If you’re considering private tutoring for your SEN child, it’s natural to have questions about the process. Many SEN children have had traumatic experiences within traditional education settings, which can contribute to reduced confidence and interest in learning.
You may feel worried about how your child or teen will respond to tutoring, what it might entail, and whether it can truly support their wellbeing and skills. In this mythbuster post, we’ll dispel common misconceptions about SEN tutoring with SENsational Tutors.
Top 5 Myths about SEN tutoring:
Myth #1: We only provide academic support
In traditional packages, tutoring often refers to academic support only. Tutors help students to improve their skills in a specific subject, such as mathematics or English literature.
Whilst this can be helpful, it typically cannot meet the unique well-being needs of neurodivergent students. For example, Kerns et al. (2020) found that nearly 78% of autistic children have at least one co-occurring mental health condition, with nearly half having two or more.
From struggles with anxiety to school trauma, SEN children need additional support to help them thrive and regain a love of learning.
Fact: We support SEN students holistically
SENsational Tutors is not a traditional tutoring company. During sessions, our tutors provide trauma-informed, holistic support to SEN students to improve their well-being, as well as support their academic growth. This includes support with:
- Anxiety
- Confidence building
- Emotional regulation
- Communication
- Exploring special interests
- Developing trusting relationships
Tutors first focus on building trust with students and helping them to enjoy the learning environment. After this strong foundation has been established, they then deliver tailored academic learning at the student’s own pace.
SEN Tutor Sheree states, “Sometimes what helps a child progress most isn’t more worksheets, but more connection. For me, working therapeutically and holistically means creating emotional safety first. Once those foundations of trust and safety are in place, the learning follows naturally.”
Myth #2: We’re just regular tutors who “also work with SEN kids”
You might be expecting our tutors to have predominantly traditional teaching expertise, with a bit of SEN experience tacked on. Considering how SEN students often require tailored support, it’s not surprising that parents would feel concerned about this.
Fact: Our tutors are specialists in SEN tutoring
In reality, SEN tutoring is a passion and specialism for our tutors. All of our tutors have Qualified Teacher Status and a minimum of 8 years’ specialist experience working with SEN children.
Along with a strong understanding of neurodivergent children’s needs, they also have vast experience with inclusive learning techniques and tools to help students reach their full potential. These include:
- Multi-sensory learning
- Assistive technology
- Visual support strategies
- Repetition and generalisation of skills
- Scaffolding
- Mindmaps and memory supports
- Executive functioning support
- Tech and AI learning supports
- Creativity, art and game design
- Structured routines (with regulation breaks)
Myth #3: We don’t support or include parents within our tutoring
Some traditional tutoring services offer minimal parent involvement, such as providing occasional progress updates. In most cases, this doesn’t include support for parents and their SEN journey.
This ignores the impact of having a child with SEND on the parents’ well-being. For example, parents of autistic children often struggle with stress and depressive symptoms.
Fact: We work in partnership with parents to help children thrive
SENsational Tutors supports parents to ensure they feel included and supported in their child’s learning.
For SEN tutor Sheree, the relationship between parents and tutors is more like a partnership:
“We’re all working together to help their child thrive, not just ‘catch up.’ Families know they can reach out, ask questions, and share concerns – and they’ll be genuinely listened to.”
With a personalised, collaborative service, parents can feel supported and see the difference in their young people. As SEN tutor Angela states,
“One parent was constantly appreciative that I kept analysing behaviours and adapting my approach, repeating successful elements of the learning and changing a tiny bit of something each week.”
Myth #4: Learning with us is the same as traditional tutoring/schooling
Many neurodivergent children have poor experiences with traditional educational settings, leading to school anxiety and trauma.
On top of this, formal lessons aren’t always the best way for SEN students to learn. For example, autistic and ADHD students may struggle with the frequent attention-switching required during the average school day.
Fact: Learning with SENsational Tutors is relaxed and personalised
Rather than formal “lessons,” we create inspiring, laidback learning environments that are tailored to each young person. There are no rigid scripts or tick box exercises, just tailored learning support which suits the individual child. Tutors have the space to be flexible and respond to their students’ needs, including providing sensory breaks and support with emotional regulation.
Our tutors foster fun and relaxation through their sessions by incorporating children’s special interests. For example, tutor Glynda used gaming to help her student:
“For an autistic student with a PDA profile, I have used Chat GPT to create images of his current focus (Roblox) which helps with engagement and motivation, and he writes sentences to describe the pictures.”
Myth #5: We can’t provide speech and language support
Speech and language therapy is an important intervention for many SEN children. As we are not speech and language therapists, it is often assumed that we can’t provide any support in this area. However, this is another myth!
Fact: SENsational Tutors embed speech and language strategies into our sessions
Whilst it’s true that they aren’t speech and language therapists, our tutors are highly experienced at incorporating speech and language strategies within their sessions.
They are aware of diverse communication needs that students may have, incorporating various inclusive techniques to break down barriers. These include using AAC systems, including Signalong and the Picture Exchange Communication System, to enable communication.
We take pride in supporting students to find communication methods that are accessible to them, and aim to incorporate communication skills into real-world situations to help students with their daily living.
Unlock your child’s potential with SENsational Tutors
Looking for neuro-inclusive tutors with vast experience of inspiring SEN young people? Visit our Find a Tutor page to discover your ideal tutor, or get in touch with our helpful team to learn more.
