Poppy's Tutoring Company

“In my day, we didn’t need fidgets…”

Really? 😏

The chewed pen lid.
The pencil covered in teeth marks.
Peeling PVA glue off your hands.
Stabbing your rubber with a pencil until it looked like the surface of the moon.
Flicking a ruler on the edge of the desk.
Bobbing your leg under the science table.
Clicking that four-colour pen over… and over… and over again.

We’ve always fidgeted.

The difference is that now we’re getting better at noticing, understanding and talking about why some children seek movement or sensory input.

And importantly, a fidget isn’t automatically helpful for every child. Research on specific fidget toys and classroom attention is actually mixed.

The question shouldn’t simply be, “How do we make them stop moving?”

Sometimes a much more useful question is:

“What is this child’s body trying to tell us and what helps them learn?” 💙

Maybe we didn’t call them fidgets in our day.

But judging by the state of our rubbers… we definitely had them. 😂

Tomorrow, look up. 🌙☀️

There’s something rather incredible happening above us ... a SOLAR ECLIPSE.

And while the science behind it is fascinating, I think I love what it reminds us of even more…

Learning is everywhere.

It’s in the Moon moving between the Earth and the Sun.
It’s in the forces moving the waves. 🌊
The patterns hidden inside a shell. 🐚
The biology happening quietly inside a leaf. 🌿

Education doesn’t have to begin with a worksheet or end with getting the right answer.

Sometimes the best learning starts with simply noticing something and asking…

“But why?”

So tomorrow evening, take a moment to look up safely, get curious and remember just how extraordinary the world we're learning about actually is. ✨

⚠️ Please don't look directly at the Sun. Proper eclipse glasses/solar viewers are essential . Ordinary sunglasses aren't safe.

Some of the most extraordinary places are shaped differently.

The same is true for people.

Neurodiversity reminds us that there isn't one "right" way to think, learn or experience the world. Every mind brings its own strengths, creativity and perspective.

What makes the biggest difference isn't asking children to fit one mould , it's creating environments where they feel understood, supported and able to flourish.

When we celebrate differences instead of trying to change them, confidence grows. Curiosity returns. Learning becomes joyful.

Let's build classrooms, homes and communities where every learner feels they belong. 💙

Somewhere along the way, I think we made learning about proving what you know. 💙

A grade. A test. A right answer. A percentage on a page.

But some of the most beautiful learning doesn’t look like that at all.

It looks like a child asking “but why?” for the fifth time.

It’s the pause before something clicks.
The confidence to have a go when they’re not quite sure.
The connection between something they learnt last week and something they’ve just discovered today.

And sometimes, it’s getting something completely wrong… and being curious enough to find out why.

That’s learning. 🌱

This summer has given me a little space to think about why I love education so much, and I keep coming back to this:

Our job isn’t to make children know everything.

It’s to help them feel safe enough to wonder, brave enough to question, and confident enough to keep learning.

Because education should never make a child’s world feel smaller.

It should keep opening it up. 🌍

And perhaps one of the greatest things we can give a young person is the belief that there is a place for them in that enormous world ... exactly as the learner they are.

Keep asking why. ✨

We’re always told not to judge a book by its cover… 📚

But I wonder how often we do exactly that with schools?

We hear a name. A reputation. A result. What another parent has said. And before we know it, we’ve already formed an idea of what that school is.

But the “best” school isn’t necessarily the best school for your child.

Some children need somewhere highly academic.
Some need incredible pastoral care.
Some need creativity, freedom or sport.
Some need to feel genuinely understood as a neurodivergent learner.
And for lots of children, it’s a mixture of all of those things. 💙

That’s one of the reasons I wanted to do things a little differently at The Dorset Education Conversation.

Just like the blind date with a book in this reel, our schools will initially be introduced without their names.

Instead of starting with the badge, reputation or results, families will have the chance to explore what actually matters:

✨ What does this school value?
✨ What does everyday life there feel like?
✨ What kind of child might thrive there?
✨ How do they approach pastoral care, SEND, neurodiversity, academics, creativity and the individual child?

And then we'll reveal the schools.

Because choosing an education should be about so much more than reputation.

It should be about finding somewhere your child can belong, feel understood and thrive. 🤍

And this is just one small part of what I hope will be a really special evening bringing Dorset families, schools and education professionals together for open conversations around education, SEND, neurodiversity, mental health, different pathways and what genuine support can look like.

📍 Rockwater Branksome on the Roof Terrace
📅 Wednesday 26th August
🕠 From 5:30pm

Come and discover Dorset education a little differently. 🌊📚

If you’re a Dorset parent, educator or simply care about how we support our young people, I’d love to have you there.

📍 The Dorset Education Conversation
🗓️ Wednesday 26th August
🕠 5:30pm
📍 Rockwater Branksome – Roof Terrace

🎟️ Tickets: In our bio

Choosing a school can feel overwhelming.

Behind every child is a unique story, a different way of learning, and a future full of possibilities. This evening is about helping families make informed decisions with confidence.

Join us for an inspiring evening overlooking the sea, where you'll have the opportunity to meet local state and independent schools, education specialists, tutors and SEND professionals , all in one place.

Whether you're thinking about primary school, secondary school, the 11+, GCSEs, neurodiversity, or simply want to understand what support is available, you'll be able to ask questions, hear different perspectives and have honest conversations in a relaxed setting.

✨ Meet schools face-to-face.
✨ Speak to education experts.
✨ Discover support for every type of learner.
✨ Leave with greater clarity and confidence.

Because every child deserves an education where they can flourish.

We can't wait to welcome you.

In the same orchard, every tree grows differently.

Some blossom early. Some take a little more time. Each one has its own rhythm, character and something completely unique to offer.

Learning is no different.

Taking longer does not mean lacking potential. Sometimes, a learner simply needs the right conditions, patience and someone who believes in what is still growing. 🌿

Primary education is about so much more than getting the right answer. ✨

It’s about protecting that little spark ... the confidence to have a go, the curiosity to ask questions, and the belief that learning is something they CAN do.

Because when children feel safe to make mistakes and proud of their progress, that confidence carries with them far beyond the classroom. 💛

Keep them curious. Keep them confident. Keep that spark alive.

A little taste of what to expect at The Dorset Education Conversation ✨

Warm conversations, new connections, thoughtful ideas and a few surprises along the way.

Because whether it is a book, a child or a school, there is always more beneath the surface. 💙

I still genuinely cannot believe I’m writing this… 💙

To have been named Professional Tutor of the Year, Secondary Tutor of the Year and SEND Tutor of the Year feels incredibly humbling and such a huge privilege.

But although my name is on the awards, this recognition belongs to so many people.

It belongs to every student who has kept trying, even when learning has felt difficult. To every learner who has grown in confidence, discovered their strengths or realised that needing a different approach never means having less potential.

It belongs to the wonderful families who trust us with such an important part of their child’s journey. Thank you for allowing us to share in the challenges, the breakthroughs and the proud little moments that mean so much.

And it belongs to our incredible tutor team, who bring patience, creativity, knowledge and genuine care to every lesson. You see the individual learner first, adapt without judgement and work so hard to help each young person feel understood and capable.

These awards represent the quieter moments that often happen behind the scenes: a learner attempting something they once avoided, a parent beginning to feel hopeful again, a tutor finding the explanation that finally makes something click.

I feel incredibly grateful, emotional and proud of the community behind Poppy’s Tutoring Company.

This truly belongs to all of us. 💙