foundational skills.
Explicit instruction ensures:
- concepts are taught systematically
- foundational skills are strengthened
- children master skills before moving forward
This creates more stable long-term learning.
Increases Confidence
When children experience repeated confusion or failure, confidence often drops.
Explicit instruction helps children experience:
- clarity
- success
- progress
This builds motivation, confidence, and willingness to engage with learning.
Supports Independence Over Time
Explicit instruction is not about making children dependent on support.
In fact, it helps children develop the skills and understanding they need to become more independent learners over time.
By building strong foundations first, children are better equipped to apply their learning confidently and successfully.
How Flying Colours Uses Explicit Instruction
At Flying Colours, explicit instruction is embedded across all our learning support programs.
This means we:
- carefully sequence learning
- explicitly teach concepts and strategies
- model skills clearly
- provide guided practice
- monitor progress closely
- adjust support based on each child’s needs
Our approach is individualised, evidence-informed, and designed to help children feel successful in their learning journey.
Why This Matters More Than Traditional Tutoring
Traditional tutoring often focuses on:
- homework completion
- revision
- practising school content
While this can help some children, it does not always address the underlying learning difficulties impacting progress.
Explicit instruction goes beyond simply “helping with work.”
It focuses on:
- how children learn
- what skills are missing
- what support is needed for long-term success
This is why specialised learning support can make such a significant difference for children who continue to struggle despite tutoring.
When Explicit Instruction Can Help
Explicit instruction is particularly beneficial for children who:
- struggle with reading or maths
- experience working memory difficulties
- become overwhelmed during learning
- require repetition and structure
- lose confidence easily
- need stronger foundational skills
With the right support and instruction, children can begin to experience learning in a more positive and successful way.
At Flying Colours, our programs are designed using evidence-based approaches that support how children learn best.
Through explicit instruction, targeted intervention, and individualised support, we help children build strong foundations, confidence, and long-term learning success.
Children with learning difficulties do not need more pressure or guesswork — they need clear, structured, evidence-based support that helps them understand and succeed.
Explicit instruction provides the clarity, support, and repetition many children need to build confidence and make meaningful progress in their learning.