Ian

I qualified as a secondary school history teacher in 1981 with English as a second subject. Following this, I became a general subjects teacher in a middle school and then progressed into the primary sector as a general class teacher. This occupied the bulk of my teaching career. In 2000 I left teaching to work in horticulture for a while. However I also gained experience as a tutor of young adults with learning difficulties at this time. I then went back into education as a teaching assistant in a large comprehensive school contributing across the full range of subjects and exam levels. At this time , I also tutored small groups of children in local primary schools in Maths and English often towards SATs tests. Further to this I also offered private tuition in Maths and English to Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils, assisting in one case up to Key Stage 4. Recently, I have worked as an activities coordinator with young adults with special needs at a local charity, delivering sessions with an educational base. Having now retired and having a bit more time, I feel that now would be a good time to again offer my skills and experience as a tutor

Tutoring Experience

High School History and English 1980-2
Middle School general subjects 1982-3
Primary School General Class Teacher 1983-2000, including one year in New Zealand on a Commonwealth teacher exchange.
Supply Teacher, general primary 2000-2001
Tutor in Horticulture and Basic Skills (English and Maths) 2001-2
Tutor for primary school Maths and English SATs groups 2008-2015
Private tutor 2010 and 2014 KS2 English and KS3/4 Maths
Learning Support Assistant Further Education 2008-9
Teaching Assistant in a comprehensive school 2009-2019
Activities Facilitator for young adults with learning difficulties 2019-2021

Tutoring Approach

I have a broad background in education and enjoy enabling students to gain more confidence in their skills and in their approach their studies. I particularly like to identify areas of need and to select relevant materials to help students to reinforce knowledge which can provide building blocks for later independent learning. The first half of my career has been spent as a teacher directing studies from the front of a classroom. My later work as a learning support assistant and as a tutor has been much more focused on directed progress for individuals and small groups requiring the practice of specific methods or the improvement of specific skills across a full range of student ages and needs.