Jayne

I'm a retired English teacher, having worked in secondary schools for 40 years! My specialisms are English Literature and English Language at KS3, GCSE and A-Level. Additionally, I can offer tuition to Key Stage 3 in those valuable years that lead up to examinations covering English Language, English Literature, and History.

As a Mum to two children, I know how much our children need support throughout the difficult times in education. As a teacher for over 40 years in a secondary school setting, I can provide this support for a child to flourish and engage with their subjects successfully.

I am passionate about books and reading. When I’m not teaching, I can be found reading, gardening, listening to music, and helping my daughter and son along their life journeys. My family mean everything to me, as do close friendships. The world is a troubled place and we need to treat each other with respect and kindness in everything we do.

I love the creative arts, history, theatre, nature, and spending time with my family, cooking, and growing things. History is something I adore, and I did this as part of my undergraduate degree.

Testimonial: ”My time with Jayne was incredibly useful in helping me with both my English literature and language GCSE. I started with her near the end of year 10, and from the very start, she was helpful, providing resources, advice for my mock examinations and going over set texts with me-helping me to see things in a different light and be more perceptive in my thinking.  Each lesson was well planned out and adjusted according to my weaknesses, with regular homework given to consolidate this. However, Jayne was also really flexible and willing to change plans if anything of short notice came up. I am thankful for her help and have no doubt that if I was sitting my exams the hard work would have paid off!” - Ms A Rao, 2019

“Jayne tutors my 13 year old son & the fact that he was willing to carry on with lessons through the summer holidays is a real tribute to her approach to teaching. Jayne is a positive & encouraging teacher; she quickly identified my son’s strengths & weaknesses with his written work and her input is building up his confidence in this subject. I am very happy that my son has her support going into year 9.“ - Mrs C Kilvington, 2020

"Jayne is great at communicating. She understands exactly what is needed to succeed in GCSE English and English Lit. Jayne is patient and flexible. Highly recommended." - Ms F Holker, 2022

"Jayne is a very thoughtful tutor and, according to my son, is very easy to get on with. Her approach has been supportive, encouraging and patient. Never did I think my 14-year-old son would engage with lessons and get so much out of them. His confidence has increased, he is happier and the difference has been noticed by his teacher. I would happily recommend Jayne as a tutor." - Mrs S Camaano, 2022

"Jayne is a fantastic teacher and has really helped to build my confidence and fill gaps in my basic English skills. Her approach is very nurturing and I am now ready to sit my exams. I would definately recommend Jayne, she is a exemplary and dedicated English specialist." - Miss G Elms, 2022

"Jayne has been an excellent tutor for my daughter. She is kind, patient and encouraging. My daughter is actually reading for enjoyment again as a result of her lessons with Jayne." - Mrs R Corbett, 2021

"Jayne is an excellent teacher and I would highly recommend her! She provides both a great mix of listening, speaking and practical learning activities and a very supportive learning environment." - Dr R Madhu, 2022

"Jayne is a fantastic and resposible teacher, she helps my son Thomas with his grammar, comprehension, writing. Thomas starts making progress, thanks for all your effort Jayne." - Mrs L Mahoney, 2021

"Jayne is a very professonal tutor, my daughter loves having her." - Miss D Hoole, 2021

"Jayne is my daughter's GCSE English tutor, my daughter is very happy with the way she teaches, the lessons are very engaging and concepts are explained very clearly in a way that my daughter can understand. And Jayne emails all subjects to my daughter to let her prepare the lesson. Thank you Jayne." - Mrs X Zhang, 2020

"My daughter was very pleased with Jayne's way of tutoring. She thinks that Jayne is an excellent tutor." - Dr S Ribiani - 2021

Tutoring Experience

CV:
• English Teacher (1983-present)

Exam co-ordinator for English exams (1989-1990)
• Teacher of English Literature and English Language from ages 11-18 encompassing KS3, KS4, GCSEs and A-Level English Literature
• Volunteer assistant Head-of-Year (1991)
• Deputy Head of Year (1991-1993) Organising and running a cohort of over 300 students
• Head of Year (1993-2009) Managing one full-time deputy, 14 form tutors and their forms as they progressively moved through the school from Year 8-11. This involved transition from the end of Year 7 to Year 8, preparation for Upper-School and GCSEs, liaising with director of Sixth Form as they progressed into further education. Writing references and helping students to apply for jobs.
• Lunch-Time A-Level General Studies Tuition
• Worked within the community aspect of School to become the co-leader of the afterschool theatre club which I ran with a colleague for approximately 5 years, acting as both a drama coach and a theatre producer of school plays. These included: Twelfth Night, The Crucible, King Lear, and Theseus and the Minotaur – these productions were staged within a professional theatre and featured costumes I had personally hired from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Theatre work involved members of the student body, staff, and the wider community of the local area.
• Ran own independent theatre group for teenagers affiliated with School encouraging students to engage with the theatre and putting on trips to theatres such as The Manchester Royal Exchange, The Sheffield Crucible, The Octagon Bolton and The Duke’s Theatre Lancaster
• Aim of club to introduce students to a wide range of theatre experiences and thus allowing them to appreciate and enjoy a vast range of writing-styles, production and delivery styles and hopefully inspire a love of theatre.
• PTA Secretary and Member, and acting Chairman for 1 year. Co-ordinating meetings and organising activities to fundraise for students up to the age of 25 as part of the Project Raleigh Scheme. Organising and purchasing texts and equipment for the school library.
• Trustee on the School Trust Fund, supporting fundraising and helping in that process to assist student
• School trips, including involvement in the Experience Week Programme, which included trips within Britain and to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
• Completing risk assessments and helping the pastoral welfare of the students.
• Senior SEN teacher (2009-2015) trained in SEND at school, and have since held workshops on differentiating work
• After my school transitioned from Head of Years to external pastoral officers, I moved into teaching all years English with SEN, acting in support of the SENCO and training other staff in teaching SEND children, delivering the curriculum in an inclusive and supportive way for students who may need extra help.
• Assistant Inclusion Director (2007-2009)
• The only Nurture form teacher for 5 years, guiding students with SEND and complex needs through their academic careers, some of them into a transition into a special school and some into colleges and placements elsewhere, building and strengthening confidence and writing references on their behalf.
• I developed the school counselling service, including numerous hours of training to be a bereavement and general counsellor to Level One Training in bereavement counselling and counselling students within the school day. This has enabled me over 25 years to support students formally and informally who are grieving and, in some crises, and extend this into the wider family when this has been requested.
• Worked over a long period of time to campaign for and establish a mini-library within my classroom which allows a space for vulnerable children to enjoy books that are accessible to them, working alongside the school librarian to create our celebrated school reading programme once a year. Additionally, several times a year we run together an interactive-reading lunch time session where a story is read dramatically, and students and staff dress up and engage with literature and theatre. Typically happens seasonally in particular at Halloween, Easter, and Christmas.
• Training and supporting young teachers, working with NQTs and trainees to develop their subject-specific and pastoral skills acting as a mentor, coach, lesson observer, and at times liaising with college tutors, running lunchtime sessions for them and always aiming to promote growing confidence in young teachers and practice.
• Worked alongside recently-appointed literacy co-ordinated giving advice when she has been creating resources for literacy delivery for the whole school.
• Delivering GCSE English alongside Entry-Level English (ran by the WJEC) for the weakest children. I ran this for several years before my school stopped using the programme. It was so successful that I received praise from the exam board for the delivery and organisation of my students’ speaking and delivery tapes. Around the same time, I delivered two morning slots of training for teachers from local schools who were interested in presenting lessons in the same manner. One school was so impressed that a group of teachers was given funding to establish a SEND-specific classroom like mine in their own school, so what I did was in fact inspirational to others.
• In an inspection during the same year, my lessons were observed by the pastoral head of school and the then head teacher of large Special School, our sister school for SEND children. I was graded "Outstanding" for my resources, delivery, relationships, engagement, and high expectations.
• Throughout my career I have always aspired to be responsible, diligent, hard-working, and thoughtful of others, and I have built a reputation as someone who students and staff can turn to when they have a difficulty. This empathy and warmth are something that I truly pride myself on.

Tutoring Approach

With a background of 16 years as a Head of Year in a secondary school and a deep involvement in pastoral welfare in schools, I take a holistic approach to teaching children, listening to them and their parents, and pacing and differentiating in whatever way is necessary to enable everyone to thrive.

I have 30 years of experience working as a private tutor and believe that one to one is an opportunity for very focussed concentrated and supportive learning. Is this something you require?

My rates vary depending on qualification and age, but every first lesson is HALF PRICE!

If you require support for a Year 6 child studying English, that is also something I can provide, preparing them for the transition into high school in this essential subject and a new phase of learning.

As well as working with upper and middle ability range students, I have also been a specialist teacher at exam level for students who find studying very difficult, perhaps because of a SEND issue. I was Assistant Inclusion Coordinator at my school for 5 years and have undertaken a considerable amount of training in SEND issues and Dyslexia. With a theoretical background and practical approach, I provide teaching that is perfectly tailored to a child’s needs. In teaching whether it be in the classroom or one to one situations, appropriate differentiation is vital. I believe that this is fundamental to success, so much so that I have run courses for teachers and trained NQTs in differentiating resources. Differentiation must be the correct fit for the student, and this is the case whether it be for the ablest or those who are struggling.

Are you concerned that your child has lost vital learning time due to the Coronavirus? If so, you may wish to consider tuition to help build up the skills and knowledge necessary to fill that gap and move them forward safely and securely. I am keen to help parents and children who feel this would be useful to them! Time is so important to education and a whole generation of children have missed out on vital learning. If you feel I can be of help, please do not hesitate to contact me and we can begin a conversation about this!

As well as tutoring in person for 25 years, I have also tutored online. I tutor via Skype and Zoom and am happy to use either of these platforms as well as to explore new ones. In my tutoring, I not only regularly deliver lessons but also provide ongoing feedback to parents in the form of frequent emails which give an update about progress and learning. Additionally, I prepare, set, and respond to homework tailored to your child's needs; this enables students to independently practice and develop skills and knowledge we are covering in our lessons. Resources are emailed to the student when taught online, and are provided when face to face teaching occurs.

Online provisions can afford a tutor and tutee/their parents' many benefits including greater freedom and flexibility when timetabling lessons. I pride myself in my engagement with parents, and actively encourage them to contact me should they have any questions at any time!

I am fully aware of the benefits of online teaching - my daughter studied her A-Levels online and found the environment incredibly supportive, creative, and focussed. Now she is doing a Masters degree and achieved A's in her A-Levels. The success that can come from online teaching is outstanding!