Written by Joanna Gibbs, (PGCE, QTS, B.A. (Hons), M.Ed.) specialist qualified teacher and founder and director of SENsational Tutors
As the world adapts to new ways of living to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, one major impact on our lives has been the shift from education being provided mainly in schools and classrooms to homeschooling becoming the norm, supplemented with online tutoring through live video teaching sessions.
For many children and young adults, this radical routine change may have negatively impacted their learning patterns and achievements. However, for those students with SEN, including ADHD, autism (including high-functioning autism), dyslexia, dyspraxia and anxiety, the opportunities made possible by multi-sensory, engaging and fun online tutor sessions hold possibilities to boost their education, skills, confidence and personal development.
Numerous studies and educational psychologists certainly suggest that children and young adults with SEN benefit from a multi-sensory, visual approach which can readily be delivered by 121 online sessions with a highly-qualified specialist SEN tutor, like the experts we provide.
Our tutors have vast experience in providing engaging, bespoke online lessons using Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype and other platforms.
The great range of features of these online platforms can be put to invaluable use in our tutoring sessions.
For example:
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- Documents can be annotated with interactive whiteboards
- Files can be easily shared and displayed
- Interactive games can be played
- Fun and engaging activities can be completed
…and all in the comfort and safety of our students’ homes!
10 benefits of online tutoring for children with SEN
- Better focus and concentration
It might sound surprising but online tutoring sessions can help rather than hinder a child or young adult in their ability to remain focused and attentive. Games and activities can also keep them engaged or be used for necessary brain-breaks.
- Helps to develop independence and responsibility
Online sessions allow a student to take ownership over their own learning. Research suggests that these constructive models of learning – where children are active participants in seeking out knowledge, making sense of their experiences and gaining satisfaction from solving problems – is regarded as a transformative learning experience.
- Relaxed environment
Studies suggest that students learn best when they are in a relaxed environment. With online tutoring, a student can take a laptop to any comfortable place they like in order to access the specialist learning support. This is ideal for students who may otherwise feel anxious.
- Choice of specialist tutors
The relationship between student and tutor is vital. Switching to an online teaching model automatically widens the choice of specialist SEN tutors available which means parents can select the ideal tutor for their child in terms of skills, experience and personality – regardless of location.
- Greater flexibility and adaptability of sessions
An SEN tutor who is delivering expert sessions online is more likely be able to work around a parents and child’s busy schedule and may also provide ad-hoc sessions to boost confidence around a certain topic.
- Higher fun ratio!
Remote sessions offer a fresh take on learning – there are so many different methods to use, that can bring an exciting, refreshing dynamic compared to the traditional classroom environment. There are also a wide range of online activities and games readily available to engage and excite any student.
- Easy to track progress and assessments
Achievements be easily tracked using online systems.
- Available anywhere around the world
Technology can bring any of our specialist SEN tutors into students’ homes wherever they might be, through flexible remote online sessions.
- Helps to develop computer skills and touch typing
These skills are becoming essential for any child to grasp and master. Online tutoring sessions can help to improve these abilities, including keyboard, mouse and use of other common IT features.
- Recorded playback sessions
Online tutoring platforms allow sessions to be recorded. For those students who may have difficulties with the processing and memory, this is ideal because it helps to advance their learning at their own pace. They can review any topics or stop or pause the sessions, in their own time.
What is the success rate of online sessions for children and young adults with SEN?
Since the Coronavirus UK lockdown began, our tutors have needed to think creatively about how to provide sessions to our students.
We are pleased to report that our online tutoring sessions had a 95% success rate. This includes children and young adults with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, PDA and other special and additional needs.
We believe we can continue to support this ratio of children and young adults with SEN remotely, regardless of their individual needs or diagnoses.
Many parents have even told us that their children preferred online sessions!
One parent recently said:
“I would never have considered online sessions for my child (age 7) with autism and ADHD, but I knew that I had to try. What a pleasant surprise! He is so engaged and absolutely loves his sessions!”
Another mentioned that:
“We can highly recommend Lucy as an online tutor for children with dyslexia/ dysgraphia. Lucy is tutoring our 7 year old son who has Dysgraphia in virtual lessons. We have been amazed at how varied, creative and tailored Lucy designs those lessons. Our son has a great time while learning and training lots of different skills!”
Click here to book online SEN tutoring with one of our specialist tutors today >>
