Location: Online initially, with potential for Home Tuition – Reddititch (B97)
Hours: Up to 15 Hours Per Week – Gradual Build-Up Required
Days: Monday–Friday
Subjects: English, Maths & Science
Year Group: Year 4
Delivery: 1:1 Tuition
Tutor Requirement: Female Tutor
Start Date: ASAP / TBC
About the Role
Study Mind is seeking a patient and highly adaptable SEN Tutor to support a Year 4 student with an EHCP and significant Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
The student has been out of school since December 2025 and is currently working considerably below age-related expectations. However, the immediate priority will be building trust, reducing anxiety and successfully re-engaging him with education, rather than placing heavy academic demands on him from the outset.
Due to the student's extreme anxiety around unfamiliar people entering his home, the family would prefer tuition to begin online. Face-to-face home tuition may be explored gradually if and when he becomes comfortable with this.
About the Student
The student is an 8-year-old who experiences very high levels of anxiety, which can significantly affect his ability to engage with education.
When he feels overwhelmed, he may avoid or refuse tasks, shut down or become emotionally dysregulated. His family is understandably unsure how quickly he will engage with a new tutor, so we need someone who is comfortable taking a very gradual, relationship-first approach.
He has low academic confidence and a significant fear of failure, meaning reassurance, predictability and carefully managed expectations will be essential.
Academic Focus
Tuition will cover:
The student is currently working well below age-related expectations, particularly within literacy.
Areas requiring support include reading, writing fluency, letter formation and recognising irregular words, alongside broader development of his English and Maths skills.
He has a strong visual memory and can hyperfocus when activities connect with his interests, providing an excellent foundation for an interest-led and multi-sensory approach.
There are no examination requirements for this placement.
Gradual Re-Engagement
Although the overall package is for up to 15 hours per week, the student is unlikely to be ready to access this immediately.
The successful tutor should be comfortable beginning with short, low-pressure periods of engagement and gradually increasing both academic expectations and session length.
Initially, individual learning activities may need to last only 10–15 minutes, interspersed with breaks, movement or preferred activities.
Progress should be measured not only academically, but also through improvements in engagement, confidence, emotional regulation and willingness to attempt learning.
SEMH & Emotional Regulation
The student's anxiety can lead to significant dysregulation when he feels overwhelmed. At times this can present as anger or physically reactive behaviour.
Triggers can include:
- Academic demands and fear of getting something wrong.
- Changes to expected routines.
- Noise and busy environments.
- Sensory overload.
- Social misunderstandings.
- Unstructured situations.
The tutor must understand these behaviours within the context of anxiety, overwhelm and emotional regulation needs, using a calm and non-confrontational response.
Experience with PACE, Emotion Coaching, co-regulation or similar relationship-based approaches would be particularly valuable.
Learning Approach
The student requires a highly structured but low-arousal approach, including:
- Visual timetables and Now/Next prompts.
- TEACCH-style visual sequencing.
- Personalised task boards.
- Short and clearly defined activities.
- Multi-sensory and kinaesthetic teaching.
- Regular movement and regulation breaks.
- High levels of modelling and scaffolding.
- Repetition to support working memory.
- Reduced academic demands initially.
- Clear routines and predictable expectations.
- Plenty of reassurance around mistakes and fear of failure.
- SALT-informed communication strategies where appropriate.
The aim should be to gradually develop independence rather than expecting it immediately.
Interests & Strengths
The student particularly enjoys:
- Aeroplanes.
- Butlin's.
- Drama and imaginative activities.
- Movement-based learning.
- Structured games.
- Interaction with trusted adults.
Using these interests creatively within English, Maths and Science will be important in establishing engagement.
For example, aeroplanes could provide opportunities for number work, measurement, reading, writing, geography-linked discussion and practical Science activities.
Ideal Tutor Experience
We are particularly interested in a female tutor with experience of:
- Primary / KS2 English and Maths.
- SEMH and significant childhood anxiety.
- Autism-friendly teaching approaches.
- ADHD/executive-functioning-style learning needs.
- Emotionally Based School Avoidance or prolonged absence from education.
- Supporting children working significantly below age-related expectations.
- Emotional dysregulation and low-arousal approaches.
- TEACCH or highly visual teaching methods.
- Multi-sensory and kinaesthetic learning.
- PACE and/or Emotion Coaching.
- Rebuilding confidence following educational disengagement.
Above all, the tutor needs to be patient, consistent and comfortable progressing at the student's pace.
Hours & Delivery
The overall provision is for up to 15 hours per week, with availability across:
Monday–Thursday: Mornings and afternoons
Friday: Mornings
A phased timetable will be required, gradually working towards the full provision as engagement improves.
The family's current preference is for online tuition initially, as the home is an important safe space for the student and introducing an unfamiliar adult into that environment could significantly increase his anxiety.
If appropriate and agreed over time, there may be an opportunity to transition towards 1:1 home tuition in Redditch (B97).
This is an excellent opportunity for a compassionate and creative SEN Tutor who understands that, for a highly anxious young person returning to education, developing trust and confidence is the first step towards meaningful academic progress.
Company Overview
At Study Mind, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances. We specialise in providing high-quality, 1:1 tuition for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who require personalised academic support outside mainstream education. Through our tailored approach, we help students build confidence, engage with learning, and achieve academic success.
Pay: £27.00-£32.00 per hour
Expected hours: 15.0 per week
Work Location: In person
