More details on this for existing tutors and clients when everything is set up and running.

Many parents of the children I tutor know little of this government document. Even though their children may be on their school's Special Needs Register, and have their own Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.), they complain to me that the system has never been properly explained to them, they feel rushed at reviews in school for their child, and on the whole feel the system is letting them down.

Up until late 2009 I was still employed as a Special Needs Manager (amongst numerous other roles!) in a St.Helens Primary School. I know the Code of Practice protocols and the Special Needs system inside out. I have arranged hundreds of reviews, and led a large number of them. I have dealt with a multitude of Special Needs agencies and know which agency can help with what problem. In short, I can help to clear the muddy waters for you! Having been on the side of the school for many years I fully sympathise with the position they find themselves in, but a parent educated in the workings of the Code of Practice will definitely get the most out of the system for their child. It is not a case of 'playing the system'; but rather, a calmly thought-out, logical strategy for approaching school to best meet the needs for your child. I have a classroom-based analogy for this: A busy teacher will mostly help those children who DEMAND the most attention. A busy school will do the same.

Already I have advised parents of the pupils I tutor on how to get the best deal in school, and therefore the most support to meet their child's needs. I can help you plan your strategy, not by belligerently demanding changes from schools, but by becoming an expert in the system, asking the right questions from schools, and calmly but forcefully arguing your case. I don't charge any extra for this advice; it comes as part of the regular tuition package!     

We do ask for 4 weeks' notice, purely as a courtesy to the tutor, who may well have spent time planning future lessons. But in actual fact, no-one wants a legal battle over what amounts to a few pounds, so clients can, if they wish, cease lessons 2 minutes before one is due to start! Of course, we hope people are a bit more thoughtful to their tutor than this. We do encourage clients to read the Terms and Conditions in full, but rather than panic they will be signing up for something they can neither stick to nor deliver, we hope that they ask us about it first - it may very well be easily cleared up and reassurance given by a quick phone call.

C.K. Tuition is constantly evolving, in an effort to improve the service offered, and to appeal to a wider audience. What do you think of our new look website? Which bits do you like / not like? Can you suggest any improvements? If you were a client looking for private tuition for your child, what would make you lean towards one company as opposed to another? All feedback gratefully accepted! (You can subscribe to our feed by clicking the orange RSS button on the left of this page, or put your email address in the 'subscribe by email' box. You will then never miss a post! Yippee!)

First communications with Readingeggs, Mathletics, Spellodrome & Education City  - all online multi-media educational sites - are favourable for a discount deal for our clients. Fingers crossed they see the benefits for all concerned. We are pushing for free tutor access, as well as 4 months free home trials for pupils.