If your child is exceptionally bright that's good news. But it may also mean that their school is unable to keep them challenged, learning & growing.
When that happens, children can become bored and switched off. They may lose their edge, or become antisocial. They may even start to fall behind in their grades.
That's when private tuition can really help with gifted children.
Chris Wesley BSc LCA
What does "Gifted" Mean?
There is no accepted definition in the UK, but the term is generally used for those in the top 5 - 10% of their class in one or more subjects. Your child's teacher may volunteer that phrase, or exam results may be the primary indicator.
Why Does My Private Tuition Work So Well?
I visit your child in your home or online, via PC - (see here). I sit with them, usually for an hour. We need a table, pen and paper, and that's it. Of course, you are welcome to watch; a few of my parents join in, but mostly, they go about their business elsewhere. Private one-to-one tuition works well with gifted children because:
- We're in a class room of one. There are no distractions, no discipline issues, no waiting for others to catch up. It's 100% focussed quality time - just your child and me.
- I can rapidly assess their level, their style, and their personality, and design the work specifically for them.
- We will consolidate their understanding of the syllabus, and then stretch their abilities, keeping them keen and entertained, fending off disinterest and the other negative consequences of boredom and predictability in the young.
- I run a creative, relaxed, friendly class where any question (including "what's the point?"!) is encouraged. I employ games, riddles, and creative exercises to bring freshness and variety to our learning environment, and I relate the subjects to real-world applications.
- I teach fundamental subject understanding - not how to get answers from rules and formulae. That means there are no tiresome rules to remember, but more than that - I impart the joy of understanding and the wonder of it all. This is how all teaching should be, but it's a luxury seldom on offer in our packed classrooms.
- In parallel with core subjects, I teach thinking skills; ways to expand awareness, to explore and direct emotions, coping strategies, estimation techniques, salvaging, time management techniques, examination techniques, and more.
- Really great teaching is far more about working with people than subjects. I am a professionally-trained life coach, qualifying with distinctions in theory and practice from the UK's largest academy. I have five years experience in practice (see www.uklifecoaching.org). I can bring all of that to work in the service of your child - helping out with existential and emotional issues.
- If requested, I assign homework at no extra charge, to extend the benefits of private tuition. These are assignments completed in my absence, and assessed my me next time. They generally extend what we covered in the class, and will generally encourage independent thinking, develop autonomy, and exercise coping strategies. They may involve personal research - often online.
Tuition Subjects
| Key Stage 2 | All Subjects |
| Key Stage 3 | Maths, English, Science, Design & Technology, and Computing or ICT |
| GCSE levels | Physics, Design & Technology and Computer Science or ICT |
| AS & A2 | ICT, Computing, Design Technology |
| Expanding Creativity | Activities designed for individual students of any age to develop intuition, visualisation, and creative thinking in its various forms. |
| Emotional Development | Activities designed for individual students of any age to develop emotional repertoire, increase emotional control, reduce stress, improve self-esteem, empathy and social skills., and in general - |
Key Benefits of Private Tuition
 |
At school, your child may fall behind un-noticed in a busy class of 26 or more. With private tuition they will have my full attention. |
|
I will place my focus exactly where your child needs it. There are no other children's needs to consider. We can spend as much time as it takes to get your child up to speed in the areas they need help in. |
|
I can be flexible in my approach - choosing specifically how to tackle issues in a way which works best for your child. |
|
I can build a personal relationship to make learning easier, more pleasant and much faster. |
|
I come to you in your home, where you child can feel safe and relaxed in familiar surroundings. |
|
You have access to me throughout. If you like, you can see what I do and how I do it. You can ask me questions and make comments. |
|
I will use my coach training to keep students positive and productive. (Visit my coaching website here). |
Teaching Area
I travel to you from central Bedford, and a 15 mile radius is a reasonable limit - so that's Bedford, Kempston, Clapham, Sandy. Rushden, etc. I will travel further, but that will increase the cost - details below.
If you're outside my catchment area - or even if you're not - why not consider online tuition?
How Does Online Private Tuition Work?
If we're too far apart to meet, then online tuition offers a great way forward. Your child sits at your home computer and I sit in my office. We are both connected to each other via broadband internet connections. Conferencing software (it's free) is running on each computer, which provides us with these capabilities:
-
We can speak to each other as though by phone, but it's free and the sound quality is far better.
-
Through our internet connection, I can see my student working at their PC - typing into Word, for example, or a spreadsheet, or working with a painting program - and vice versa. They can give me control, so that I can demonstrate various things - it really is like being there.
-
We can see each other via web cam if necessary, but it seldom is.
-
We use a program called a Whiteboard. This means I can write and draw here at my desk and my student can see what I'm writing as I write it at their computer, and vice versa.
- and we can easily flip between "sheets of paper" on the whiteboard. -
When I prepare the lesson, I will have scanned lesson material and at appropriate times I can place it on the whiteboard at which point, my student can see it as clear as a bell.
-
I can use the whiteboard to point to things as I explain them. So, for example, if they're reading a passage I'm showing them and they mis-read a word, I can point to it, and say "what's this word again?". It's just like being there.
-
I can send homework assignments (optional), and students can send me their results by email.
- Online students must have reasonable keyboard skills.
This means we have almost complete functionality versus what we can do face to face. I can work on the technical issues, as well as the inter-personal, confidence and other human factors which are so important in the learning process. The beauty is that no-one leaves home, so there's no call out fee for you. And with no carbon emissions, it's green!
I am available on a pro rata cost basis, to help you set up your computer for online tuition. I can guide you through the entire process.
My Teaching Qualifications
I have an honours degree in Computing & Electronics
I have a full complement of 'O' and 'A' levels
I have a stage one certificate in adult education
I have a professional coaching qualification at which I gained a distinction
My Teaching Experience
17 years in corporate IT, including course preparation & presentation
Three years lecturing in web design and Business IT at Bedford College
Four years as a life coach - helping all kinds of people to make the most
of their lives.
Remedial Reading tutor.
I am certified safe with the criminal records bureau. I am a magistrate.
Private Tuition Costs
£30 per hour.
The next step is yours - just call for an informal chat or to book your first session. I look forward to working with your child.
|
Chris Wesley BSc |
01234 306993
If you're NOT planning to contact me, I'd love to know why!
Please say briefly below. All feedback is useful and appreciated.
If you'd like a reply, please include your email address.
|
My occasional newsletters contain details of special offers, tips & techniques for students and parents. Your details are not shared, to opt out, just reply with subject "unsubscribe" |
|