During session 2023 / 2024 I will be working in the Kilmarnock area on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

I normally run three sessions on weekday nights at 17.00, 18.30 and 20.00. For 6th year pupils with space in their timetables, afternoon sessions may be available. Saturday morning tuition is reserved for Primary School children. Four slots run on Sundays: two in the afternoon and two in the evening. Please be aware that slots usually fill quickly and are allocated on a first come-first served basis.

Depending on available spaces, it may be possible. However, if your child is due to be presented for a national qualification at the session's close, I wouldn't recommend it. Besides making it harder to develop a strong working relationship, the structure of modern qualifications means that there are important assessments throughout the year. In past experience, fortnightly tuition often results in 'fire-fighting' rather than learning.

In most circumstances and on most weeks, tutees are given supplementary work to complete between sessions. This reinforcement work is a crucial aspect of the tuition and allows session time to be spent learning new skills and concepts. The expectation is that the supplementary homework will be emailed prior to the session, allowing time for me to offer constructive written feedback with 'next steps' and feed the findings of the homework into session planning.

Absolutely. It is fundamental that tutees don't think about the tuition as simply a once per week face-to-face session. I strive to provide remote 24/7 help and support. Parents/carers are copied into all email correspondence.

Yes. From dyslexia to ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), autism to asperger's syndrome, I have experience of teaching and tutoring children with a variety of additional support needs at a variety of ages. I am delighted to work in tandem with your child's school and very much welcome inquiries from parents looking for supplementary ways to support their child.

Every child is different and although I strongly believe that an 'in-person' approach is more beneficial, it is possible to conduct the tuition remotely where distance or slot timings render face-to-face sessions impossible.

Sessions last 75 minutes and the price of the tuition is £35 per session. There is no surcharge for travelling expenses. Invoices are sent monthly with direct bank transfer being the preferred payment option.

After initial contact has been made, the tuition process usually begins with a no-obligation consultation. This informal meeting allows everybody involved - parent(s), tutor and child - an opportunity to discuss the tuition, its aims and the desired outcome. Whilst parents and potential tutees have the chance to ask questions and view credentials, the consultation allows me to discover more about your child as an individual. The central aim of this meeting is to put your child at ease so if s/he is particularly anxious about undertaking the tuition then please don't hesitate to let me know in advance. Once a weekly time slot has been agreed, the process moves to its second stage. Over the tuition's first couple of weeks, my aim is to establish a working relationship with the tutee whilst undertaking a number of diagnostic exercises that allow me to better gauge where potential areas of strength and weakness lie. These are not tests but rather a tool to help tailor an individual programme to suit needs. This commonly involves a number of oral comprehension reading exercises and tutees are asked to produce a short piece of personal reflective writing between sessions.