“My child was doing well at school in Nigeria. Since we moved to Australia, homework seems harder, and their confidence has dropped.”
For a parent, this can be unsettling. You moved with hopes of giving your child more opportunities, yet you now find yourself wondering why they are struggling.
Perhaps Maths questions look unfamiliar. English assignments require longer explanations. Your child understands a topic when you discuss it together but finds it difficult to complete the school task independently.
A change in performance deserves attention, but it does not immediately tell you the cause. Your child may be adjusting to unfamiliar teaching methods, encountering topics they have not studied or managing the emotional demands of a new environment.
The most useful starting point is to understand what has changed and where support is needed.
Start With Your Child’s Actual School Experience
Children moving from Nigeria to Australia do not all have the same educational background. Some have studied the Nigerian curriculum, while others have attended British, American or IB schools.
Their new schoolwork may therefore feel familiar in some areas and different in others.
Avoid assuming that your child needs to repeat everything or move ahead in every subject. Instead, gather:
- Recent assignments from their Australian school.
- Teacher feedback and assessment results.
- Examples of previous schoolwork, where available.
- Your child’s explanation of what feels difficult.
These provide a clearer picture than comparing year-group labels alone.
Why a Previously Confident Learner May Struggle
1. Topics May Have Been Taught in a Different Order
Your child may know some topics well but have had less practice with others.
For example, they might calculate confidently with whole numbers but struggle when a task combines decimals, percentages and a written explanation.
This does not mean they need to start Mathematics again. They may need focused teaching on a few missing connections.
Ask the teacher which earlier skills are necessary for the current unit. That helps you choose a practical starting point.
2. Assignment Expectations May Be Unfamiliar
Knowing an answer and presenting it in the expected form are different skills.
A Science task might ask your child to explain a conclusion using observations. An English assignment might require an opinion supported by details from a passage.
Consider this example:
Question: Why do you think the character refused to enter the room?
A brief answer might be:
She was frightened.
A more developed answer could be:
She may have been frightened because she stepped backwards when she heard the noise inside.
Your child may have understood the story but need help connecting their interpretation to evidence.
Ask the teacher for examples of successful work so you can see what the assignment requires.
3. Familiar Words May Appear in Unfamiliar Contexts
Speaking English confidently does not guarantee that every classroom instruction will be clear.
Words such as “justify,” “evaluate,” “compare” and “interpret” ask learners to do different things.
Discuss these instructions using actual assignments:
- Compare: Identify relevant similarities and differences.
- Justify: Give reasons or evidence supporting an answer.
- Interpret: Explain what information means in context.
- Evaluate: Make a judgement using suitable criteria and evidence.
Understanding the instruction can help your child show knowledge they already have.
4. The Move May Be Affecting Confidence and Concentration
A new school brings more than new lessons. Your child may be making friends, adjusting to routines and missing familiar people.
Ask about their day without focusing only on marks:
“Which part of school felt comfortable today?”
“Was there anything you wanted to ask but did not?”
“Which task felt confusing?”
Their answers can help you distinguish an academic difficulty from a wider adjustment concern.
Three Subjects to Review First
Mathematics: Check Understanding Behind the Calculation
Choose a few questions from current schoolwork and ask your child to explain each step.
For example:
A backpack costs $80. It is reduced by 25%. What is the sale price?
The solution is:
Discount: 25% of $80 = $20
Sale price: $80 − $20 = $60
If your child finds the percentage correctly but stops at $20, they may need support interpreting the question rather than calculating percentages.
That distinction matters when planning lessons.
English: Look at Comprehension and Written Expression
Ask your child to read a short passage, summarise it and explain one answer using evidence.
Then ask them to write a short paragraph about a familiar topic.
Notice whether they can:
- Identify the main idea.
- Explain implied meaning.
- Support an answer with a relevant detail.
- Organise sentences around one main point.
- Communicate their ideas clearly.
A child who explains well aloud but struggles on paper may need support with planning and writing.
Science: Check Whether They Can Apply What They Know
Use a recent school question involving a diagram, table or experiment.
Ask:
“What does this information show?”
“Which observation supports your answer?”
“What would you expect to happen if one condition changed?”
Their response can reveal whether the difficulty lies in subject knowledge, interpreting information or explaining reasoning.
Questions to Ask Your Child’s New Teacher
An early conversation can help you support your child more effectively.
Useful questions include:
- Which skills are currently secure?
- Where are the most important learning gaps?
- Does my child understand instructions and participate in lessons?
- Are difficulties mainly with content, written answers or working independently?
- Can you share examples of the expected standard?
- What should we prioritise over the next few weeks?
Mention your child’s previous curriculum and share relevant records. Give the teacher information that helps them understand the learner’s starting point.
A Practical Plan for the First Few Weeks
Begin With Listening and Observation
Discuss what your child finds difficult. Review schoolwork and arrange a conversation with their teacher.
Choose one or two priorities rather than trying to improve every subject immediately.
Practise a Specific Skill
A useful goal might be:
“Solve percentage-discount questions and explain why the discount is subtracted.”
Or:
“Write a paragraph with a clear main idea and two supporting details.”
Specific goals make practice more focused and progress easier to recognise.
Connect Practice to Current Lessons
Use school topics to give the practice a clear purpose.
If your child is studying a Science experiment, help them organise an explanation using the observations provided. If they are learning fractions, revisit the earlier fraction concepts needed for that work.
Review Independence as Well as Marks
Look for changes such as:
- Beginning an assignment with less prompting.
- Explaining a method more clearly.
- Asking a specific question when confused.
- Correcting an error after feedback.
- Completing a familiar task independently.
These observations help you judge whether the support is working.
When Should You Consider Additional Tutoring?
Personalised tutoring may be helpful when the same difficulties continue, homework requires constant assistance or your child’s confidence is declining.
Choose a tutor who will review actual schoolwork, identify gaps and coordinate lessons around clear learning goals.
For online tutoring, also discuss practical arrangements: lesson times, your child’s participation, suitable materials and how progress will be reported.
Families living in Australia should agree schedules using their local time zone, including any seasonal clock changes that apply to their location.
How Glareminds Supports Nigerian Families in Australia
Glareminds offers one-to-one live online tutoring for learners studying the Australian curriculum, with support in Mathematics, English and Science.
We begin with a free 30–40-minute academic consultation to explore your child’s strengths, current difficulties and learning needs.
Parents can share school assignments, reports and teacher feedback to help guide a personalised plan. Lessons combine clear explanations, guided practice and opportunities for your child to work independently.
Weekly parent reports help you follow their progress and understand what needs further attention.
If your child is adjusting to school after moving abroad, explore our private tutoring support for Nigerian and African families in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does struggling after a move mean my child is academically behind?
A lower result alone cannot establish that. Review the work and teacher feedback to determine whether the difficulty involves unfamiliar content, assignment expectations, confidence or a combination of factors.
Should my child revise their old curriculum or focus on the new schoolwork?
Use current schoolwork to identify the earlier knowledge they need. Relevant revision can strengthen foundations while helping them engage with their new lessons.
How long should I wait before seeking help?
Start speaking with your child and teacher when you notice a concern. You can offer targeted support while they continue settling into school; there is no need to wait for several disappointing reports.
What should I bring to an academic consultation?
Recent assignments, assessment results and teacher comments are useful. Also share your child’s previous curriculum and the topics they find most difficult.
Help Your Child Settle Into School With a Clear Support Plan
If your child was confident in Nigeria but now finds schoolwork difficult in Australia, identifying the cause can help you take a more focused next step.
Book a free 30–40-minute online academic consultation with Glareminds to discuss your child’s needs and a personalised learning plan.
Visit our Australian private tutoring page to enquire about Mathematics, English and Science support.