Wellbeing and Mentoring
Mentoring and wellbeing support can make a huge difference to a SEND child’s experience of education.
Creating confidence in learning
When it comes to working with students with special needs, building a rapport and a sense of trust is just as important as boosting academic achievement. An experienced SEN tutor will understand that behind a child’s hostility or reluctance to engage with schoolwork, there is probably a huge amount of anxiety coupled with low self-worth.
“Because of this, the tutor will aim to develop a nurturing relationship with a young person before any learning takes place. You can’t put the cart before the horse. By the time a student comes to us, they’re often at rock-bottom. They may have disengaged with their education provider and their parents are probably worried. You have to find a way to bring learning alive again for them and help them to re-discover their confidence. We all do our best when we feel good about ourselves.”
SENsational Tutor Kelly
Building Trust Takes Time
Realistically, however, it can take time to ‘connect’ with a new student, especially if they are fearful of change or find social situations challenging. And although it may sometimes appear that not much progress is being made, the fact that they are sitting down with someone they’ve never met before, is definitely a move in the right direction.
“It’s about being consistent” Kelly explains. “One student I work with, for example, is trying to get rid of me but I keep turning up! I’m always there when I say I will be and that’s the first step to building trust. And sometimes families also need to be guided to see that the session isn’t only of benefit when their child has completed lots of worksheets. Success is very different for people with special needs – just engaging with the tutor, even in a small way, is a success.”
SENsational Tutor Kelly
Tutors Need to be Aware of How the Student is Feeling
Gemma has worked extensively with children with a variety of SEN including ADHD, autism, and dyslexia and has three children of her own with special needs. She agrees that encouraging a sense of wellbeing is an essential aspect of the tutor’s role.
Aside from her teaching work, Gemma also works as an energy healer and although she never uses its techniques on her students (it would be unethical without permission) it has broadened her understanding of how to best support young people.
“I might say, ‘When I’m upset, I try to breathe like this’, or maybe, ‘When a person is angry, they might want to bang their fist on the table’” she elaborates. “I don’t force them to try anything. I just want to open up the conversation.”
In return, she says, it’s useful for the tutor to be honest about their own emotions. “I’ve noticed that students can often tell if I’m not feeling great, either, even if I’m putting on a professional ‘face’” she points out. “I tell them the truth – that I’m tired or there was a lot of traffic on the roads, or whatever.”
SENsational Tutor Gemma
Listening to the Students’ Concerns
To help with this, she offers students the chance to explain how they’re feeling at the beginning of a lesson if something seems ‘off’. And although adults often feel they have to ‘fix’ difficult situations on behalf of young people, it’s better, Gemma advises, to just ‘hold the space’ – in other words, simply listen and acknowledge any difficulties in the child’s life.
“I might say, ‘When I’m upset, I try to breathe like this’, or maybe, ‘When a person is angry, they might want to bang their fist on the table’” she elaborates. “I don’t force them to try anything. I just want to open up the conversation.”
In return, she says, it’s useful for the tutor to be honest about their own emotions. “I’ve noticed that students can often tell if I’m not feeling great, either, even if I’m putting on a professional ‘face’” she points out. “I tell them the truth – that I’m tired or there was a lot of traffic on the roads, or whatever.”
SENsational Tutor Gemma
Create a United Front
When children are complaining about the ‘pointlessness’ of something they are struggling to learn – nuances of grammar for example – it can be powerful to stand on the same side as them so that it’s you and them vs the work (rather than you and the work vs them!). In this way, you are demonstrating that you hear them, understand the challenges and will be beside them as they navigate their way through the system.
However, the most important aspect of encouraging wellbeing, Gemma maintains, is accepting the young person as they are.
“I might say, ‘When I’m upset, I try to breathe like this’, or maybe, ‘When a person is angry, they might want to bang their fist on the table’” she elaborates. “I don’t force them to try anything. I just want to open up the conversation.”
In return, she says, it’s useful for the tutor to be honest about their own emotions. “I’ve noticed that students can often tell if I’m not feeling great, either, even if I’m putting on a professional ‘face’” she points out. “I tell them the truth – that I’m tired or there was a lot of traffic on the roads, or whatever.”
SENsational Tutor Gemma
Enquire about mentoring
Find out more about mentoring and wellbeing support from the expert team at SENsational Tutors
Some of our Mentoring & Wellbeing tutors
Alternative Provision through SENsational Tutors ensures your child is matched with a tutor with real SEND experience.
Loretta
Online
In-person
London
(1 review)
I have 8 years of evidence-based English and Maths tutoring for autism, ADHD, and a variety of SEND needs. My structured, empathetic approach develops relationships and fosters student independence.
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Jonathan
Online
Bath
(1 review)
Drawing on 20 years of experience, I provide supportive maths, science, and GCSE tuition for autism, ADHD, and SEN. I ensure practical, calm sessions where students feel secure to progress.
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Nicole
In-person
Reading
(5 reviews)
I've spent 25 years working with students with autism, ADHD, and SEN across the age range and in all subjects. My approach helps develop engagement, confidence and independence.
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Lucy
In-person
Online
Tonbridge
I am an Art teacher practitioner with 12 years experience working with young people within alternative provision as well as 1:1 and mainstream environments. I believe in a love of learning for all.
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Rebecca
Online
In-person
Reading
(7 reviews)
I truly hope that as you read through my experience it gives you hope that your child too has the ability and capacity to thrive, experience the joy of learning, and realise their full potential.
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Glynda
Online
In-person
Central London
(12 reviews)
Specialist SEND teacher supporting pupils with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, PDA and executive function needs through evidence-based strategies that build skills, confidence and independence.
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Carl
Online
In-person
Sheffield
I have 15 years’ experience tutoring learners with autism, ADHD and other SEN. I teach English Language and Literature, including GCSE preparation, and tailor lessons to each learner’s needs.
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Libby
In-person
London
I am a fully qualified teacher with over 10 years experience teaching children with diverse needs, including in an Outstanding SEN primary school and 4 years of providing 1:1 tutoring to SEN pupils.
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