Chessington Reading & Writing skills Tutors and Chessington Reading & Writing skills Tuition

Personal Description:
I have Special Needs University qualifications and counseling skills, which enables me to tutor students that may encounter emotional difficulties in their learning. I believe that motivation is the key factor to tutoring, as it needs to be addressed continuously in the process of learning.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught A-level Mathematics Edexcel: Pure, Statistics and Mechanics for 8 years.
I have been a private tutor since 2000, preparing students for +11, +13 and GCSE exams in English and Maths.

I am a certified therapist in PhonoGraphix method for addressing spelling and reading difficulties both for children and adults.

I could also help with learning computers (ECDL syllabus including usage of Word, PowerPoint, Internet, Excel).

Tutoring Approach:
As a tutor, I encourage my students to reflect upon their mistakes and to understand how to tackle the next step of their learning, without having a negative response.

I usually have the first lesson together with the parents so that the student feels comfortable and parents can observe my teaching; I present a folder containing the CRB form, qualifications, QTS certificate and letters of recommendations from parents. I teach from home in a calm and stimulating environment.

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Personal Description:
***NEW AVAILABILITY FOR ENGLISH AND MATHS FROM NOVEMBER 8TH 2026***



EXTRA WEEKEND TIMES FOR AS/A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY
AND
AS/A LEVEL POLITICS
AVAILABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 8th 2026
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Hello, all parents!

A very warm Autumnal welcome to you all from Stuart!

I'm an enthusiastic, keen and good-humoured tutor, who teaches with commitment, dedication, passion and style!

I have been teaching Key Stage 3, GCSE and A level students now for more than 20 years - and I achieve great results.

I currently tutor students in English Language, English Literature and Maths - in the evenings and occasionally at weekends.

I also tutor for 11-plus Entrance exams - in both English and Maths.

I am familiar with all of the English prose and play texts, as well as Poetry Anthologies and tutor students for both GCSE and IGCSE English Language and Literature.

I have a passion for poetry, I love Shakespeare, and, in my spare time, publish short stories. Creative Writing is my first love.

I also tutor students in GCSE Maths - and am familiar with all of the syllabi (Edexcel; AQA; IGCSE; OCR).

I am currently coaching a number of students who are working towards their Entrance exams in Coventry and Warwickshire - for Warwick, King's High, Bablake & King Henry Schools, King Edward Schools (KES, Birmingham) and Solihull School.

A native Scot, I attained my English degree (BA Honours) from Stirling University in central Scotland.

In addition to my English degree, I have a second degree in Education (1st class Honours) from Stirling University, which allows me to teach GCSE Mathematics, GCSE and A level Psychology and GCSE and A level Politics.

My hobbies include swimming (I swim a mile almost every day!), writing short stories and poems.

I am a published author.
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Current 2026 references are available upon request.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching GCSE and A level English for 20 years.

I was one of the 'pilot tutors' on Warwickshire county council's tutoring programme for children in care, tutoring teenagers across Warwickshire in literacy.

My first degree (B.A. Honours in English Studies, Stirling, Scotland) allows me to teach English Language, English literature across all levels.

My second degree (Diploma of Education. Honours, Stirling, Scotland) allows me to teach maths, as well as politics and psychology. I am familiar with all of the course content of both Aqa and Edexcel syllabi in each of these subjects.

Recent one-to-one lessons in psychology this term so far have explored: social learning theory; relationships; memory, aggression, forensic psychology; criminal justice sentencing and schizophrenia.

Recent one-to-one lessons in politics this term so far have explored: democracy in the uk; pressure groups, campaigns and lobbying; proportional representation; devolution; the role of the house of lords; referenda; the american constitution; us presedential powers,

Tutoring Approach:
My style is engaging and enthusiastic.

I tutor in the evenings and selected weekends, and set weekly written tasks to monitor students' progress.

A normal lesson lasts one hour, but I can offer 90-minute or two-hour sessions for AS/A level students.

I tutor online via MICROSOFT TEAMS.

I have had excellent recent successes; in the 2026 summer exams, four of my GCSE students scored A** (level 9) grades in Language and three scored level 9's in Literature.
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All of my most recent four A level English Literature students have scored A grades.

Finally, as an 11-plus tutor, I have successfully tutored many students who have been accepted into Solihull School. Warwick School and King Henry School, Coventry and Bablake School, Coventry.

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Personal Description:
My teaching style is relaxed and friendly, making learning fun but rewarding and with a serious commitment for students to succeed. Friendly, approachable, a good sense of humour, empathetic, patient, dedicated and enthusiastic about teaching, I do my utmost to ensure that my students feel that their learning experience is fulfilling and rewarding.

I do not drive so rely on public transport to get me to and from tutoring jobs, I have put a 10 mile limit on my details but am willing to consider longer distances, however this may incur further travel costs so must be negotiated at the time of booking.

Teaching Experience:
Over 20 years experience teaching 14 years to adults, teaching CV writing (and all areas of Employability), Basic and Soft Skills (including confidence building), Business Enterprise Levels 1, 2 & 3, NVQ Business Administration Levels 1 an 2 and ESOL pre-entry to Level 2.

Qualified to Cert Ed, City & Guilds, along with certified in Teaching Literacy and Numeracy to Adults (9380 series), D32/33 Assessors Award and V1 Internal Verifier Award. Currently sourcing a college to study for the Literacy Level 4 Specialism and also to gain ESOL qualifications.

Additionally, I have gained diplomas in Aroma Stress Therapy, Flower Essence Therapy, and in Crystal Healing; and can now offer any of the therapies themselves, or teach the basics of them.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to teaching is to get to know my students and identify their particular needs, then, working together, devising a programme best suited to them. I am flexible and adaptable according to the student's needs, learning style and learning barriers.

I am more than willing to adapt whatever programme of delivery decided on to best suit the needs of my student, for instance with regard to number of hours per week, number of weeks needed etc. I am also happy to take the ESOL teaching sessions 'outside' - ie go shopping, buy tickets etc for more practical learning (any additional expenses such as extra travel, lunch etc to be negotiated prior to session taking place).

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Personal Description:
Hello. I am a fully qualified teacher with experience across the whole of the primary curriculum, including special needs and teaching for SATS tests . I continually update my teaching, mainly through the National Education Union online training sessions. I have had great results tutoring children extensively on a 1-2-1 basis for SATS and the 11+ entrance exam, plus have experience teaching adult literacy and English as a Foreign Language. I aim to motivate both children and adults who find reading and writing challenging, building both confidence and skills. Practical strategies and numeracy games are used to assist children to gain improved competence in mathematics. Assessment is used to inform my teaching in order to make efficient use of the tutoring time.
I enjoy running, Pilates, reading and volunteer for charity, including as a volunteer youth-worker with children and young people.

Teaching Experience:
Currently. I teach English to and host visiting international teenage students. Recently I volunteered as a tutor for the Catch Up Programme, Year 5 and 6 Literacy SATs, online with the charity Action Tutoring.
I am experienced in administering and marking voluntary SATs papers.
I have over twenty years of experience teaching in UK primary schools as a full time classroom teacher and as a supply teacher.
I was a special needs teacher in a public school for one year with individuals and small groups.
I have volunteered as an adult literacy tutor and taught Pilates to adults.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a patient, understanding approach to tutoring. Tasks are broken into small, achievable steps. Praise and encouragement are used to build self esteem and motivate learners. Your child will be encouraged to enjoy learning and to gain independent learning strategies.

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Personal Description:
I enjoy teaching as well as learning. I have been a tutor/lecturer in schools of Art and Design/Architecture for over 12 years. I completed my MSc and PhD in Architecture and MA in Interior Design. I also completed a teaching course to get a PG certificate in Higher Education (PGcHE). I have had publications (book and journal papers) related to my research.

I am enthusiastic and passionate about education and hope that I will be given the opportunity to help.

Teaching Experience:
12 years teaching experience in five universities (including University of Sheffield, De Montfort, Portsmouth, Birmgham City and Coventry University) as a tutor/lecturer.

Tutoring in the following areas:

-Academic Writing: essay, report, research proposal, literature review, thesis/dissertation, proof reading.

-Study skills: how to read critically and how to write, reflect and make presentations, etc.

-Design as a broad subject (design process, presentation/rendering, technical drawing, model making, Design and Technology, Architecture and Interior Design)

-Art and Design/Architecture Portfolio (to help developing portfolios for university or job interview)

-Research Skills (methods, data collection, literature review and research proposal)

-Data analysis (qualitative and quantitative data), use of Excel and SPSS

-Painting and Rendering (water colour, acrylic, felt pen/markers, colour pencil and oil)

-Drawings (Basic drawings, technical drawings and perspectives)

-Model Making (physical models with different materials, including cardboards, paper, wood; computer Models, and crafts)

-ICT Skills/Software (Photoshop, AutoCad, SketchUp, PowerPoint, Excel, SPSS, Publisher)

-English (academic and general reading and writing, listening and speaking, IELTS)

Tutoring Approach:
I am a patient, positive, constructive and flexible tutor who is able to explain concepts in a way which can be understood by different individuals.

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Personal Description:
I am a Marine Biologist (PhD) and lecturer in Education. I am currently based in North Berwick, Scotland and have a wide-range of interests such as paddle-boarding, kayaking, hiking, cooking and spending time with my family and friends. I am available for online tutoring in the evenings and the weekends (anytime) and face-to-face for North Berwick.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught English as a Foreign Language for 22 years in the UK and in Japan. I have also worked with students with learning difficulties, which I enjoy very much. I tutor Biology to students across the world including University level and Science up to G.C.S.E /Nat 5.

Tutoring Approach:
Exam technique, technical language, repetition-based learning (English as a foreign language). Kinaesthetic learning.
Patient approach, with the aim of student's gaining confidence in the subject area.

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Personal Description:
I am an Oxford Classics graduate with experience of teaching children and adults.

Teaching Experience:
I have seven years experience of teaching a range of ages up to 18, both private tutoring and school teaching.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring programme designed according to the student's needs and aims,

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Personal Description:
My background is in languages and performing arts. I began studying
English at age 8, French at 13, German at 15, and have been
self-taught in Spanish since age 10. I come from a family with a
long tradition in teaching and have always been encouraged to study
and learn, while at the same time inheriting and developing a strong
capacity to explain, train, and encourage.

Teaching Experience:
Since graduating from my Master's course in 2011 I have been working
as a self-employed language tutor in and around London and have
always received more than positive feedback from my clients. My
tutees' ages range from four to seventy-four and I constantly
endeavour to improve myself and adapt my teaching method to my
clients' needs.

Some client reviews:

David
21/03/2020
5/5 Rating

"I`ve been doing Romanian with Maria for a few months now,
initially face to face and now via Skype. I enjoy my lessons
a great. Maria has excellent teaching skills, prepares well for
the class, and provides me with good feedback. Aside from that,
the lessons are fun and I look forward to them. Would definitely
recommend."

Toni
20/09/2018
5/5 Rating

"Only had 3 lessons but I`m loving the way Maria breaks everything
down and explains it. She fills me with confidence by focusing on
the positive from the lessons. Thank you for everything so far :)"

John
14/05/2018
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor, already 2 lessons in and I am picking
up the basics quickly!"

Rebecca
01/04/2018
5/5 Rating

"Prompt, organised, professional and a great teacher!"

Arshad
22/02/2018
5/5 Rating

"Very professional tutor
Highly recommended"

Otis
26/12/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor. She is very knowledgeable and her
lessons are always well structured and enjoyable. She has a genuine
passion for languages which is evident in her thorough preparation
for each lesson. I would recommend Maria."

Polly
24/10/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria has been great so far!!!"

Tracey
22/05/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor. She is very punctual and happy to be
flexible with the times we can meet. She is very patience and her
explanations are concise and clear. I would have no hesitation in
reommending her."

Mihaela
14/11/2016
5/5 Rating

"Maria is a very punctual and organised tutor and my daughter is
making good progress. She is friendly and supportive and I would
definitely recommend her."

Phillip
31/03/2016
5/5 Rating

"Absolute great tutor, who was professional, personable and patient!
Highly recommended."

Evita
05/11/2015
5/5 Rating

"Maria is teaching German to me and my 7-year old daughter both had
no previous knowledge and I can suggest her as fast progressing
learning teacher. She is strict and well prepared. It`s been a
pleasure working with her."

Luke
23/08/2015
5/5 Rating

"Amazing tutor, highly professional and well qualified! worth her
weight in gold!"

Spiros
07/08/2015
5/5 Rating

"I THE LIKE THE WAY MARIA GOES THROUGH THE LESSON, AND SHE EXPLAINS
EVERYTHING, ALSO SHE IS ALWAYS ON TIME AND FLEXIBLE WITH THE HOURS
SHE DOES.
VERY PLEASED, THANK YOU."

James
20/07/2015
5/5 Rating

"Maria is efficient, focused and hardworking. My 14 year old
daughter enjoys her lessons with Maria."

Teresa
10/02/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria tutors my daughter and me together in French. Maria is
extremely patient and we are enjoying her lessons. She is really
helping us."

Deborah
12/09/2016
5/5 Rating

"Very patient with lots of energy! Really good with my 6 and 7 year
old girls learning German."

Tutoring Approach:
Although I learned all my foreign languages through a rigorous method very much based on writing and grammar, I am happy to adapt my method to my pupil's needs. Personally, I believe that conversation is the key to becoming fluent in a language, but at the same time I do not neglect the importance of writing and reading comprehension. I therefore aim to split my lessons as evenly as possible between speaking, reading, listening comprehension, and writing assignments.

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Personal Description:
I am a Primary trained school teacher with experience in both KS1 and KS2.
I am a mother with three children, one of which had learning problems as a KS1 child, and understand the frustration of the learner and anxiety the parent feels.

Teaching Experience:
Special needs teaching 1:1
1:1 private tuition
10 years Primary KS1 & KS2

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy helping children reach their potential by being patient and understanding and helping my tutee's discover their most suited method and style for learning, in the area that they find challenging.
I teach using visual, auditory and kinesthetic methods, depending on my pupils learning style.

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Personal Description:
I am a 30 year old History and Politics graduate, with ten GCSE's and three A Levels.
I am passionate about education and very keen to help students improve and reach their potential.

Teaching Experience:
I have acquired a lot of experience in schools and tutored both small groups and one to one.

I have also tutored privately, for eighteen months. All of the students that I have tutored thus far, have achieved or exceeded their targets.

Tutoring Approach:
My effective approach to tuition has been complimented, by experienced teachers who have observed my sessions. I am happy to adapt to the needs of individual students and work at an appropriate pace. I will tutor primary aged children one to one or in groups of two or three and older students one to one.
I firmly believe that everyone can succeed, with the necessary help and I strive to ensure that all of my students do just that.

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Personal Description:
I am a 36 year Deputy Head Teacher living in Glasgow. I relocated from Blackpool 12 years ago! I have a degree in drama followed by a post graduate degree in primary education from Lancaster; as well as various sports coaching qualifications.

I am able to teach a variety of subjects and I have also taught maths up to national qualification levels.

I am GTC registered as well as PVG cleared to work with children and vulnerable adults.

Teaching Experience:
I am a primary school teacher but I also have experience of working with high school aged children, particularly in maths. Most of my experience comes in the 5-11 age bracket.

I have worked in both England and Scotland and I currently hold a post as a Principal Teacher within North Lanarkshire. I have a particularly good knowledge of phonics and helping children develop strategies to enhance their reading skills.

Tutoring Approach:
I have high expectations of children as I believe this then fills them with the confidence to push themselves to achieve. I enjoy working with children and like to teach rather than give worksheet after worksheet, I like to use a mix of interactive resources along with more traditional approaches. I am also willing to set and leave homework if that is required.

I enjoy working one to one with children and find it really rewarding seeing the progress children can make in this environment.

If you find that you are out of my tutoring radius you can still contact me and I will try my hardest to accomodate you.
My hourly rate includes travelling costs so there are no hidden charges, however if you are out of my usual radius of travel this can be discussed.

I am available any weeknight after school hours and have some weekend availability too. Sessions usually last an hour, with around 45-50 minutes quality tutoring time, allowing time at the start/end of session for feedback with parents.

If you have any questions please get in touch!

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Personal Description:
I am a Masters degree graduate with 5 years tutoring experience working with children and adults.

Often times I teach one to one or maximum 5 people at a go especially in the library and community centre.

Teaching Experience:
5 years experience and still counting

Tutoring Approach:
Face to face,one to one and small groups

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Personal Description:
Morning and afternoon sessions available during weekdays for home schoolers!

I am a fully qualified Primary School Teacher with 30 years experience. I am committed to helping children to achieve their full potential in becoming well rounded, happy individuals who are independent learners. I believe children become successful learners when they are given the right tools for the job. The most important of these tools is confidence in their own ability! I am friendly, approachable and reliable.

Teaching Experience:
I have vast and recent experience of teaching at primary schools at Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. I have supported children with a variety of conditions such as ADHD, ADD and ASD. I have prepared children for the Year One Phonics Screening, the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check and for Year 6 SATs. I have a full and detailed knowledge of the National Curriculum.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is flexible and centred around the hopes and aims of the child and their carer. I offer a bespoke curriculum tailored to the needs of the individual child. During our first session I will take the time to get to know you and your child. I will build up a picture of your child's interests, strengths, and also try to identify areas where they feel less confident. There will be some short assessment tasks to complete during this session. These will be delivered as activities and games and not as tests! Then we will discuss possible next steps and objectives. I will use all this information to develop your child's individual scheme of work. This learning path is adaptable and can be changed and modified to suit your child's ongoing progress.
Thank you for reading my profile.

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Personal Description:
Down to earth person, yet methodical and detail oriented.
I believe education and languages are the bridges that can link people from their current circumstances to better opportunities, leaving no one behind.
I am passionate about grammar and reading, I love taking pictures, travelling, watching independent movies and going for exhibitions.

Teaching Experience:
After my Master's in History of Art and a Bachelor in Culture Heritage, I worked for a multicultural organisation that supports foreign women originally from disadvantaged backgrounds; I taught Italian to the adults and helped the children with their homework for one year.
After moving to the UK, one of my first jobs was teaching art classes to pre-schoolers and giving Italian speaking and reading lessons to two children whose parents are bilingual.
In July 2021 I completed the CELTA qualification to teach English as a foreign language and from August 2021 to March 2023 I taught art classes to disadvantaged children in a local Community Centre in South East London.
I am currently teaching English for Everyday and ESOL in an Adult College.
I am also experienced in teaching elderly people how to use Zoom and applications that are part of the Microsoft Office package.

Tutoring Approach:
Relaxed at the beginning: I need to understand why the person wants to learn that specific subject and what outcome they are determined to achieve.
Once this has been established, I become passionate about results as much as the client: their achievement is mine too.
I take pride in what I do and would be available for extra & flexible support to boost confidence if needed.

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Personal Description:
I enjoy tutoring because I value my students' ideas. See below for the most important parts of this page, results and feedback.

I am an Oxford graduate (English language and literature, first class) and a qualified English teacher, have a PhD in English literature, and have been tutoring since 2013. My specialism is A-level English literature.

Please get in touch for online English tuition, particularly if you are or your child is

• Preparing to take A-levels in 2027/28
• Doing coursework
• Working on the basis of continuous assessment, mocks, etc.
• Or planning to do / doing an English degree

Also get in touch if your child is no longer doing English literature at school but wants support in continuing to read, think about, and discuss books.

I graduated from the University of Oxford with a double first in English language and literature, winning the prize for the best performance in English finals at Mansfield College, and the college essay prize. At school, I was awarded eleven GCSEs at A-star and three A-levels at A.

As well as tutoring, I have worked as a researcher, a copywriter, and a proofreader. I have also completed a PGCE in secondary English at the UCL Institute of Education, the highest-ranking college of education in the world ('QS World University Rankings'), during which I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools, and received A's for my master's-level assignments. I recently completed a PhD in English literature at the University of Buckingham.

As well as English tuition at any level, I can help you or your child with the following:

• Oxbridge entrance (the admissions process, practice interviews, etc.)
• Essay surgery - how to structure and write an essay
• How to revise - note-taking, organisation, making connections, committing to memory
• Grammar, punctuation, and style (a.k.a. 'usage and abusage')
• Speech writing and public speaking
• Proofreading and redrafting essays
• Suggested reading and resources, including access to my library of 'TES' resources
• Creative writing
• How to annotate, analyse (and enjoy) English literature - sometimes known as 'close reading' or 'practical criticism'
• If you'd specifically like written feedback on your writing - more like a correspondence course - then I can also provide that.

In my spare time I enjoy writing, walking, cycling, and photography.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring since 2013, teaching English at all levels (including degree level), as well as A-level religious studies and classical civilisation. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, and CAIE (Cambridge International), and am constantly familiarising myself with the new texts that my students are studying. I have experience helping students who have autism and ADHD.

During my teacher training, I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools.

While at Oxford, I was part of an 'e-mentoring' scheme to help candidates from schools without a history of Oxbridge applications.

At Christ College, Brecon, I ran two series of seminars, for sixth-formers studying RS and English literature.

A selection of feedback and testimonials:

2026:

Cara, a parent, September: 'I cannot recommend Josh highly enough. He was absolutely instrumental in helping my son achieve the English grades required to pursue his dream of studying in America. Throughout the entire process, he was incredibly easy to work with and brought a wonderful sense of calm and kindness to every session. He is excellent at setting clear, structured tasks and holding students accountable for their progress, but he always does so with a gentle and supportive demeanor. His unique balance of academic rigour and encouraging mentorship completely transformed my son's approach to learning. We are incredibly grateful for his guidance and would recommend him to any parent looking for an exceptional educator.'

A student, August: 'Such an awesome tutor. I found myself needing some extra help in the way I communicated my ideas academically as I'd missed an entire year of essay practice (took up the subject VERY late in year 12). Josh as a tutor didn't just make up for lost teaching, but genuinely made me love my texts through witty conversation and critical angles I hadn't thought about. Despite teachers saying I wouldn't achieve higher than a B grade, I ended up getting an A*, which I think is absolutely a testament to the tutoring I received-- I couldn't have done it without him, and couldn't recommend him more.'

A student, August: 'I had the pleasure of being taught by Josh for my A Level English Literature studies in 2024, and I couldn't recommend him more highly. He was an exceptional tutor who played a huge role in improving both my confidence and ability in the subject. He provided outstanding support across every aspect of the course, from analysing poetry and developing sophisticated interpretations to preparing me thoroughly for my exams. His explanations were always clear and tailored to my learning style, making even the most challenging texts much easier to understand. Hence, I was awarded an A* and am now thriving at the University of Bristol!'

A student, August: 'I wanted to thank you again for all the lessons and help, it really benefitted me overall and I can without a doubt say that you were a great teacher.'

A student, August: 'I'm happy to say I got an A in English and got into my firm choice uni (Edinburgh).'

A student, August: 'I wanted to say a massive thank you as I got an A* in English Literature! I couldn't have done it without your guidance and feedback - you really helped me and my concepts excel. I'm very excited to pursue literature and hope that one day I'll be able to inspire others as you've inspired me. :)'.

Diana, a parent, July: 'Josh is a first class tutor. I saw him inspire my daughter with new ideas and as a result she was accepted at Cambridge where she graduated with a starred first. He taught her to think outside of the box and was filled with endless suggestions. Not only is he extremely clever, he is so kind and gentle. My daughter regards him as the best teacher she's ever had.'

Kate, a parent, June: 'We are so grateful to you for your endless patience and how you supported [G.]. The way you ran sessions with him prepared him so well not just for the A level paper but also for this year.'

A student, April: 'As usual- thank you for your creative sessions- my assignments, and my writing, have received such grades because you inspire me to be uninhibitedly creative, which is a long process after four years of formal academic writing.'

A student, February: 'Very personalised lessons, focusing exactly on what you need to improve! You can tell Joshua loves what he does and has a genuine interest in helping you get the best grades.'

2025:

A parent, November: 'We would also like to mention how much [S.] has benefited from your lessons. Her confidence in English has grown significantly, and she has always enjoyed your classes. Thank you so much for all your guidance, support, and patience. We truly appreciate everything you have done for her'.

A student, August: 'my exams went amazingly, and I got just 3 marks short of an A* in English! I'm so happy with my grades […] Thank you so much for all your help, I really couldn't have done it without you. Also, thank you for making sure I had the most fun I've ever had studying English! I will miss our sessions a lot, and thanks again!'

A parent, August: '[L.] got an A and is absolutely thrilled!!! Thank you so so much for all your help.'

Kate, a parent, August: 'Thank you so much for all your support for [G.] this year -you were amazing. […] he only dropped 1 mark on the […] Hamlet paper!'

A student, June: 'thank you very much for all the sessions! It has not only boosted my confidence in English literature but they really reminded me of how much I love the subject. It's always a pleasure to discuss nuance readings of the texts, and it has been a great help leading up to my exams.'

Charlotte, a parent, June: 'Thank you so much for all your help and support for [L.]. We are so grateful for everything you have done with him and wish you all the best.'

Ann, a parent, June: '[Z.] has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons with you and has gained so much from your guidance. We're very grateful for all the support you've given her.'

A parent, May: 'Thank you so much again for everything you've done to help [G.] prepare for these exams - he has really enjoyed his sessions with you and he and we really appreciate your support'.

A parent, May: '[N.] just received the below. It's an A* if the grade boundaries is same as last year. She couldn't have done it without your help. We really appreciate it.'

A parent, February: '[S.] is really enjoying studying with you and has gained a lot of confidence in English. I truly appreciate the effort and dedication you put into teaching.'

A student, January: 'thank you ever so much for your kindness and creative encouragement the past months. What is very special about you as a tutor is that you have never told me "what to write". Instead, you have asked me questions about my work that have led me to discover what I truly wish to write'.

Kate, a parent, December 2024: 'We're so pleased [G.] is enjoying his sessions and seems to be really motivated to read widely in between sessions, is making useful structured notes (which he didn't do before) and his confidence and awareness of what he needs to do when essay writing is really building. Thank you!!!'

Eleni, a parent, December 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that [D.] received an offer […] today! She is super happy! […] I wanted to thank you again as [D.] found your sessions incredibly helpful and inceased her confidence during the exams process.'

*

A-level results, August 2024:

'I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to you for all the help, support and inspiration you have given [E.] over the past year. You have not only given her the technical advice and support to help her make the most of her essays and exams, but more importantly you have helped her keep the love of the subject alive. I know a big part of the reason she is so excited to study English at university is because of how much she has enjoyed your conversations, and how you have helped her to consider texts in a way that the rather narrower scope of teaching at school does not allow. I am so very grateful to you and I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into her sessions - thank you so very much. […] You've been so great, and any other student/parent would be lucky to have access to your teaching.'

'I have just opened my results and am happy to confirm that I am off to Bristol this September with an A* in English! I just want to thank you again for making this possible.'

'I got an A in English, and will be going to Exeter, so mission accomplished. I wanted to thank you for all your help, not only for helping me to get what I needed, but for giving me back my confidence and enjoyment of the subject in the process.'

'Just to let you know [I.] got her results this morning and achieved an 'A' in English. We are over the moon […] Thank you again for all your help with the English, it's much appreciated.'

'thanks for your help this past academic year! Got two A*s in English and Philosophy'.

'I got a B and I was accepted into my firm university (Durham) which I am very happy! Thank you for all your help and support.'

'I was really happy to receive […] A in English Literature […] I secured a placed at my firm university. I will be studying English Literature at Durham University this September and I am very excited! Thank you so much for all of your support, I really appreciate it!'

'i got into Warwick with […] an A* in English!!!!! I am very happy :) Thank you for all your hard work, wisdom and wit over the last year or two'.

'Thank you so much for all your coaching and advice that you shared with [L.], it made such a difference to his confidence leading up to his exams. He is (as are we) delighted with his English result.'

'an A awarded in English […] so she is off to her first choice of Edinburgh University to study History of Art and English Literature.'

'Results day went well and I'm going to the university of Kent. Thank you so much again for all the time spent helping me to prepare for my exams it means a lot I'm very excited to continue my English literature journey.'

*

A student, June 2024: 'Thank you so much for being the most amazing English teacher! It has been an immensely rewarding and interesting journey exploring so many books […] I have learnt so much from GCSEs to continuing with more amazing literatures in A-levels'

A student, June 2024: 'I […] wanted to say thank you for the tremendous help you have provided with the English content throughout the A level period. The resources that you provided for me were quite helpful in refining my knowledge in many areas of the syllabus so thank you very much.'

A student, May 2024: 'I've just received the results for my english coursework and wanted to thank you for all the help and feedback!!'

A parent, February 2024: 'your help has kept her love of the subject and her enthusiasm alive and I can't thank you enough for that.'

A parent, February 2024: 'You were such a huge help to [S.], we will always be very grateful to you.'

Kath, a parent, February 2024: 'We would both like to thank you for all your invaluable help, especially all the helpful feedback on the coursework essay. [S.] has definitely learnt a lot and grown in confidence, especially in her knowledge of Twelfth Night.'

A student, January 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that I got an offer from Oxford! Thank you so much for checking over my personal statement and all the help that you have given me since GCSEs. I really enjoy our sessions every week, the discussions keep me constantly creative and thinking.'

A parent, January 2024: 'Thank you as always for all your continued help and support for [E.]. I know she gets a tremendous amount from your sessions and I'm very grateful.'

A student, January 2024: 'Just emailing to let you know I did get an offer from […] Cambridge yesterday so thank you so much for all your help! It is really appreciated and I'm really looking forward to starting my degree in October!'

A student, December 2023: 'So thank you so much again for all your help; your insights have been very useful and I have really enjoyed talking about literature with you.'

Tara, a parent, November 2023: 'you are really helping [R.], he is becoming much more confident. Thank you so much'.

Paula, a parent, November 2023: '[M.] is always delighted with your teaching. You are asking questions no one else does. My husband and I see her grow academically after every session with you.'

Liz, a parent, October 2023: 'Thank you so much for all the work you have done with, and the kindness you have shown, [E.] to date. She really enjoys her sessions with you, and you've helped keep her enthusiasm for English very much alive. I'm so grateful.'

Kim, a parent, August 2023: 'I cannot tell you how happy we all were and your help was clearly instrumental in that. Not sure if he told you but he got 12 points above an A* and it was his best A level result!'

A student, August 2023: 'I really enjoyed our lessons and think it has really helped prepare me for the Oxford style tutorials.'

A student, August 2023: 'wanted to let you know I ended up getting an A* in English, thanks so much for all the help!'

Mark, a parent, June 2023: 'Many thanks josh for your help this year. [E.] has said to me it has really helped, you started assisting her at a time when she felt behind her class mates for the whole of the first year, having switched to English half way through term one.'

Melanie, a parent, June 2023: 'Thank you so much for all your time and effort with [T.]'s English literature. She really enjoyed your sessions together and it really boosted her confidence and inspired her to think more deeply and critically about the texts. It also confirmed that she is happy and excited to study a literature based course at degree level.'

*

A-level results, August/September 2022:

'[L.] came home from university yesterday to attend her school prize giving ceremony, and this morning as she was leaving she asked me to let you know that she won a special prize in English […] Until last night, she wasn't aware of any of her awards, apart from her scholarship, so it was all a lovely surprise. Furthermore, the essays she wrote in her A level English exams have somehow found their way into her teachers' hands; they told her, with beams of pride , that the three marks dropped overall were actually in her *non exam* assessment, so 30/30 in all questions across all papers under exam conditions, something she had never achieved before. She had admitted to me in the aftermath of the exams that when she was writing her English papers she had really enjoyed the process, her thoughts flowing pretty effortlessly on to the paper. But she had also worried this stream of ideas might not be fit with the mark schemes. […] she […] wanted you to know about her prize, as she thought you'd be pleased, and she also wanted to say thanks one last time for your inspirational teaching that led to it.'

'I got AAA* for my results much higher than my predicted! particularly for english'.

'[G.] got an A star in English. And is off to Oxford. […] Thanks so much for everything - you were honestly amazing and really helped her get there'.

'[L.] got 3 a stars and an A star as well in her EPQ. Her highest marks were in English Literature ( 197/200)'.

'I achieved 4A*s in my Alevels - one being in English Literature. My teachers also let me know that I got full marks in both the exam papers'.

'[T.] smashed English Literature, A* […] she is absolutely over the moon . Thank you so much for all the work you put in with her !'

'I got a D[distinction]2!!! […] I got full marks on my PI!'

'I got an A* in English!!! Thank you so much for all of your help I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!'

*

A student, January 2023: 'Just wanted to let you know I got an offer from Cambridge, thank you so so much for all your help.' And Kathryn: 'You were such a great help to [E.] in her preparation for the Cambridge application and interview and we were all delighted when she was offered a place this week. Thank you for all the support you gave her.'

Shaun, a parent, January 2023: '[E.] has found the sessions really very helpful (and has enjoyed them!)'

Guifang, a parent, December 2022: 'From what I hear from [S.], she really enjoys her discussions with you, it's really one of the highlights of her week.'

A student, November 2022: 'I'm extremely happy to tell you that I received an 8.3 for the literary review […] Thank you for explaining to me what a literary review is […] I remember whilst working on it I was so worried about my grade, but it appears I've survived.'

Deborah, a parent, September 2022: 'a huge thanks again to you for all your work with [S.]. I know he has been in touch to let you know that he got 9s in both English Language and Literature. He was over the moon - well beyond his best hopes, so thank you again for being instrumental in helping him attain those grades.'

Karen, a parent, August 2022: 'Both my girls really like your way of teaching and talking to them, they feel really listened to and respected for their opinions (as well as respecting yours obviously), so thank you :)'

Helen, a parent, July 2022: 'Thanks so much for all the help you gave [J.], he really benefitted from the sessions he had with you.'

Tara, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all your help and patience - I think you have been brilliant for her confidence. She found English exams really very difficult before she started talking to you and it's amazing to see how much calmer (relatively speaking!) she has been going in to her A level English papers. Whatever the result, her sessions with you have definitely helped her to enjoy English again and I'm really grateful.'

A student, June 2022: 'This is incredibly insightful and thought provoking feedback. Thank you so much.'

Mei, a parent, June 2022: 'She found your lessons very helpful and always remarked to me how much you went the extra mile for her ; looking up and sending on links to whatever you'd been discussing. Much appreciated!'

Marguerite, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all you've done for [T.] in the past year . […] you are a very talented teacher.'

Monica, a parent, June 2022: 'You have been an absolutely wonderful tutor to [L.], and how time has flown since she first met you! […] Many a time she has needed someone to talk to, not so much about AO1-5, but rather about the beauty and burden of literature and life. You have always been willing to do that, and she is richer for it.'

A student, June 2022: 'Thank you for teaching me for the last year; I have enjoyed our lessons and I feel I have grown as an English student, with thanks to your teaching.'

A student, April 2022: 'I received an 8 for my essay!! I want to thank you for your tutoring on Keats and Wordsworth- I wouldn't have gotten such a grade without it!! […] I learned tons because of you.'

Ngozi, a parent, March 2022: 'Thanks for everything that you're doing for [G.] - it has been very helpful.'

A student, February 2022: 'Really, thanks so much. Was such a good and efficient service. Your feedback looks really good and I'm going to implement it today. […] Thanks again for doing this on such short notice'.

Deborah, a parent, October 2021: '[S.] said you make it really fun - he said at school his energy goes down in English lessons and with you it goes up! So that is praise indeed from a teenage boy!'

A student, August 2021: 'I got the A grade ! I'm so pleased, thank you for all the help and the essays really paid off :).'

Monica, a parent, July 2021: 'As would be expected from his first class qualifications, Josh is extremely intelligent. However, in my opinion, he has a a very particular advantage over others of a similar academic background, namely his ability to exhibit an authentic interest in the ideas his students express. He is always kind and encouraging, but without sacrificing rigour; this approach has had a hugely positive impact on my daughter when speaking, writing and reading. Furthermore, Josh has introduced her to a range of authors, poets , films and philosophical thought, thus enriching her far beyond the school curriculum. In the future, my daughter will undoubtedly look back on her time with Josh with both fondness and gratitude. I have no hesitation in recommending Josh as a tutor'.

Guifang, a parent, July 2021: 'I have know Joshua for 2 months and He has been supporting my daughter excellently through her GCSE courses, helping her to achieve a 9 in predicted grades. From this, Joshua has always been very serious with the work, needless to say, always punctual and gives detailed homework feedback. I know him to be a wonderful tutor to my daughter.'

Susan, a parent, May 2021: '[T]hank you so much for all your help with [N.] […] [N.] found your lessons extremely helpful which enabled her to enjoy and understand English in a greater depth […] it was excellent tuition . Thank you'.

Jamal, a parent, May 2021: 'Thank you Josh for all your efforts, you have greatly assisted [S.] in better understanding English Literature as whole.'

Zahed, a parent, May 2021: 'We are grateful for all your help and support. We are in no doubt that [A.] has improved a lot in English Literature under your guidance.'

A student, May 2021: 'I just got my coursework back and got an A in it. Just thought i should let you know thanks you!'

Margaret, a parent, March 2021: 'Thanks for helping [M.] to improve her English understanding. She really enjoys her lessons and chats!'

Chris, a parent, March 2021: '[R.] is benefiting immensely from your lessons and is definitely getting more confident in expressing his thoughts in writing! Thank you.'

Amanda, a parent, December 2020: 'Josh has really helped join the dots, encouraged a depth of questioning and ways to interpret and compare ideas, extracting and bringing fresh meaning to narrative styles and creative use of language. Josh has been a great support and steered [R.]'s confidence to look more thoroughly and develop a greater understanding all round. Josh has a kind, approachable style and encouraged [R.] with debating aloud and suggestions for further reading which all continue to be an invaluable help and inspire greater confidence in approaching exams and further reading in future!'

A student, December 2020: 'He helps focus my understanding and makes sure i understand the topic we are learning before moving on. Josh will make sure to ask you questions throughout the process and is always ready for your ideas even if you think it's wrong. He will set homework but makes sure to switch it up each week to make it more interesting and gives his feedback to help me understand what i need to do to improve.'

Diana, a parent, September 2020: 'Josh worked with my daughter for her A Level in English Literature. He was outstanding with his ideas and expanding her critical thinking. He went above and beyond to develop her analytical skills and as a result helped her obtain an A*. He is an absolutely lovely, gentle but dynamic and reliable tutor who has a rare ability combine his academic achievement with a natural talent for teaching. A real gem and we cannot thank him enough.'

A parent, September 2020: 'Joshua is an excellent tutor with great communication skills . He is very patient , helpful , approachable and takes time to explain everything clearly to my daughter . Joshua has been able to breakdown and explain in full detail all aspects of the A Level content.'

A student, June 2020: 'it's been great being taught by you, I've learned so many critical thinking skills in such a short space of time.'

A parent, March 2020: 'I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done for her - you've been the best English teacher she's ever had and she has loved her time with you.'

Tutoring Approach:
I try to combine three things that I want my students to do, which are three forms of thinking: speak about complex ideas, read high-quality material, and write essays for which they will receive detailed feedback. For obvious reasons, lessons are weighted to speaking, and homework to reading and writing.

Speaking

Pedagogy's holy grail is measuring progress, which is difficult in a classroom and impossible in a lecture. Happily, the tutorial system allows this to occur continuously and efficiently via dialogue. Can a student re-express an idea they have heard or read in their own words? If the answer is yes, they have probably understood the idea. Hence the constant questions!

As well as understanding the ideas of others, speaking is essential for students to develop their own. I love the quotation from the novelist E. M. Forster, 'How can I tell what I think till I see what I say?' We improve the quality of our ideas through the process of articulating them.

For my part, a fair amount of what I say is explaining the meanings of texts. This might sound obvious, but great works of literature are complex, so, to understand their meaning, one's own interpretation probably needs the support of others' prior interpretations.

I sometimes like to break the question of a text's meaning into two: What is it about? And what is it really about? Answering the first question is comprehension, a necessary first step. To answer the second question is to understand. In 'A Streetcar Named Desire', for example, Blanche goes to live with her sister in New Orleans. She expresses a strong dislike of her surroundings and is frequently associated with images of water. She declines mentally and is eventually taken away. So what's the play really about? Blanche is a Romantic idealist who is disappointed with her life but still tends to imagine things in their perfect form. The play is about the human soul conceiving of things being as good as they could be (as if cleansed by water), reaching for the conception, and failing to grasp it - shuttling back and forth, in other words, on the streetcar named desire.

One thing I frequently encourage is making the link between those oft-cited elements of a good essay, themes and quotations. These are not unrelated ingredients, they are the text itself viewed from different distances. A theme (the desire to be cleansed) is a wide shot, and a quotation ('the land of the sky blue water') is a close-up. So the student of English has to practise their ability to zoom in and out.

Another way I try to support my students' studies is by making connections between the texts they are reading, which in my experience doesn't happen that much at school. Particularly at A-level, there are often many fruitful connections between the half-dozen or so texts being studied: the Romantics were devoted to Shakespeare and Milton, the Gothic is an aspect of the Romantic, the Aesthetic Movement drew on particular strains of Romanticism, etc. When these connections get made with reference to particular writers, they are no longer just isms. They make the material deeper and easier to understand at the same time. Towards the end of their school careers, students of the humanities should be able to get the sense of taking part in 'the Great Conversation that began in the dawn of history and that continues to the present day' (Robert M. Hutchins).

Reading

I regularly give my students PDFs of high-quality secondary material pitched at their level or just above it. Explanatory notes, commentaries, and essays can help with understanding, particularly when it comes to context. (And all exam boards have assessment objectives relating to historical context.) To know that a text was written during a particular period and what characterised that period is to have a mental scaffold that does not limit movement but frees it. In studying the humanities we are studying human culture, and no one can do that without a bit of structure. It also helps when thinking about texts in relation to each other - when writing a comparative essay, for example. I like to think of honing in from context to text, e.g. Romanticism (late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries) > William Blake (1757-1827) > 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' (1794) > 'The Tyger'. (What's 'The Tyger' about? There's a question!)

In my experience, knowledge acquisition operates according to the Matthew principle, named after a verse in the Gospel of Matthew: 'unto every one that hath shall be given'. In other words, the more you've got, the more you'll get. Every time you learn something about Romanticism, the greater will be your understanding of the poetry of William Blake. Your internal bookshelves expand - more connections, greater understanding. Reading secondary material is obviously 'extra', but it works to enhance students' understanding of set texts rather than crowd them out. Homer Simpson said, 'every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain', and we laugh because it's not true. You can't fill up a brain, so the cliché about people's (particularly young people's) limitless potential is true. Every time you learn something new, you enrich your contextual understanding of everything else you have ever learnt. '[E]very moment is a new and shocking / Valuation of all we have been', as T. S. Eliot puts it in 'East Coker'.

Writing

Speaking and reading are in a concrete way preparation for writing. If you think and make notes while speaking and reading, by the time it comes to writing an essay, the question should not be about what to say, but how to arrange the things you want to say. So annotation is an important skill. It's a bit like getting 'in the zone' for a sportsperson - students must practise getting there and staying there. I model the annotation process something like the following.

Read with a pencil in your hand. What makes you underline? Something fires in your brain, so that you have a response - you spot a developing theme, you're reminded of another book, you agree or disagree, there's a word you don't know and need to look up, you like the way a sentence sounds. It could be anything. Read until you've underlined twenty words or sentences. Work out the three or four connections between the things you have to say, and you've got a paragraph plan. Work out the main thing you have to say, and you have a thesis for your essay, which, as you aim your paragraphs at it, will accumulate force.

A lot of learning (and life) is about noticing connections, so getting into the habit of doing so is something like learning how to learn. If a student has developed this habit, they shouldn't really have to think 'What shall I write?' in front of a blank sheet of paper or screen. The content of the essay will be a sort of emanation of prior thinking.
When it comes to giving students feedback, I keep in mind one of the best incites I heard early in my PGCE: attend to your students' writing as you would a piece of literature. This way, the marking progress becomes analogous to the writing process. What are all the things that could make this essay better? And is there a connection between them, i.e. what's the main thing this student needs to focus on? (I usually give feedback using comments and 'track changes' in Microsoft Word.)

I am interested in the role of generative AI and large language models in education, not to write students' essays for them, but as research assistants for students and teachers alike. It is of course important that students do not get the likes of ChatGPT to write their essays for them, among other reasons because they will not be able to do so in their exams. Tutoring is well placed to discourage this, since it has always been my practice to ask my students many questions about every essay they write.

Why study English?

It has been said that 'If you can think, and speak, and write, you are absolutely deadly', and I think that's right. Learning how to construct and articulate good arguments is learning how to impose ideas on the world. To the extent that English is about feelings, it is about their articulation, and there is a great deal to learn about how feelings have been and can be articulated. Moreover, because English is the medium of instruction in all other subjects, command of it confers a freedom to range through the history of ideas and discriminate between reliable and unreliable, including online. Language is a prerequisite for thought - doing English properly is learning how to think better. Finally, it is possible that as we enter the AI age there will be a revaluing of the humanities as against STEM, since the one thing AI will never be, by definition, is human.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a passionate, kind and caring educator with a wide range of experience teaching and tutoring both in the UK and abroad. I have worked as a primary school teacher for over a decade, a secondary SEND teacher, a private tutor as well as spending time working as a Governess/nanny in Russia. My most recent teaching observation feedback stated that 'You have a positive, purposeful and engaging learning environment fostered and your team work is seamless. Superb high quality modelling of skills and you extended all learning while planning in the moment. Provision is high quality and strong, positive relationships were displayed by all.' Following this observation, my headteacher wrote 'Thank you for all you do for the children - you really are amazing and we are lucky to have you!'

Teaching Experience:
I am a highly enthusiastic, caring and driven teacher with a wide range of experience teaching within the EYFS, KS1, KS2 and SEND (KS3, KS4, Post-16) - following the English National Curriculum, Development Matters EYFS framework and Functional skills and SEND curriculum. I am deeply passionate about childhood development and the relevant pedagogy; I enjoy in actively engaging with the latest research and training in this area. I am dedicated to meet the holistic needs of every child within my care as well as furthering my own personal and professional development. This is shown in my recent promotion to Wellbeing Coordinator of my school. I have worked in a wide range of schools, giving me broad experience across areas such as successful differentiation, progression, behaviour management techniques, and aspects such as working with children with SEN and learning EAL. Working within the international/independent sector has further ignited my passion for learning and teaching to the best of my ability. I enjoy working on a more one-to-one basis as I feel able to give every child the time that they need to make accelerated progress. I am highly thoughtful with my planning, and how I cater for individual children's needs. Feedback from parents is consistently positive and I try to make every learning experience interesting for the children I teach.

Tutoring Approach:
I am happy to tutor in-person at my address in BS10 Bristol or online. I have a current DBS certificate. My Specialism is Primary Education (4-11) - particularly phonics, english, maths, language development, SEND, social skills but I am willing to tutor other subjects also. I try to make all teaching experiences engaging and accurately-scaffolded for students so that they are motivated to continue furthering their skillset and knowledge.

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Personal Description:
I am a primary teacher who was born in India, spent a few years in Malaysia, grew up in Australia and now live and teach in the UK. I understand people and children from different backgrounds, cultures and needs and love to meet new people. I am a mother to a young toddler as well.
I love reading now though this was not always the case when I was younger! I think this gives me a unique perspective on understanding and encouraging a love for reading amongst young children. I enjoy puzzles and quizzes which leans into my strength of logical reasoning.

Teaching Experience:
With 10 years of primary classroom experience, my goal as an educator has always been simple: to turn complex ideas into lightbulb moments. As a current Year Leader and former Head of Science and Personal Development Lead, I bring both top-tier curriculum expertise and a warm, supportive approach that helps children truly thrive.

Nothing is more rewarding than watching that "switch flip" when a child moves from feeling stuck to feeling completely confident.

How I Help Your Child Succeed:

Building Maths Confidence: I specialise in demystifying maths. By taking the intimidation out of numbers and securing core mechanics step-by-step, I help pupils see that maths isn't just manageable-it's logical, predictable, and incredibly satisfying to master.

Building Reading & Writing Confidence: Literacy should unlock a child's imagination, not hold it back. I focus on developing fluent reading, rich vocabulary, and expressive writing skills so pupils learn to communicate with absolute clarity, creativity, and self-belief.

Tailored Learning: Every child learns differently. I draw on a decade of primary teaching to adapt lessons to your child's unique strengths, pace, and personality.

Whole-Child Support: With my background leading school-wide personal development, I focus on building resilience, self-belief, and a genuine love for learning alongside academic results.

Whether your child needs a confidence boost in maths, target setting for upcoming assessments, or an engaging space to master core skills, I am here to help them reach their full potential.

Tutoring Approach:
Starting with a clear plan ensures every lesson is purposeful, engaging, and tailored to your child's exact needs.

How We'll Work Together:

-Goal Setting & Target Assessment: We begin by discussing your precise ambitions for your child. Following an initial assessment, I map out any learning gaps and build a targeted roadmap to tackle them head-on.

-Active & Hands-on Learning: I use practical, interactive methods to bring concepts to life, making abstract ideas easy to grasp and remember.

-Structured Sessions: Every lesson balances predictable routine-to build fluency and recall-with high-energy engagement to ensure deeper understanding is truly embedded.

Session Structure & Ages:

Target Age Groups: I specialise in primary pupils from Year 2 to Year 6, though I also welcome secondary students needing support up to GCSE Maths and English.

Lesson Durations: Standard sessions run for 1 hour. For older pupils (Year 6 and above), I also offer 2-hour double blocks (split into 1 hour of maths and 1 hour of English) to maximise progress without losing focus.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have been teaching for over two decades. I hold a BA (Hons), a post graduate certificate in European humanities, a PGCE in teaching, a master's degree in linguistics in education and NPQH. I also hold a level 5 Tefl qualification.
When I am not teaching or tutoring, I enjoy using creative processes to enhance well-being and I enjoy spending time with animals - mainly cats!
I am a life-long learner and am always trying to learn new things, be that a new craft or a quick dabble in Latin!

Teaching Experience:
I have taught -full time - for over two decades. I have taught young children who are beginning their learning journey, through to those preparing for, and entering, secondary school. I have extensive experience in preparing children, both academically and emotionally, to sit statutory tests. I believe in developing resilience through enabling children to understand the meta-cognition involved in the learning process.
I am experienced in teaching all curriculum areas and I have an excellent knowledge of engaging and exciting children's literature. This knowledge can be used to enhance the teaching of basic, foundational skills, particularly in English.

Tutoring Approach:
I always begin where my pupils are and track back to see where the learning gaps may be. I find that taking a pupil-led approach to this can support the identification of, not only gaps in learning but also areas where confidence is not so strong.
I will always move at the pupil's pace and introduce new concepts when the foundational understanding is secure. I encourage pupils to take academic risks and I emphasize that, sometimes, the 'wrong' answer is a step to reaching the right one!

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