At SENsational Tutors, we are so delighted to share some incredible news:
We have been awarded ‘School Partnership Provider of the Year’ at the National Tutoring Awards 2026.
This recognition, presented by The Tutors’ Association, is one of the highest honours in the UK tutoring sector; receiving it is both humbling and deeply meaningful for everyone at the company.
This means so much. It celebrates the values we live by every single day: collaboration, compassion, compliance, innovation, and our solid, unwavering commitment to SEND young people. The award reflects the very core of who we are as a team and the trust placed in us every day by schools, families, and local authorities across the country.
A Recognition Embedded in Collaboration and Impact
The School Partnership Provider category is designed to elevate organisations that work directly with schools and local authorities – not only to deliver tuition, but who root themselves within the wider educational network. To be recognised in this category means that our partnerships are not only effective, but life-changing.
The Tutors’ Association outlined four key criteria that shaped their decision when selecting the winner of this award:
- Genuine Collaboration: Selecting an organisation that creates deep, trust-based relationships with school leaders, built around shared curriculum objectives.
- Measurable Impact: To find evidence of academic progress, emotional growth, and holistic development – especially for disadvantaged/SEND students.
- Rigorous Oversight: A record of immaculate safeguarding compliance, a commitment to employment regulation, and flawless communication systems.
- Added Value: A company that displays support that goes beyond commercial delivery – that includes free family webinars, community engagement that recognises the needs of parents, carers and the needs of their children.
- We are honoured to be seen as an agency that is not only dedicated to these values, but who is to be recognised as setting a new standard for them.
Built on Lived Experience and Specialist Expertise
Founded in 2017 by tireless SEND expert Joanna Gibbs, SENsational Tutors has always been rooted in the real-life experience of complex educational needs. Joanna’s vision was clear: to create a specialist tutoring service that truly understands children who learn differently, and to build a team of elite-level tutors who can offer life-changing support.
Today, we operate as a fully compliant Tutoring Agency, with over 160 specialist tutors that has supported more than 600 families across the UK. Every SEN tutor is meticulously vetted, trained, and matched with care to ensure that each child receives the best help possible.
This award acknowledges the depth of our expertise, the strength of our systems, and the passion of our team.
Expert Led School Support: What Makes Our Model Different
One of the reasons SENsational Tutors stood out to the judges was our expert-led management team. We are a service that comprises former headteachers, SENCOs, specialist teachers, and SEND experts who truly understand the pressures schools face. We understand because we have been there.
This means:
- We respond to enquiries within 24 hours.
- Our goal is to connect families with the right tutor as swiftly as possible.
- We handle compliance and safeguarding seamlessly.
- We provide schools with a single, stress-free point of contact.
Our goal is always to lighten the load for schools and all educational settings, not add to it.
Life Changing Outcomes for Students
The Tutors’ Association highlighted several case studies from our application – stories that demonstrate the power of specialist tuition when delivered with empathy, creativity, and expertise.
These included:
- Work with alternative provision schools, such as Heartwood House, where one of our tutors re-engaged school-traumatised teens by linking mathematics to practical electronics.
- Intensive, multi-sensory support for students recovering from severe medical trauma.
- Tailored, student-led approaches that rebuild confidence and trust.
Our outcomes speak for themselves:
- 100% of parents rated their child’s tutor as a strong match.
- 100% of students built trusted, meaningful relationships with their tutor.
- 95% of parents reported a huge boost in their child’s understanding of core subjects – up from just 16% before tutoring support began.
These numbers reflect what we witness every day: children reconnecting with learning, rediscovering their strengths, and rebuilding their futures.
Going Beyond the Classroom
We are proud that the judges recognised our commitment to offering value that extends far beyond paid tuition. At SENsational Tutors, we believe in supporting everyone involved: the whole family, the whole school, and the whole child.
This includes:
- Free live webinars featuring Local Authority experts.
- Informative advice blogs for parents and educators.
- Opportunities to engage in cutting-edge learning, e.g., trialling VR programmes designed to offer immersive education which can also gently re-engage children to classroom environments.
Innovation is part of our DNA, and we will continue exploring new ways to help SEND learners thrive. We will continue to grow, learn and evolve so that we never lose sight of our core values
What This Award Means to Us
Founder and Director, Joanna Gibbs said: “We feel deeply honoured and proud to have received this award. Collaboration and innovation are at the heart of everything we do and are what set us apart. We are constantly evolving our approach, embracing new ideas and exploring creative strategies to ensure every child and young person with SEND has the opportunity to thrive.”
Helen Webb, Client and Tutor Care Manager at SENsational Tutors added: “This is a particularly wonderful award for me personally, as a former Headteacher I recognise what a difference can be made through commissioning specialist teachers to enhance outcomes for children who may otherwise not be able to access education in the traditional way. I am so proud that our commitment to inclusion has been recognised and rewarded.”
These quotes capture the heart of who we are. We are flexible. We are collaborative. We are innovative. Above all, we are committed to every child who learns differently
Head of Operations and Strategy, Hannah Ackroyd, stated: “Winning this award is an incredible honour; it represents far more than recognition of our work, it celebrates the dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment of our entire team. Working behind the scenes, I see every day just how much care and expertise goes into supporting every young person we work with. I also have the privilege of knowing our exceptional tutors, whose compassion, professionalism, and commitment make such a lasting difference in the lives of our young people.”
This award reinforces our reputation as a leading UK provider of specialist tutoring, trusted by schools, alternative provision schools, and local authorities nationwide. It recognises our dedication to The Tutors Association compliance, continuous CPD, and a 4.9/5 Trustpilot-rated service that restores hope for families who have felt let down by traditional systems.
It feels fitting to end with a few words from our SENsational Tutor, Glynda; a specialist dyslexia teacher, trauma coach and experienced SEND practitioner. She states: “It’s such a privilege to work with a company whose fundamental belief is that every child deserves a tutor who truly understands their individual needs. They ensure to put this, coupled with ensuring that quality and relationships come before simply filling a placement, every time.”
A Final Thank You
To our tutors, our families and our partner schools; thank you. This award belongs to all of us. Together, we are shaping a more inclusive, compassionate, and effective future for SEND education in the UK.
To The Tutors’ Association: thank you for recognising the work we pour our hearts into every day and for providing such a reputable association that values and recognises tutoring as a valued profession both nationally and internationally.
Here’s to continued collaboration, innovation, and life-changing specialist tuition services – delivered with the SENsational spirit and drive that defines us.
Author: JOANNA GIBBS
https://www.sensationaltutors.co.uk/founder-and-director/