Specialised Teaching On The Wirral

Our Tutors

Our kind and patient tutors have taught children across all abilities, including those with needs such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, autistic spectrum conditions, speech and language disorders, dyspraxia, developmental coordination disorder, global developmental delay and English as an additional language, as well as children who just need a bit of support to catch up.

In addition to full time teaching, we have worked extensively amongst multidisciplinary teams as well as leading annual reviews of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), applications for statutory assessment and applications for school entry deferral. We are experienced in liaising with speech and language therapists, paediatricians, social workers, foster carers, educational psychologists and early years intervention officers.

Jo Cowan

Jo Cowan

BA Hons, PGCE, PGDip Advanced Educational Practice (Special Educational Needs)

Jo qualified as a teacher in 1993 with a degree in English and Psychology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, specialising in the lower primary years. She has since taught in a variety of Early Years, Key Stage 1 & 2 classrooms. Jo is fully DBS checked.

Jo gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Educational Practice (Special Educational Needs) in 2012 and has worked as an Early Years SENDCo for the past seven years. Now retired from teaching, Jo runs the administrative side of the business, and will be the person you speak to on the phone or by email. She is based in North Wales so don’t be surprised if you see an unfamiliar area code when speaking to her!

Jo is fully DBS checked.

Sally Tempest

Sally Tempest

B. Ed (Hons) P.G. Dip (Dyslexia/Dyscalculia Research and Practice) AMBDA

Sally qualified as a teacher in 1989 and has worked extensively across the primary age range in a variety of schools as both a class teacher and intervention teacher. In 2012 she joined an outreach team working across Wirral schools supporting pupils with dyslexia and dyscalculia who were struggling to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills. She was also SEN teacher at a local independent school. Sally is currently supporting pupils with Education Health Care Plans in schools as well as pupils after school hours.

Sally gained a P.G. Cert in 2017 and P.G. Dip in 2020 from University of Chester. She is an Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA) and holds an APC (Assessor Practicing Certificate) to enable her to assess pupils for dyscalculia/maths difficulties and write full diagnostic reports.

Sally is fully DBS checked.

Pauline Wright

Pauline Wright

BSc Hons, PGCE, PGCert Special Educational Needs Coordinator

Pauline qualified as a teacher in 2006 with a degree in Biology and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education in Secondary Science. She has since taught in a variety of settings as a science teacher but predominantly in a short stay Secondary Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) supporting many children with a wide variety of needs.

Pauline gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs in 2015 and worked as Assistant SENDCo within the PRU and latterly as SENDCo in a school catering for pupils from 2 to 18 years. Pauline currently teaches children with a range of additional needs, from ages 7 to 16.

Pauline is fully DBS checked.

John Adamson

John Adamson

BA Hons, PGCE

John is a qualified teacher who enjoyed a career which spanned 35 years and covered both state and independent sectors. Latterly, he was Senior Teacher (pastoral) at Kingsmead School, Hoylake, until he took early retirement (2013) in order to concentrate on other interests, including tutoring.

He has had two novels published by Mirador, and more stories currently promoted in America. He writes a non-football column in the Tranmere Rovers matchday programme.

John teaches English Language, English Literature, and French.

John is fully DBS checked.

Sian Bell

Sian Bell

BA Hons with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)

MA Advanced Educational Practice and Dyslexia
AMBDA (Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association) (18/AMB03053)
Full member of the Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS OF8224)

Siân qualified as a teacher in 2000 and has taught in a both mainstream and special schools. She has held leadership positions in several schools including the role of SENCo.

In 2014 she joined the local authority literacy outreach team working across Wirral schools supporting pupils with dyslexia and literacy difficulties.

In 2018 Siân gained an MA in advanced educational practice and dyslexia. She is qualified to deliver specific dyslexia intervention and is currently offering enhanced screening assessments and learning profile assessments.

Siân has extensive experience working with children and young people with a range of neuro-diversities.

Siân is fully DBS checked.

Mary Eaton

Mary Eaton

LL B (Hons), B A (Hons), PGCE (Secondary)

Mary originally studied Law, but studied Maths with the Open University when her children were small. She took a PGCE at University College, Chester in 1996, specialising in secondary Maths. She then taught Maths at Kingsmead School for over 25 years, where she taught children across the ability range from Year 7 up to A Level, including a wide range of neuro-diverse children with a variety of needs.

Mary was also Exams Officer, liaising with the SENDCo to ensure the children all received the exam access arrangements they were entitled to.

She now supports children from Year 7 to Year 11 and is fully DBS checked.

Mary is fully DBS checked.

Annabel Underwood

Annabel Underwood

BA (Hons)

Annabel worked in management for Marks and Spencer, Burberry and Eurostar after graduating from university. She took a break to bring up her own three children before making the move into education. Annabel is a Level 3 Teaching Assistant and has worked at a local school for the last 12 years.

She has worked 1:1 with children with autism, ADHD and other needs, taken intervention groups and taught phonics, as well as teaching the whole class. She has worked across Years 1 and 2 for the majority of this time. Annabel also teaches swimming at private swim schools and to Junior School children.

Annabel is fully DBS checked.

Cerys Thompson

Cerys Thompson

Cerys worked for the NHS for ten years before taking a career break to have her children. After that she worked in an Infant school for thirteen years as a Level 3 Teaching Assistant. There, she worked with whole classes, individuals and targeted groups. She now works one-to-one with children who need extra support.

Her skill set is particularly in the SEND area where she is very experienced in working with children (and families) who have ASC, speech and language difficulties, learning difficulties, global developmental delay, dyslexia, dyscalculia or physical disability issues.

Cerys is fully DBS-checked.

Fiona Austin

Fiona Austin

B.Sc. (Hons), Prep. Cert TEFL, PGCE

Fiona did a degree in Zoology, then moved to Spain for a few years where she taught English as a foreign language. On returning to the UK she did a PGCE in Secondary Science and has taught Science, GCSE and A level Biology in the state and independent sector from Year 5 – Year 13. She has experience of teaching students with a range of additional needs and always tries to teach in an interactive manner, meeting the pupils where they are at with their needs and understanding.

Fiona is fully DBS checked.

Sarah Sherlock

Sarah Sherlock

Sarah worked for 8 years as a Dispensing Optician after graduating from university. She took a break from work to bring up her 3 children and, whilst volunteering in their schools, concluded that education was her vocation.

After a few more years of study, she gained specialist qualifications in dyscalculia from Edge Hill University and Dyslexia Action.

She worked as a numeracy specialist in a primary school before moving to a secondary school, gaining a wide range of experience working with children with special educational needs. During her time working at a secondary school, she also taught children GCSE-level Maths.

Many of her pupils suffer from Maths anxiety and struggle because of lack of confidence. Sarah teaches Maths from primary age up to and including GCSE.

Sarah is fully DBS checked.

Esther Dooley

Esther Dooley

Esther completed an undergraduate degree in Childhood Studies before spending time gaining experience working in schools as a 1:1 for children with additional needs. Esther also spent time travelling abroad, working with children in schools and orphanages in Ethiopia and Tanzania. In 2016, Esther completed her PGCE, specialising in 3-7 year olds.

In 2019, Esther moved to Finland and taught in an international school for a year, teaching 6-7 year olds whose first language was not English. Now working as a Level 3 TA in a reception class, she conducts intervention groups for children needing a boost in phonics, communication, and numeracy. Esther has experience of working with all primary school age groups. She has taught children with neuro-diversities, dyslexia, language difficulties and global delay.

Esther is fully DBS checked.

Hilary Skinner

Hilary Skinner

B. Ed. Hons

Hilary qualified as a teacher in 1983. She has taught mainly in state secondary schools, but has also worked in the independent sector and with students for whom English was not their first language. She has extensive experience of teaching students with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and a wide variety of other additional needs.

Hilary is fully DBS checked.

Other Tutors

We have several other tutors who work with us. They each have a specialism, ranging from Early Years, through Infant and Junior level, and up to GCSE level Maths and English. They work in their own homes across the Wirral, although some will come to your home if you prefer. All of our tutors are hand-picked, highly experienced and police-checked.

Book A Tutor Session

Our sessions cost £60 per hour. For this, we:

Plan a detailed, personalised lesson

Produce individualised resources

Teach your child one-to-one

Constantly assess and review your child’s progress throughout each lesson and in the longer term
Feed back to you at the end of each lesson
Set homework activities if applicable (you as parents will know whether homework is necessary for your child)
Offer ongoing email and telephone support to you in case you have any concerns or questions
Liaise with teachers and other professionals as necessary
One to one expert tuition with pupil and tutor

Unlike other tutors, we don’t follow a generic workbook – we believe that your child is unique, with unique skills and experiences, and that’s why we prefer to plan our lessons from scratch, based around your child’s specific needs. That’s why we believe our SEN tutoring on the Wirral is the best place for your child to become a confident learner.

What They’re Saying:

{

I know M has found the sessions you have had together very helpful and we have seen the direct outcome of this in the tests he has had, so thank you!

{

E is loving your sessions. See you next week!

{

Finding you has been a game-changer for us.

{

Thank you for all your support with L over the last few years.

{

We can't begin to thank you for all your help and how much of a positive support you have been to B.

{

Thank you so much for finding time to help S. She thoroughly enjoys her sessions with you and always has a big smile on her face on Thursdays knowing that she will be seeing you. I know that she will really miss you. We can't thank you enough for all the kindness you have shown to S and we really appreciate all the help you have given her.

{

My son's confidence in Maths has grown exponentially since he’s been tutored by Sarah. He loves going and is now willing to tackle anything. Sarah uses methods to teach him the way he learns and he understands (and retains) what she teaches him. I couldn’t be happier with his progress.

{

We are both extremely grateful for all the work you have done with A. She will miss you as will we. You have made a huge impact on A and her overall feelings and thoughts about being in an educational set-up. A's confidence has improved greatly and your positive reinforcement and the kindness you have shown her has aided her so much. Thank you.

{

The reporting is thorough and evidenced and I appreciate the feedback.

{

Improvements have been noted in all areas and shown in grade increases across the curriculum.