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.
Rosemary
In-person
Skelmersdale
As an experienced tutor of 25 years, I support SEN and dyslexia in English and GCSEs by building trust and routine. I strive to make learning positive, achievable, and motivating.
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Hannah
In-person
Online
Stourport-on-Severn
I am a SEND specialist with 10 years experience supporting young people with additional needs. My approach is nurturing, empathetic and flexible; prioritising tailoring learning to the individual.
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Sharon
Online
In-person
Bushey
I am passionate about improving children's self-perception as learners, fostering curiosity and making learning inspirational, purposeful and fun. I specialise in supporting reluctant writers.
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Jessie
Online
In-person
London
(3 reviews)
Drawing on 12 years of specialist SEN experience, I provide personalised, engaging and creative lessons for students with a broad range of SEN. Students feel confident, secure, and ready to progress.
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Eva
Online
In-person
London
(12 reviews)
For over 15 years, I've empathetically supported students with autism, ADHD, and SEN in English, maths, and exam prep. I focus on nurturing confidence and celebrating every step of progress.
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Nicola
In-person
London
With 20+ years’ experience, I create fun, supportive and engaging learning experiences that help SEND students feel confident, secure and inspired to make progress at school and in everyday life.
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Catherine
Online
In-person
Woodford Green
With 30 years' experience, I tailor English and maths lessons for students with autism, SEN, and dyslexia. By adapting to their pace and strengths, I ensure positive, long-term outcomes.
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Anthony
Online
In-person
Bishop's Stortford
(3 reviews)
With over 13 years of experience, I support students with autism, ADHD, and SEND in subjects such as English and Maths. I build trust and rapport to make learning a positive, empowering experience.
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