The school report came home a few weeks ago. You read it, maybe felt a little knot in your stomach, and put it aside to deal with "later."
Well, it's nearly January. New year, fresh start. If you've been wondering whether your child needs English support, now's the time to act.
Here's how to know if English tuition could help your child in 2026, and what to do about it.
Quick Answer for Busy ParentsDoes your child need English support? Watch for these signs: struggling with reading, avoiding writing tasks, using basic vocabulary, saying they're "rubbish at English," or getting "working towards" on their school report. When to act: Now. January gives a full spring term (12+ weeks) to build skills before summer. Gaps don't close by themselves. What we offer: Small group English tuition clubs (max 5 children) with UK qualified teachers. Weekly online sessions starting 5th January. Limited spaces available. Next step: Check available tuition clubs and book your half-term block. |
School reports landed in December, and for many parents, they raised more questions than they answered.
"Working towards expected standard." What does that actually mean? Is it serious?
"Making good progress." But good compared to what? Are they keeping up?
"Would benefit from additional reading practice at home." Okay, but how much? And what kind?
If your child's report mentioned they're below expected levels in reading, writing, or spelling, that's your signal. It doesn't mean panic. It means they need targeted support to catch up before the gap widens.
The good news? January is the perfect time to start. Your child has a full term ahead to build skills, confidence, and momentum before the summer assessments.
Beyond the school report, watch for these everyday signs at home.
Your child avoids reading. They'll do anything to get out of reading time. When they do read, they stumble over words they should know by now. They read the words but don't understand what they've read. Comprehension questions leave them blank.
If helping your child with reading at home feels like a battle, extra support could transform their attitude and ability.
Their writing is brief and basic. Ideas don't flow onto the page. Spelling is creative (and often wrong). Punctuation is missing or random. Their teacher mentions they struggle to write at length or organize their thoughts.
Writing develops through practice and expert feedback, which tuition provides in focused doses.
Your child uses the same basic words repeatedly. They struggle to express complex ideas. They don't understand words other children their age use easily. Verbal confidence lags behind their peers.
Your child says they're "rubbish at English" or "hate reading." They avoid homework involving writing. They get frustrated quickly when reading or writing. Confidence around literacy is low.
This matters. Children's confidence directly impacts learning. When they believe they can't do it, they stop trying. Expert tuition breaks this cycle.
Some parents wait. They hope it'll click. They think summer is soon enough to address it.
Here's the reality: gaps don't close by themselves. They widen.
A child "working towards" in Year 2 becomes significantly behind by Year 4 without intervention. A reluctant reader in Year 3 develops avoidance strategies that become harder to shift in Year 5.
January is ideal for starting tuition because:
Full term ahead: Your child has 12+ weeks before Easter to build skills and confidence. That's enough time to see real progress.
Fresh start energy: New year motivation is real. Children (and parents) feel ready for positive changes.
Before SATs pressure: For Year 6 families, starting in January gives months of preparation before May exams, reducing stress.
Small group spaces available: Our tuition clubs have limited spaces (maximum 5 children per group), and January is when most parents book. Waiting means potentially missing out.
Quality English tuition doesn't just "help with homework." It develops core literacy skills systematically.
Tutors identify specific gaps (phonics knowledge, comprehension strategies, sentence structure) and address them directly. Your child isn't drowning in whole-class teaching. They get focused support on exactly what they need.
Small groups mean your child gets regular turns to contribute, answer, and succeed. They build confidence through achievable wins each session. That confidence transfers to school.
UK qualified teachers know how to teach reading and writing effectively. They use proven methods (systematic phonics, guided reading, modelled writing) that work. You don't need to figure it out yourself.
Weekly sessions create routine and momentum. Your child practices reading, writing, and literacy skills in a supportive environment where mistakes are learning opportunities, not failures.
In small groups (3-5 children), your child learns alongside peers at similar levels. They hear others' ideas, see different approaches, and realise they're not alone in finding English challenging. This reduces isolation and anxiety.
Our English tuition clubs run weekly throughout the school term. Here's what they look like.
Small groups: Maximum 5 children per group, carefully matched by year and ability. Your child gets significant individual attention while benefiting from peer learning.
UK qualified teachers: Every tutor is a qualified UK primary teacher with classroom experience. They know the national curriculum inside out.
Online but engaging: Sessions happen via video call. Children interact through activities, discussions, and shared tasks. It's dynamic, not passive screen time.
Structured sessions: Each session builds specific skills (reading fluency, comprehension strategies, descriptive writing, grammar). There's clear progression week to week.
Regular feedback: You receive updates on what your child is working on and how they're progressing. You're kept in the loop.
January start dates: Some clubs begin as early as 5th January, giving your child a full spring term to build momentum.
Limited spaces: We cap groups at 5 children to maintain quality. Spaces fill quickly in January when parents are motivated to act.
English tuition clubs work brilliantly for:
Children "working towards" expected standard: They need targeted support to close the gap and reach age-appropriate levels.
Reluctant readers: Small group energy and expert encouragement can shift attitudes dramatically.
Children who struggle with writing: Regular practice with expert feedback builds skills and confidence.
Capable children who lack confidence: Sometimes children can do it but don't believe they can. Supportive tuition proves they're capable.
Children preparing for Year 6 SATs: Starting in January gives months of preparation, reducing spring term stress.
Years 1-6 students needing extra support: Whatever your child's year group, if they're struggling with English, tuition helps.
If you're on the fence, ask yourself these questions:
Is the gap closing by itself? If not, intervention helps.
Is your child's confidence around English low? This often needs external support to shift.
Would you feel relieved if someone else provided expert help? That's your answer.
Do you have time and expertise to provide consistent literacy support at home? If not, tuition fills that gap.
Is your child heading into Year 6 without solid English skills? Starting in January is crucial.
Still unsure? Starting with a half-term block is a manageable commitment. You'll see progress within the first few weeks, and our small group approach means your child gets significant individual attention from the first session.
"Will my child engage online?"Yes. Qualified teachers make online sessions interactive and engaging. Children adapt quickly, especially in small groups where they get regular turns to participate.
"Is it too much pressure on top of school?"Quality tuition reduces pressure. When children understand concepts better, school becomes easier, not harder. They feel more capable.
"What if they fall behind their group?"Groups are carefully matched by ability. Your child learns alongside others at similar levels, so they're neither bored nor overwhelmed.
"What if we miss the January start date?"Once a half-term block begins, new students cannot join that block. You would need to wait for the next half-term. That's why booking early for January is important, especially with limited spaces (5 per group).
Here's what happens if you act now versus waiting:
Start in January: Your child builds skills and confidence throughout spring term. By summer, they've made measurable progress. The gap narrows or closes. Confidence grows.
Wait until summer: The gap widens further. Your child falls further behind peers. Confidence drops. Catching up becomes harder and takes longer.
January isn't just convenient timing. It's strategic. Three full months of weekly support can genuinely transform your child's English skills and attitude toward learning.
If you've read this far, you're probably ready to act.
Here's what to do:
The new year brings fresh energy and motivation. Your child deserves to start 2026 feeling capable and confident in English.
If the December school report worried you, or if you've been watching your child struggle with reading and writing, this is your moment to act.
Small groups. Expert teachers. Proven methods. Real progress.
Let's make 2026 the year your child discovers they're good at English after all.
