Nicola

My experience of working with pupils who have ASD

Throughout my tutoring and teaching career, I have worked extensively with pupils who have ASD, and over the past eight years I have developed deeper expertise through roles in alternative provisions as well as working as a 1:2:1 tutor. These experiences have strengthened my understanding that every learner with ASD has needs unique to them, and that a flexible, individualised approach is essential.

I prioritise creating a safe, predictable environment from the very first session, building strong relationships with both pupils and their families to ensure a collaborative home-school partnership. My practice focuses on reducing anxiety through strategies such as offering choice, using low-pressure tasks that appeal to the individual, incorporating interest-led activities, and supporting co-regulation. We work, in particular, on developing communication as this is both the foundation to all other learning as well as a way of giving pupils a sense of success. Sessions are dynamic and responsive so that pupils' needs are met at every stage, while we work together to remove barriers step by step and celebrate small wins.

I also provide structured, multisensory support in reading, writing, and numeracy, carefully adapted to address processing and working-memory challenges.

My experience of working with pupils who have PDA

I currently support a number of pupils with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), where reducing anxiety and maintaining trust are central to effective learning. My approach focuses on creating a collaborative, non-confrontational environment by embedding choice and flexibility into every session. Often I will work alongside my pupils to encourage curiosity, and I use indirect language, low-demand tasks, and interest-led activities to reduce perceived pressure, while prioritising co-regulation and emotional safety. Building strong relationships with pupils and families is key, ensuring that strategies are consistent and supportive across home and school settings.

My experience of working with pupils who experience ADHD and ADD

Alongside my work with pupils who have ASD, I have extensive experience supporting learners with ADHD or ADD, including many who present with a combination of ASD and ADHD. These dual diagnoses often require a highly flexible and responsive approach, as pupils may experience both sensory sensitivities and challenges with attention and impulse control.

One effective strategy I use is breaking tasks into short, manageable steps with clear visual cues, combined with movement breaks and interest-based activities. This approach helps maintain focus while reducing overwhelm, and it supports self-regulation by allowing pupils to reset before continuing. By embedding choice and predictability into sessions, I create an environment where pupils feel safe, engaged, and able to succeed.

My experience supporting pupils experiencing anxiety and wider SEMH difficulties

I currently work with many young children who experience significant anxiety and wider SEMH needs, including those who struggle with emotional regulation, confidence, or forming trusting relationships. My first priority is always to understand what your child is feeling and to acknowledge these experiences as completely real and valid, never dismissed or minimised. From this foundation of trust, I create a calm, predictable, nurturing space where your child feels truly seen and safe to engage. Sessions move gently at their pace, using co-regulation, play-based and interest-led activities, low-pressure tasks, and clear routines to reduce overwhelm. By focusing on connection first, we build resilience and coping skills step by step, ensuring learning feels achievable and empowering while confidence grows in small, meaningful ways.

My experience supporting pupils with Communication & Language difficulties

I have supported many children who find communication challenging, whether due to delayed speech, limited expressive language, or difficulties understanding instructions. Last year, I saw much success with a young lady who was elective mute; it was with great pleasure that I watched her absolutely smash her GCSEs, with all at grade 6 and above! My sessions focus on building strong foundations through play-based, interactive activities that encourage natural communication. I use visual supports, modelling, repetition, and child-led dialogue to create a pressure-free environment where your child can explore language confidently. By celebrating every attempt and giving plenty of opportunities for success, children begin to communicate with greater ease, supporting not only their learning but also their self-esteem and ability to connect with others.

My experience of working with pupils who have sensory and auditory processing needs

I have supported many pupils with sensory processing challenges, often alongside ASD and ADHD. I currently support an A level pupil who has sensory processing needs, vestibular disorders and hypermobility, and am assisting her with university application. A key strategy I use is creating a low-stimulation environment, offering sensory breaks and making calming tools such as weighted cushions or fidget items available. This has helped my pupils – particularly my younger pupils – regulate their sensory input, reducing anxiety and improving focus so they can engage more effectively in learning tasks.

My experience of working with pupils who have dyslexia

As an English specialist, I have supported many pupils who have dyslexia and understand the challenges they face. I use structured, multisensory techniques to help them decode text, build fluency in reading and writing, and develop confidence. By breaking tasks into manageable steps and tailoring strategies to their strengths, I create a supportive environment where pupils feel capable, motivated, and increasingly successful in their learning. In addition to teaching English, I've also worked for many years as a GCSE and A level examiner, an experience that has equipped me with the knowledge of how to really hone in on how to achieve the best results possible.

My experience of working with pupils who have GDD

I have extensive experience supporting children with Global Developmental Delay, and my approach is grounded in patience, gentle encouragement, and a genuine belief in every child's potential. I focus on what can be achieved rather than what can't, taking time to understand each learner's strengths so that we can build on them together. Progress for pupils with GDD is often steady and gradual, so I create a calm, reassuring learning environment where they feel safe to take risks and practise new skills at their own pace. I break tasks down into small, achievable steps and offer consistent praise to nurture confidence and motivation. My sessions are flexible, responsive, and shaped around the child's individual abilities, ensuring that every moment feels manageable, positive, and meaningful as we work towards secure, lasting progress.

My experience supporting pupils with sensory seeking and sensory avoidance needs

Many of the children I work with experience sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking behaviours, and my approach is shaped around helping them feel regulated and comfortable before any learning begins. I carefully adapt activities using a multisensory, child-led approach, offering movement breaks, tactile resources, and a low‑pressure environment where your child's needs guide each moment. By reducing sensory overload and building predictable routines, children are better able to focus, participate, and enjoy learning. My aim is always to help your child feel safe in their body so they can thrive emotionally and academically.

My experience of working with pupils who have complex needs, including medical needsI have worked with pupils whose learning is impacted by complex needs, including medical conditions requiring tailored care and planning. I understand the need to follow all medical advice and procedures, and my experience has strengthened my ability to adapt sessions around health requirements, fatigue, and sensory sensitivities, while maintaining a calm, predictable environment. I collaborate closely with families and professionals to ensure safety and continuity, and I use highly individualised strategies to balance academic progress with wellbeing. My practice is rooted in flexibility, empathy, and clear communication, so pupils feel secure and supported at every stage.

In Summary

My experience to date has taught me the need to ensure tailored support is provided for each learner so that they can achieve to the best of their ability. I build strong relationships not just with children, but with their families, and I prioritise safety, predictability and genuine care from the first session. I'm skilled at reducing anxiety by using choice, low-pressure tasks, interest-led activities, and co-regulation, and my sessions are dynamic to ensure that my learner's needs are met every step of the way. In collaboration with learners, I remove barriers step by step and celebrate small wins. I also provide structured, multisensory reading, writing and numeracy support, adapted for processing and working-memory needs.

Typically, I will use a range of strategies and pedagogies, such as:-

• Numeracy and Literacy: use of kinaesthetic materials as well as visual activities, such as art and drawing

• GCSE English (Language or Literature): anxiety-aware pacing, guided annotation of set texts, scaffolded paragraph building, and practice papers with calm coaching

• Reading and Writing Support: multisensory phonics, sentence construction vocabulary games, dictation-to-composition bridges, and interest-led prompts

• Executive Function Boost: visual schedules, chunked tasks, movement breaks, and co-created checklists that learners can reuse independently

• Life Skills, PHSE and Communication Skills: practical based sessions, with use of PECs and Social Stories to support

Please note that all sessions, whilst prepared in advance, are dynamic to suit the specific needs of each individual learner during that particular session. I have found that my dynamic, flexible approach to sessions enables the building of positive relationships and builds self-esteem.