Carolyn Timms Tuition

30/09/2026

If reading at home has become a battle, this is a reassuring reminder: finding a book your child enjoys is a good place to start.

A family member saved this article from The Week for me. Researchers at Cambridge have brought together evidence linking reading for pleasure with better memory, attention and wellbeing.

The part that stood out to me was the importance of enjoying what you read. Funny books, graphic novels and favourite series all have a place. There’s value in trying more challenging books, but some children need time to build up to that. If they’re choosing to read and enjoying it, that’s a win.

Sometimes a book about football, animals or something that makes them laugh is what gets them interested.

That’s a big part of why I’ve been putting together my lending library. I want the children to have plenty of choice and find books they look forward to picking up.

If you’ve found a book that’s gone down well with your child, I’d love to hear about it. I’m always looking for recommendations!

Reading for pleasure – from tucking into a Jane Austen classic to devouring a Heartstopper graphic novel – is linked to better mental health, greater empathy and a lower risk of dementia.

19/09/2026

What a great start to the new school year! 💜

It’s been so good to welcome back lots of familiar faces, as well as getting to know some brilliant new students and families.

We’ve spent the first couple of weeks settling into new groups and routines, getting our home learning up and running and, of course, choosing books! 📚 I’ve loved seeing the children start borrowing from the new CT Tuition 11+ reading library, sharing the new vocabulary they’ve discovered and recommending books to each other.

My Year 6s have also started our new group text, with plenty of clues, maps and detective work to get them hooked before we even opened the first page!

Most of my groups are now full, but I do have a few final spaces for this academic year:

🍂 Year 4 11+ Preparation
Monday 4pm – 1 place
Thursday 4pm – 2 places

🍂 Year 6 SATs Support
Tuesday 5pm – 1 place

All sessions are small-group, term-time tuition from my tuition space on Walton Road, Sale.

If you know a family who might be looking for some extra support this year, I’d be very grateful if you could let them know or share this post with them. And if you’d like to find out whether one of the remaining places might be right for your child, just send me a message. 😊

Carolyn x

15/09/2026

Such a lovely session with my Year 6 group tonight!

We started our new book, Angel of Grasmere by Tom Palmer, but before the book even appeared, there was a mystery to solve…

I’d hidden numbered envelopes around the room, each containing a different clue. The children had to find them, open them in order and study a map before using their inference skills to piece together what the story might be about.

They were so engaged in the clues and all the different possibilities that, by the time I brought out the book, they couldn’t wait to start reading. We read the first chapter together and they’ve gone home keen to read the next two chapters themselves — always a win!

I put a lot of thought into choosing texts for each group. This one has themes and content that feel right for Year 6, while the dyslexia-friendly publisher’s format (Barrington Stoke) makes the text accessible and gives just the right level of challenge for these children.

It’s also the first in a series of six, so I’m hoping this might be the start of a few new Tom Palmer fans.

I came away from tonight’s session feeling so pleased with their enthusiasm, ideas and confidence. They were brilliant.

I have one space available in this Year 6 group. If you’re looking for friendly, small-group support that helps your child feel more confident and excited about learning, please send me a message.

14/09/2026

And that’s it… done! 💜

I sent a little message to my Year 6 parents this morning to wish the children luck before their 11+ exam, and it was so lovely to read the replies that came back. Parents telling me their children were calm, felt prepared and knew they’d done everything they could. That’s exactly how I hoped they would be feeling going into today.

There’s obviously a huge focus on scores and results with the 11+, but today I’ve been thinking much more about everything that’s gone into getting to this point. They’ve worked hard, tackled things they once found difficult, learnt what to do when they don’t immediately know an answer and kept going through a long period of preparation.

Whatever happens when the results arrive, there’s already so much for them to be proud of.

And a big well done to the parents too! You live and breathe so much of the preparation alongside them – the practice, the encouragement, the wobbles and everything else that comes with it. I’m sure there are plenty of relieved parents across Trafford tonight who are just as glad to be able to say, “It’s over!” 😅

I hope all the children are doing something they love tonight and feeling very proud of themselves.

Well done, Year 6s. You did it! 💜

05/09/2026

We’re back! 😊

My regular tuition groups restart next week and I’m really looking forward to welcoming everyone back, as well as meeting lots of new faces.

I have a small number of spaces remaining across my Year 4 11+ and Year 6 support groups.

For children starting Year 4, the move to the new FSCE means this cohort will sit the Trafford grammar school entrance test in the summer term of Year 5. Starting preparation in Year 4 gives us plenty of time to build strong foundations in English and maths, develop reading and vocabulary, and gradually introduce the higher-level thinking and problem-solving skills needed for the 11+ – without everything feeling rushed.

I also have limited availability in my Year 6 support groups. If your child would benefit from a confidence boost as they move into Year 6, these sessions provide regular support with maths, English, spelling, punctuation and grammar, as well as building towards SATs in May.

All sessions take place in small, friendly groups of no more than five children from my dedicated tuition space on Walton Road, Sale, with a big focus on confidence alongside academic progress.

If you’re new to CT Tuition and would like to hear what other parents have said about their children’s experience with me, you can also have a look at my reviews on Google ⭐️
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rk6Efm4Ea5uUZU6x5

If you’d like to find out more or have a chat about whether a group might be right for your child, send me a message or WhatsApp me on 07810 680970. I’m always happy to chat 😊

30/08/2026

I asked my eight-year-old to raid my Year 4 11+ lending library and choose his three favourite books.

It was quite a difficult decision - Varjak Paw came very close - but Woody eventually chose:

📚 The Land of Roar

“Because it’s really imaginative. It brings it to life and it’s so magical.”

📚 The Accidental Prime Minister

“Because it’s the funniest book I’ve ever read! It’s about a kid becoming Prime Minister and it gives you the opportunity to think about what you would do. He gets teachers and kids to swap, and makes laws like ‘hats for cats’. Really funny laws - exactly what I would make!”

📚 Kid Normal

“It introduces you to a magical school of super kids. It’s about how they solve crimes together and how you can have superpowers and stuff.”

I love hearing children talk about books - and recommendations from other children are often far more persuasive than recommendations from adults!

Children in my 11+ tuition groups can borrow books from my lending library to enjoy at home too.

Has your child read any of Woody’s choices? What would make their top three?

29/08/2026

Does your child start Year 4 next week? And are you considering the Trafford 11+?

I’m currently welcoming children into a new Year 4 11+ group at CT Tuition in Sale, running on Thursdays at 4pm.

With the Trafford 11+ changing, my approach this year will be a little different too.

We’ll be concentrating on building really strong foundations across English and maths: developing confident readers, widening vocabulary, strengthening comprehension and reasoning, and making sure children can confidently apply their maths skills across the curriculum.

As the children progress, we’ll gradually build towards the skills and exam technique they’ll need for the new FSCE Trafford 11+.

My groups are small, with a maximum of five children, which means I can get to know each child really well. Just as importantly, I want children to enjoy coming, grow in confidence and feel comfortable having a go when something is difficult.

Most of my September groups are now full, but I have spaces in my new:

📚 Year 4 11+ group
📅 Thursdays
⏰ 4pm
📍 Sale

Our first session is Thursday 10th September.

If your child is starting Year 4 and you’ve been wondering whether 11+ tuition might be right for them, you’re very welcome to get in touch. There’s no obligation to sign up – I’m always happy to have a chat about your child and tell you a little more about how my groups work.

Send me a message and I’ll send you more details, or you can book a quick call with me here:

https://calendar.app.google/7g6CoUPmD2Wj7dYo8

28/08/2026

I can definitely feel myself getting back into work mode this week!

We’ve had a lovely summer! Lots of camping, making the most of the sunshine (until very recently! ), park trips, days out and plenty of time with family and friends. It’s been so nice to properly switch off for a few weeks.

But this week my tuition brain is back on!

Next week I’ll be working with some of my Year 6 children who are in the final stretch before their entrance exams, and then my regular weekly groups start back week commencing 7th September. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again and also welcoming lots of new children and families to CT Tuition this year.

I’ve been sorting resources, planning sessions, organising my reading library and getting everything ready for September.

My timetable is pretty much full, but I do have limited spaces available in a new Year 4 11+ group on Thursdays at 4pm.

So, if you have a child going into Year 4 and have been thinking about 11+ tuition, please feel free to send me a message, or book a call via my calendar:
https://calendar.app.google/7g6CoUPmD2Wj7dYo8

I’m always happy to have a chat about your child, tell you a bit more about how my groups work and see whether it might be a good fit for them.

And if you know a local family with a child going into Year 4 who might be interested, please do pass my details on.

For now though… back to enjoying the last few days of the summer holidays! ❤️

27/08/2026

I was really sad to hear about Dolly Parton this week. I’ve always known and loved so many of her songs but I watched a documentary about her a year or so ago and remember just thinking what an amazing person she was.

I wanted to tell Woody a bit about her and why I thought she was so special, but I didn’t think the documentary I’d watched was particularly appropriate for an eight-year-old. So I found The Library That Dolly Built, which is all about her Imagination Library, and we rented it on Amazon and watched it together last night.

I knew a little bit about the Imagination Library already, but I hadn’t really appreciated the scale of it or quite how incredible it is.

Such a simple idea – every child receiving their own high-quality book through the post every month, from birth until they start school – but the impact of that is just huge. Getting books into homes, encouraging parents to read with their children, developing language and a love of stories from such a young age. And then seeing the sheer scale of the operation and how many children have benefited from it was just amazing.

Woody enjoyed it, although quite a few of the facts and figures definitely went over his head! So I’ve also ordered him the Little People, BIG DREAMS book about Dolly, which I think might help bring her story to life for him a little more.

I came away from it thinking what an incredible way to use the position you find yourself in. She had this idea and then kept going with it, and it has ended up putting more than 300 million books into children’s homes.

As someone who loves children’s books and knows how important reading together at home can be, I think that’s an extraordinary legacy to leave behind. ❤️

05/08/2026

One of the things I’m most excited about for this year is growing my Year 4 and Year 5 11+ lending library.

With Trafford’s move to the new FSCE entrance test, there is an even greater emphasis on developing children who read widely and deeply. In fact, the official guidance encourages children to “develop strong reading habits by reading widely and deeply.” (Reading School)

So I’ve been busy carefully building a library that goes far beyond typical 11+ practice books.

📚 Modern fiction
📚 Timeless classics
📚 High-quality picture books
📚 Fascinating non-fiction
📚 A range of genres, challenge levels and authors

I want to help children discover books they really enjoy while expanding their vocabulary, imagination, creativity and understanding of the world around them.

I can’t wait to see these shelves being borrowed from, talked about and recommended between the children over the coming year.

If your child is going into Year 4 and you’re looking for thoughtful, engaging preparation for the FSCE 11+, I currently have a small number of places available in my Monday 4pm and Thursday 4pm groups.

Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to find out more.