11+ Tuition Sessions
It is very easy to over-tutor children which is why I only offer my 11+ lessons to pupils who are in Year 5. Children who begin the process too soon run the risk of becoming demotivated by the time they reach the critical final few weeks leading to the tests. One year of solid preparation should always be enough.
All children whose parents have enquired about my tuition are invited to an initial one-to-one session in the Spring or Summer Term of Year 4. This is not purely an assessment, but does give me an opportunity to gauge a child’s basic levels of maths and English, and also their attitude to learning. It also serves as a lovely way to find out what the child enjoys both in and out of school.
My sessions begin about 2 or 3 weeks into the new school year, which gives the children a chance to settle into their new class routines before starting out on their 11+ journey. Lessons take place during term-time, and last for ninety minutes (with a short break half-way through). This ensures all content can be covered thoroughly without rushing, there is plenty of time to revisit topics and, essentially, there is ample opportunity to work through practice papers and sit ‘mock’ tests.
I work with small groups (maximum of four children) which enables me to devote plenty of time to each child’s individual needs. This also gives children the chance to interact with each other which can enhance their engagement in and enjoyment of the sessions. Every child is allowed to work at their own pace; extension materials are provided for those who work more quickly, and additional practice tasks are always available for those who need them. No child in a group is ever held back and kept waiting, nor will a child be pushed too far too soon.
Homework is set weekly: initially, I would expect a child to spend around thirty to forty minutes a week on homework, but this will increase as the year progresses. Homework tasks consolidate work covered in the lessons and are frequently differentiated to match each child’s individual requirements.
I feed back to parents formally after every few sessions, but I am happy to answer questions or concerns at any stage. Often, it’s the parents who need the most support and reassurance. Honesty is always the best policy and, if a child is struggling for any reason, I will make parents aware of this immediately so we can discuss how best to support their child going forward.
Group sessions do not take place during school holidays: instead I offer the option for one-to-one lessons which are useful for children who need further practice in certain areas. One-to-one holiday sessions are available to any child going through the 11+ process, not just those attending my term-time group sessions.
Every August I run week-long revision courses, aimed at any children due to sit the 11+ tests the following month. The courses cover a range of question types, with a focus on those which, experience tells me, children tend to find the most challenging. I also offer ‘mock’ tests on occasional dates in the summer months.
As far as I am concerned, the whole 11+ process is about making sure that the children I tutor grow in self-belief and resilience, and that they feel a sense of achievement, regardless of the outcome of the tests. Their efforts should always be celebrated, and they should know that their parents and I are extremely proud of them.
To enquire about:
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Weekly term-time small group tuition sessions
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School holiday one-to-one tuition
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Summer holiday revision courses
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‘Mock’ tests
