My experience with special educational needs
I have over 25 years of professional experience supporting children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs. I began my career as a qualified social worker before moving into education, where I held senior leadership roles including deputy head in two enhanced provision schools, headteacher of a special school for pupils with complex additional support needs, and headteacher of a mainstream primary school. Throughout my career, I have worked with children with autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, communication difficulties, and a broad range of learning differences. I have led inclusive practice in both specialist and mainstream settings and was praised in school improvement inspections for my inspirational and strong leadership, particularly in relation to inclusion and creating nurturing, supportive environments where every child could succeed.
A bit about me
I’m someone who brings both professional experience and personal understanding to my work. I grew up with two brothers, one with Down syndrome and one with autism, which taught me from a young age about patience, communication, and the importance of being seen and heard as you are. I also have ADHD myself, so I truly understand how learning can feel different and how much it helps when support is tailored and thoughtful. These experiences have shaped how I connect with others. I value warmth, humour, and honesty, and I always try to create a calm and encouraging space where people can feel safe to be themselves. I’ve always had a strong sense of purpose in my work, and I’m passionate about inclusion not just in theory, but in everyday practice. I believe that everyone deserves support that fits them, not the other way around, and I’m proud to bring that belief into every tutoring session.
My teaching philosophy
My approach to tutoring and coaching is based on building a genuine connection and offering care. I take the time to understand each learner as an individual so I can create a space where they feel safe, supported, and ready to engage. I appreciate that school can sometimes be a difficult experience, so I focus on making learning feel relaxed and less pressured. What matters most is that the learner feels heard and encouraged. My experience means I am flexible. I adapt how I work to meet the individuals needs in the moment. Sometimes this means helping them build confidence; other times it is about making sense of something in a way that sticks. I bring patience, curiosity, and calm to every session. My goal is always to help learners feel more capable not only in the subject but also in themselves.
Schedule
Time zone:
Tutoring specialisation
I’m providing tutoring sessions for students with these educational needs:
Subjects Provided
Primary
Secondary
GCSE Foundational level
GCSE Higher level
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE Foundational level
GCSE Higher level
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE Foundational level
GCSE Higher level
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE Foundational level
GCSE Higher level
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE Foundational level
GCSE Higher level
A-Level
University
Coaching specialisation
Specialisation
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Primary
Secondary
GCSE
A-Level
University
Reviews
3 reviews
Sarah Grant
July 3, 2025
Liz tutored our son who is autistic . Liz's enthusiasm and passion for education was second to none . Her knowledge ,skills and patience meant that our son made huge progress with her support . Liz has also been a huge support to us her knowledge of SEN is huge and she supported us to understand our sons needs more fully . Would highly recommend
E Cassidy
July 4, 2025
Liz tutored our daughter who has ADHD and dyslexia . Liz worked with her to improve her maths and English and with Liz’s excellent teaching skills and huge wealth of resources and knowledge our daughter made immense progress . Our daughter always enjoyed her sessions with Liz and we recommend her very highly !
Ann curry
July 8, 2025
Liz was fantastic with my son (down syndrome and SEN). She greatly helped improve his literacy and numeracy skills, as well as his overall confidence in relation to academics. Her SEN knowledge was fantastic and she was clearly very experienced, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Liz!