What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 8pm Tuesday 9:30am - 8pm Wednesday 9:30am - 8pm Thursday 9:30am - 8pm Friday 9:30am - 8pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

Emma Willis 11+ Specialist for Wirral

Home
United Kingdom
Upton
Emma Willis 11+ Specialist for Wirral

Hi, I'm Emma, qualified teacher and 11+ specialist for Wirral, West Kirby and Caldy Grammar Schools. Message me now to join my classes.

Member of The Tutors’ Association. I am a fully qualified teacher with over 25 years teaching and tutoring experience. I am registered with The Tutors' Association and have an enhanced DBS.

07/09/2026

This time next week, children across Wirral will be sitting their 11+ entrance tests.

Some will be excited.

Some will be nervous.

Most will probably be feeling a mixture of both.

As I think about those children, I'm also thinking about the Year 5 children who are about to start their preparation journey.

Because here's the reality.

The children sitting the test next week were in exactly the same position just 12 months ago:

- Starting a new school year.
- Beginning Year 5.
- Wondering whether grammar school might be an option for them.

At that point, the exam felt a very long way away.

But a year passes surprisingly quickly!

That's why I always encourage families to focus on building strong foundations early.

Not because children need more pressure.

Not because they need endless homework.

But because confidence takes time to build.

Skills take time to develop.

I believe children deserve the opportunity to master the skills necessary.

I'd like to wish every child sitting the 11+ next week the very best of luck.

And for those families who are looking ahead to September 2027 or 2028, my Year 4 and 5 groups begin next week.

There are just a few places remaining.

Message me and we’ll get started!

06/09/2026

11+ preparation sessions for children in Year 4 and Year 5 start week of 14th September.

Come and join us.

Message for more information.

04/09/2026

❗ 45 hours. ❗

That's roughly all the tuition time available between now and the 11+ in 2027.

45 hours sounds like a lot... until you realise it's less than two weeks at school.

One of the biggest misconceptions about the 11+ is that children have plenty of time.

Let's do some quick maths.

A Year 5 child attending a weekly 60-minute lesson from now until September 2027 will receive approximately 45 hours of tuition.

At first glance, that sounds like a lot.

But here's the thing.

45 hours is the equivalent of less than two weeks in school.

Suddenly it feels very different.

In those 45 hours, they need to:

✅ strengthen Maths skills
✅ improve vocabulary
✅ develop Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills
✅ improve comprehension
✅ learn how to apply their knowledge
✅ build confidence
✅ develop exam stamina

This is why I encourage families not to leave preparation until later in Year 5.

Not because I want children to spend longer preparing. Quite the opposite.

Starting now gives children breathing room.

It allows them to learn steadily, build confidence and develop genuine understanding rather than feeling rushed.

I've seen first-hand how a few marks can make all the difference.

And I've often found myself thinking:

"What could that child have achieved with just a little more time?"

📢 The Early Bird offer ends on 11th September.

📢 Groups begin the week commencing 14th September.

Message today, if you’d like more information about the remaining places in my 11+ preparation groups for Years 4 and 5.

02/09/2026

When parents are comparing 11+ tuition options, one of the biggest questions is:

"What exactly are we investing in?"

A fair question.

My Year 5 preparation groups include:

✅ Weekly 60-minute online lessons
✅ Small groups of just 4 pupils
✅ Teaching focused on mastering skills rather than memorising methods
✅ Preparation for the skills needed for the Wirral grammar school entrance examinations
✅ Opportunities for discussion, collaboration and active participation
✅ Support from a tutor with over 25 years of experience, 12 years of which has been dedicated to preparing children for entrance examinations
✅ Video Clips

And for parents I provide:
✅ Weekly lesson summaries
✅ Access to an ever-growing resource library
✅ Feedback personalised for your child with a learning plan
✅ Email and WhatsApp support through the week

Most importantly, children learn in an environment where they feel safe to learn, ask questions and make mistakes.

I believe strongly in helping children become independent learners.

After all, the goal isn't simply to pass an exam.

The goal is to develop skills that will help them thrive throughout secondary school and beyond.

If you're considering support for your child this year, I'd be delighted to tell you more.

Message me or comment below.

31/08/2026

The simplest way to improve your child's 11+ chances might surprise you.

If I could encourage every Year 5 parent to focus on one thing this year, it would be vocabulary.

Why?

Because vocabulary doesn't just help with English.

Strong vocabulary also helps children:

✅ understand comprehension texts
✅ interpret Maths word problems
✅ access reasoning questions
✅ make better inferences
✅ communicate their thinking more clearly

The challenge is that vocabulary isn't built overnight.

It's built through thousands of small interactions over time.

A few simple ways to improve vocabulary at home:

📚 Read together and discuss unfamiliar words
📺 Watch documentaries and talk about new language
🗣 Encourage children to explain words in their own way
🎲 Play word-based games together

The good news?

You don't need expensive resources.

You just need consistency.

Vocabulary development is one of the areas we work on throughout my Year 5 11+ preparation groups because it impacts so many aspects of the examination process.

📢 Early Bird places are currently available for families who sign up before 11th September.

Message me to find out if one of my Year 4 or Year 5 groups is right for your child.

28/08/2026

Don't let "what if?" become part of your story.

Meet Oksana:

When Oksana first started working with me in Year 5, she had very little confidence in Maths.

She struggled with the quick recall of number facts and lacked confidence when tackling questions independently.

We worked hard together.

More importantly, Oksana worked hard.

She practised regularly and steadily improved her skills.

In just a few short weeks, she increased her score in a mental maths test from 35/50 in 7 minutes to an incredible 98/100 in less than 5 minutes.

More recently, her mum contacted me with some wonderful news.

Oksana is thriving in secondary school and has even been invited to attend sessions for pupils demonstrating excellence in Maths.

I couldn't be prouder of her…

But there is another part to this story.

Oksana missed passing the 11+ by just a couple of marks.

And I've often wondered...

What if we'd started earlier?

What if we'd had more time to build those Maths foundations?

We'll never know.

What I do know is that starting preparation earlier provides children with more opportunity to develop the skills, confidence and resilience they need.

That’s not because I want to put children under pressure for longer, quite the opposite. I believe they deserve time to master the learning.

If your child is starting in Years 4 or 5 in September, don't leave yourself wondering "what if?".

Booking is now open for my Year 4 and 5 groups.

Message me and find out how I can help.

27/08/2026

Just seen on Wirral view that the Caldy Open Evening is on Monday 21st September.

I'll put the link in the comments, it shows all the open evenings locally. X

26/08/2026

Today was the final day of my Summer School.

Some Year 5 pupils and I getting a head start to Year 5 and 11+ prep.

One of my favourite things as a tutor is watching children realise they can do things they didn't think they could do.

Over the last few sessions, I've seen pupils:

⭐ tackle unfamiliar questions
⭐ explain their thinking
⭐ support each other
⭐ grow in confidence

And that confidence matters.

Because success in the 11+ isn't just about intelligence.

Children need to feel comfortable:

• making mistakes
• asking questions
• trying again when things don't work first time

When children develop that mindset they make progress.

That's exactly the environment I strive to create in my lessons.

A place where children are challenged and supported.

Where effort matters.

Where mistakes are recognised as part of learning.

I am so looking forward to meeting my new pupils in September.

Booking is now open for my Year 4 and 5 11+ preparation groups. If you would like your child to join us, drop me a message.

24/08/2026

Parents of children heading into Year 4 and 5, this is your chance.

Booking is now open for my new Year 4 and 5 11+ preparation groups starting the week beginning 14th September.

These small-group online sessions have been designed specifically for children preparing for the Wirral grammar school entrance tests.

Over the years, I've seen first-hand what makes the biggest difference.

Hint: it’s not endless worksheets, or doing test book after test book.

It's building strong skills and confidence over time.

That's why my focus is on helping children master:

✅ Maths skills and problem-solving
✅ Vocabulary and comprehension
✅ Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
✅ Exam confidence and resilience

My groups are deliberately small.

Just 4 pupils per group.

This means every child has opportunities to contribute, ask questions and receive personalised support.

There are only 12 places available per year group.

I'm opening slots for my Year 4 and Year 5 classes, so drop me a message, or comment below and I'll send you the info.

21/08/2026

🌟 My Summer School begins next week and I'm really looking forward to working with the children who have signed up. 🌟

Message me if you'd like your child to join us – there are two spaces left.

In the sessions, we'll be focusing on building confidence, strengthening key skills and preparing them for the start of Year 5.

For many parents, September marks the start of a much bigger journey.

The journey towards the entrance tests for Wirral grammar schools.

Over the last 12 years, I've worked with many children preparing for grammar school assessments.

One thing I've learned?

Children make the best progress when they feel supported, challenged and confident enough to make mistakes.

That's why my September Year 5 groups are deliberately small.

Just 4 children per group.

This allows me to get to know each child, identify areas for development and provide plenty of opportunities for discussion and participation.

Over the next week, I'll be sharing more details about my groups for Year 4 and Year 5, the support available and how booking will work.

Drop me a message and I'll make sure you're the first to know.

Address

Claughton
Upton
CH438SR

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 8pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 8pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 8pm
Thursday	9:30am - 8pm
Friday	9:30am - 8pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+447742719667

Website

https://linktr.ee/ejwtutoring

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Emma Willis 11+ Specialist for Wirral posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Emma Willis 11+ Specialist for Wirral:

Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in Upton?