M.R. Tutoring

23/09/2026

The challenge of learning the time

One of the topics that I used to dread teaching each year was time. It was a topic that most children found incredibly challenging because it is so abstract. They would look at the large interactive analogue clock on my whiteboard and develop an increasingly furrowed brow as I explained that the numbers were both increasing in ones (for the hours) and simultaneously increments of five (for the minutes), if the long hand was on the right it was past the hour, if it was on the left it was to the next hour and the hour hand did not point at the hour directly most of the time. When they were beginning to understand that, you would pivot to 12 vs 24 hour time. The list invariably goes on!

Each of these steps was an entire learning point on its own and a child could stumble on any of these, making resourcing these lessons quite a nightmare. The first two or three lessons were fine, because most of the class were moving at a similar rate, however, as soon as more challenging content was covered, children would soon split into many different factions working on very specific aspects of reading analogue time. Generating resources for each of these different splinter groups was quite time consuming (ironically!).

The challenge further increased when children were given their own little clocks to use during the initial teaching input. Forcing 34 children to focus on your teaching while they have an exciting new gadget is quite an interesting exercise in sheer willpower!

What made this all worth it, besides it being a compulsory part of the curriculum, would often present itself later. On one particular occasion, a young boy in my class proudly walked over one morning and told me it was his birthday. He had asked for a watch. “Now I can make sure that we go out to break on time every day, Mr Rich,” he informed me with a slight smirk on his face. My lessons had given him a tool that would serve him for the rest of his life.

Learning the time is a ‘life skill’ that children will use for a life time. Buy them a watch early and slowly teach them over many years how to use it. It is magical to give a child the tools to slowly become an autonomous individual. Watch out though - they will keep you on your toes!

09/09/2026

‘Why do I need to know that?’ is a question often heard by parents and teachers. In the age of spellcheck, AI and mobile phones, it can seem like some skills are destined to become redundant. The latest OECD’s PISA report has found that children have reached a record low in their reading and mathematics skills. While this question can seem quite legitimate at first glance, it fails to recognise an important truth.

What you learn at school is the passport that provides the pathway to what you will eventually do in life.

You may leave the knowledge learnt previously behind when you reach certain destinations but you still need the skills to get there in the first place. When I sat in my geology lectures as an 18-year-old man, I had no idea that I would eventually be running an education business for young children. Recognising the difference between a bivalve and a brachiopod (both shellfish) may seem completely useless in a maths lesson on formal multiplication methods, however it was these essays that enabled me to get on the teacher training course and become who I am now.

All adults need to start sharing their education stories with children, so they can see that actually, this information may not be useful in 20 years’ time but it opens doors of opportunity in the present. Let’s use the start of a new school year to inspire children to learn new ideas, even if they do seem useless to them right now!

06/07/2026

During my years of classroom practice, I would often be asked the same question at this time of the year: how do I prepare my child for their next teacher, or their new school? All children will experience a mixture of excitement and some anxiety at the prospect of change, and a change of teacher can be huge. A child’s teacher is a huge part of their life and suddenly having that person change can be quite difficult. Here are some tips for parents to help their child at home:

1. Frame the change as a positive. With a new teacher, comes a fresh start, new opportunities and an increasingly mature set of expectations. They will be completing more interesting, challenging work, be allowed more responsibilities within the classroom, and start to have more freedoms. There may be new topics or a specific school trip that will excite your child!



2. If your child is on the ASD spectrum, a social story will be incredibly helpful. Ask the school to take pictures that they are willing to share of the new teacher, teaching assistant (if there is one) and classroom. If your child will be using different toilets or sitting in a new place in the hall during collective worship (assembly), ask for pictures of these too. There are blank templates online and an excellent article can be found here: https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/social-stories-for-autistic-children/



3. Give your child opportunities to meet with their friends who will be in their new class during the summer, especially in the last two weeks. This allows them to start with year with strong friendships and removes one potential worry they may have. All children find social changes exhausting so having this resolved before term starts will save a lot of their mental energy that can be directed elsewhere.



A final tip is to give children a ‘soft start’ to the term and that is where tutoring comes in. If a child starts back at school having not lifted a pen for over 6 weeks, they will find the return to learning quite abrupt! Tutoring can help children by giving them an opportunity to ‘warm up’ their brains again before starting school, giving them an edge and improving their confidence. This confidence can really make a difference in the opening weeks of a new year, especially during transition years (Year 3 and 7).

Discover the importance of social stories for autistic children. Learn how they can provide support, understanding, and growth opportunities.

03/05/2026

🌟 Is your child starting Year 3 this September? 🌟

The move from infants to juniors can feel like a big step — new expectations, more independence, and a faster pace of learning.

I’m offering small-group summer sessions designed to help children:
✅ Build confidence in reading, writing & maths
✅ Strengthen key skills from Year 2
✅ Feel ready and positive about starting junior school

👩‍🏫 Led by an experienced primary practitioner
📍 Rushington, Totton
📅 Summer holiday sessions (limited spaces available)

These sessions are supportive, engaging, and focused on giving your child the best possible start in September.

📩 Message me to find out more or reserve a place.

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