Some of the questions asked by parents who are thinking about additional learning support for their child.
What subjects do you teach?
I teach Mathematics, English, French, and Biology.
Where do tutoring sessions take place?
Sessions take place in my home setting on Blandford Avenue – easy to reach from most schools by bike or bus – which allows tutees to feel secure and provides various ways for them to express themselves.
Are there times when you are particularly busy?
After-school sessions tend to get snapped up very quickly particularly during exam times but I operate a waiting list if no slot can be found.
How do you handle attention difficulties?
I am well used to wavering attention spans and disruptions in concentration due to many factors, but in most cases I can overcome these distractions with a careful approach, attention to the learner and my respect for young people.
How do you work with children who are struggling?
My tailored, one-to-one approach allows me to quickly understand each child’s educational difficulties while building trust between tutor and learner. I’m well used to working with varying attention spans and can overcome most distractions through careful attention to the learner.
What makes your learning environment special?
Working in my home setting allows children to feel secure. Different children can learn in different ways – struggling readers can read to the fish or dogs, energetic children can use the trampoline between tasks, shy children can work with puppets, and those with fine motor-skill challenges might use clay or plasticine.
How do you view learning difficulties?
While many learning disabilities are commonly diagnosed today, I believe that labels aren’t always to a child’s advantage. My approach focuses on marginalising hurdles and allowing the inner child to flourish.
What’s your aim for the children you teach?
I work to help children develop skills and competencies they can use in the wider world. My aim is to prepare them for re-immersion in standard educational settings, ensuring they understand expectations and how to meet them.
What experience do you have?
After retraining as a secondary school French teacher at the University of Oxford, I’ve taught both in Oxford schools and as a private tutor in maths, English, French, and some sciences. My experience includes working with my own child who has dyspraxia and dyscalculia.
Are you DBS checked
Yes, I am fully-DBS checked.
Do you ever work via Zoom?
I sometimes work on Zoom for overseas students and holiday catch-up sessions but I find in-person one-to-one work the most beneficial for learners.
Holistic Tutoring 