Location: Burton-on-Trent, DE15
Hours: 10 hours per week – 8 hours tuition + 2 hours mentoring
Preferred Times: Between 10:00am–2:00pm
Delivery: Face-to-face, 1:1
Subjects: English, Maths & Functional Skills
Start Date: September 2026 / ASAP
About the Role
Study Mind is seeking an experienced SEN Functional Skills Tutor & Mentor to provide 1:1 support to a secondary-aged student in Burton-on-Trent.
The student has an EHCP and dyslexia, alongside significant gaps in education. He requires a tutor who can combine structured English and Maths Functional Skills tuition with a strong mentoring and relationship-building approach.
Building trust will be essential. The successful tutor will need to establish a positive relationship before gradually increasing academic expectations and completing baseline assessments.
Academic & Mentoring Focus
The 10-hour weekly package will consist of:
- English, literacy and Functional Skills support.
- Maths, numeracy and Functional Skills support.
- 8 hours per week of academic tuition.
- 2 hours per week of dedicated mentoring.
- Confidence, emotional literacy and independence development.
- Practical, hands-on learning linked to the student's interests.
- Baseline assessment once sufficient trust and engagement have been established.
The student is currently working at approximately Year 2 level in English and Year 3 level in Maths, with dyslexia significantly affecting literacy development and confidence.
Student Needs
The student has experienced considerable disruption to both his education and personal circumstances. He can find it difficult to trust unfamiliar adults and requires a consistent, reliable and nurturing tutor.
When learning feels difficult or exposes gaps in his knowledge, he may avoid the task, withdraw or become frustrated. The tutor will therefore need to recognise early signs of overwhelm and adapt the session while maintaining clear expectations around engagement.
He benefits from small achievable steps, repetition, scaffolding, accessible language, praise-based motivation and practical learning rather than heavily worksheet-based teaching.
Learning Approach
The successful tutor will:
- Break information and tasks into manageable stages.
- Use a dyslexia-friendly and highly differentiated approach.
- Build confidence before increasing academic challenge.
- Incorporate practical activities into English and Maths.
- Provide regular reassurance and genuine recognition of achievement.
- Support emotional regulation alongside academic development.
- Maintain clear routines, expectations and professional boundaries.
- Encourage the student to recognise his own progress and capabilities.
Interests & Strengths
The student is described as friendly, sociable and helpful, with a good sense of humour.
He has a strong interest in football, sport, go-karting, bikes, scooters, skateboarding, gaming, mechanics, practical problem-solving, snooker and pool.
Using these interests creatively within English and Maths will be an important part of building rapport and making learning feel relevant.
Ideal Tutor Experience
We are particularly interested in tutors with experience of:
- SEN and additional learning needs.
- Dyslexia and significant literacy difficulties.
- SEMH and trauma-informed education.
- Functional Skills English and Maths.
- KS2-level English and Maths intervention.
- Supporting young people following prolonged or disrupted education.
- Mentoring and emotional-literacy development.
- Practical, creative and interest-led teaching.
- Supporting reluctant or avoidant learners.
- Managing dysregulation or challenging behaviour calmly and confidently.
Experience supporting care-experienced young people or learners within residential care settings would be particularly valuable.
Hours & Location
The placement is for 10 hours per week, comprising:
8 hours – English, Maths & Functional Skills Tuition
2 hours – Mentoring
Sessions should ideally take place between 10:00am and 2:00pm, with specific days agreed directly with the residential home.
Tuition will be delivered face-to-face in Burton-on-Trent, DE15, with an appropriate lounge/table and reading area available for sessions.
Why This Role?
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced SEN Tutor who enjoys working beyond a traditional classroom model.
The successful tutor will play an important role in helping a young person rebuild trust in education, develop functional English and Maths skills, improve confidence and work towards greater independence and future progression.
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: 10.0 per week
Work Location: In person
