Anne-Marie Barton
SEN/PDA Tutor & Family Support Worker
Most often, I get asked about what the anacronyms stand for that children get ‘labelled’ with and what the procedures and measures are by which tutoring can be judged. In answering these queries, one has to understand that all children are individuals and that in tailoring lessons to them, some adjustments may be necessary according to how they respond. Hence, timeframes are difficult to be specific about.
What support can I get?
I can help support you or you and your family. I can offer support for you as a parent because I have personal experience of being a mum struggling to get the right support for my children. I can help signpost you and offer you practical advice, if that is what you request. I support behavioural and the educational needs for students with SEN. I am non-judgmental and I am respectful of all the families I support.
I also offer support for conditions that can impair learning, ranging from pre-menstrual conditions in young women, to depression and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder).
I will do an initial assessment to ascertain if I am able to help with what your family needs. I then will discuss with you the options and how I can support you.
What happens during the initial assessment visit?
I will visit you in your home to meet and discuss what support you require. I will go through my documents such as DBS, ID, diplomas/certificates etc. I will listen to what you are hoping for and I will fill out a confidential form based upon answers to relevant questions. This is to gather background and vital information so that I can come back to you with a decision regarding if I can support. We will then discuss a possible plan and how I may be able to support you. I may ask to see any relevant reports and your child's EHCP as the more information I have, the better I can support you.
How do you assess progress?
I put together lesson plans based on the educational plan we agree to and your child's specific needs. For each lesson plan I will record my comments and observations. Each lesson plan is then reviewed before the next plan is compiled so that any objectives that are not met are reviewed. Any areas I feel need further assessment or need revisiting to consolidate the learning will also be recorded to ensure they happen. I will compile a personal file that will include the lesson plans and any educational evidence so that these can be assessed and reviewed for discussion. I will ask for signed permission in order to take photos of your child's learning, for educational purposes only. I will work towards meeting targets from your child's EHCP. From your child's file, I will use the data recorded to provide a report for professional input.
I also use a program called ShowProgress to assess and show progress towards targets detailed within the EHCP & any additional targets. This platform is used in many schools and can also generate graphs & reports to visually help parents/carers see what progress is being made Parents and/or carers can also have a login to access their own child’s progress. It is very secure, so is better from a data protection view, but it is an optional extra cost.
How do I book you as a tutor?
Currently I am a Sole trader and therefore at present you can only book directly with myself. To book with me simply click on the ‘Contact’ button below and send me your details, so that I can contact you and make the necessary arrangements. You can also request free advice by using the same form or sending me an email request.
How much does home tutoring cost?
I accept personal budget payments as part of your child's EHCP, depending on your circumstances and needs. Prices start from £30 an hour and I work with you towards an agreement that suits all involved. I know how hard it is financially to support a family.
Are you DBS checked?
I am Advanced DBS checked and have two DBS certificates that cover my work. I am also prepared to refer you to previous clients who will vouch for my character and integrity.
What is the minimum time to work with a SEN home tutor?
Each child’s needs are different. Some children respond to learning very quickly, others are a little slower. Within a first couple of sessions, I will be able to judge just how much tutoring your child needs and so be able to estimate a time frame, or programme for tutoring.
Each home tutoring session/lesson does need to be a minimum of 1 hour. This is because there is so much to factor into lessons and to ensure that all subject matter is both covered and goals achieved.
Institutions like to use labels, but remember your child IS NOT a label, but an individual. Here is what some of those popular labels mean:
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, sometimes known as ADD, affects adults as well as children. The condition is symptomized by those who display behaviour characterised by excessive fidgeting and physical movement, lack of concentration, impatience, unable to keep calm and quiet, acting impulsively without thinking, excessive talking and constant interruption.
CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a technique based around discussion (talking therapy) of problems and trying to focus your thoughts and behaviour away from negative influences towards positive thoughts which change your behaviour for the better. The focus is on how to change these negative patterns to improve the way you feel and so bring about a positive state of mind. Commonly used in cases of anxiety and depression. It is more about dealing with current problems, rather than those in your past.
DCD
Developmental Co-ordination Disorder is also known as Dyspraxia and affects movement and co-ordination. It is not a reflection on intelligence (which is unaffected), simply those tasks that require dexterity and co-ordination, such as balance, or playing sports.
EBD
Emotional Behaviour Disorder does now fall into one specific category, but can be characterised by multiple characteristics. Those classified with EBD may have learning difficulties that generally cannot be characterised by normal measures, such as intellectual, sensory or health reasons, or those that have problems forming relationships at school, or are harmful to self and others and those that exhibit signs of depression.
EHCP
An Educational and Health Care Plan. A statement on what your child’s requirements is to help them learn and be healthy (both physically and mentally) in the learning environment. It is a plan detailing what needs to be done to help your child.
EBSA
Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is a broad term that is used to describe children and young people who have difficulty in attending school for emotional, well-being or mental health reasons.
Sometimes Emotionally Based School Avoidance is also referred to as:
• Persistent School Non-Attendance
• School Attendance Barriers
• Not Fine in School
• School Refusal
• Anxiety-Based School Avoidance
• Anxious Non-Attender
Some of these terms appear to infer that the problem is the result of a child's choices or actions, as opposed to the environment. This can lead educators and parents/carers to attempt to try to get the child to ‘fit in’ with the environment. Viewing the difficulty as the environment and making changes to enable the child to succeed is a much more positive approach to supporting a child experiencing EBSA.
Makaton (see also SLCN)
Makaton is a language programme using signs, symbols and speech to help and teach those with learning and communications difficulties. It helps improve both communications skills and literacy in those that struggle to communicate effectively.
ODD
Oppositional Defiant Disorder is where a child has long term behavioural problems, usually for in excess of six months. All children can show initial signs of this as part of normal development, so classifying a child as having ODD is subjective, unless the situation persists. Symptoms include long term anger and irritability, frequent temper loss, refusing to obey rules, defiant to adults in authority, being vindictive and deliberately annoying behaviour.
PDA
Pathological Demand Avoidance characterises someone who tries, or goes out of their way, to avoid the everyday demands of life. This includes having to join in with activities, family involvement and even getting up in the morning. This syndrome is often associated with those classified as autistic.
PMDD
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is an endocrine disorder very similar to pre-menstrual stress, but much more serious. PMDD causes physical symptoms but also mental health symptoms, such as depression and suicidal feelings.
For more information see the PMDD Support page.
SLCN
Speech, Language and Communication Needs – simply a term that covers a variety of needs from those with communication problems, stammering and stuttering, problems understanding and making sense of language, or problems using language.
SEN
Special Educational Needs. A child classified as requiring SEN doesn’t mean the child is slow or unintelligent. SEN children are often very intelligent and creative, but are hampered by not being sufficiently engaged with the learning process. SEN simply means that your child may have to have a more structured and tailored approach to learning to re-engage them in the process. Your ECHP will detail what that approach should be
SEN/PDA Tutor & Family Support Worker