Nurturing Confidence and Potential
Since 2021
Would your child benefit from a little extra support with their learning?
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Do they struggle to focus in class, need a confidence boost or a bit of help catching up?
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I am a highly experienced qualified teacher who now works full time giving bespoke support to children aged four to eight in the form of 1 to 1 face to face tutoring sessions from my home in Woking.
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I specialise in the teaching of early reading, phonics and maths skills.
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Please take a look at my Facebook page and read below to find out more.
About Me
Who am I and how can I help?
Hello, I'm Catherine, a qualified primary teacher with 28 years teaching experience, specialising in Early Years and Key Stage 1.
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I hold an enhanced DBS check, registered on the update service, and undertake annual safeguarding and child protection training.
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I have taught in state, independent and international schools, most recently teaching at The Raleigh Primary in West Horsley, Surrey and Wellow Primary in Hampshire.
I am highly experienced in teaching early phonics, reading, writing and maths skills.
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I have an excellent understanding of how young children learn and my sessions are engaging, active and fun. I have a kind, patient and encouraging approach.
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I have experience of working with children with additional needs, for example ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia or speech delay.
I have a BA Hons in Philosophy from Durham University and a PGCE in Early Years (3-8 year olds) from Westminster college, Oxford.​
Working Together
I offer tutoring for 4-8 year olds in Reception, Year One, Year Two, Year Three and Year Four.
I love working with children individually. All sessions are carefully planned and are bespoke to each child's specific needs, strengths and interests. This helps your child to make rapid progress while building confidence and resilience.
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Feedback, both verbal and written is provided to parents after each session.
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I offer after school sessions at 3.45pm, 4.45pm and 5.45pm Monday to Friday as well as daytime sessions for children who are home educated. I also provide ad hoc tutoring sessions during school holidays.
I tutor from my home in Hook Heath, Woking, where I have a well resourced tutoring room (see gallery). There is driveway parking and we are about a mile from Woking station.
Parents are most welcome to sit in on sessions while your child settles and gets to know me.
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My current fees are £43 for 50 minutes tutoring (2025).
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New families are offered an introductory session, to see whether we are a good fit, with no commitment. We can have a chat and your child can engage in a few fun activities (20 minutes free or 50 minutes paid).
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Please do contact me if you would like further details.
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Getting in Touch
Address
Primary Tutoring with Catherine
Fernhill Lane
Woking
Surrey
GU22 0DR
Contact
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri
8:45 am – 6:45 pm
Please contact me for further details and to discuss your child's needs.
I do my best to respond to all enquiries. Please do check your email junk folder, just in case my reply has gone there. Don't hesitate to message me again if you haven't heard back within a day or two.
Testimonials
"I can't recommend Catherine more! Within weeks, I could see how much my daughter's confidence had grown. She has advanced quickly with her reading, no more tears. She now loves reading and trying out new words. Catherine is engaging, patient and makes reading fun and enjoyable."
Year 1 parent
"Thank you so much for being such a wonderful tutor for X! She has gained so much confidence and learnt so much. Most importantly she has thoroughly enjoyed it."
Year 4 parent
"Catherine is a fantastic teacher, who can turn each lesson into a set of fun games. I can see a lot of improvement in my child's school performance. As a parent I appreciate the very clear communication from her side with very helpful suggestions as well. You will be lucky to get a spot in her busy teaching timetable!"
Year 2 parent
"X has made great progress in all aspects with the biggest gain being in her confidence. She genuinely every week looked forward to coming and learning. It really has shown in her maths and her end of year school report."
Year 3 parent
"Catherine is the best and fantastic teacher for little kids who like to play. She structures her lessons in such a way that the kids feel like they move from one game to another. A few weeks later they can read and count with great confidence they didn't have before. The kids run full speed towards her house in anticipation of a great fun lesson."
Year 2 parent
"I am incredibly grateful for the time X has had with you and as evidenced in his latest school report, he has come on leaps and bounds. However, what has been most unexpected is how much he looks forward to and enjoys his sessions. Thank you so much for everything."
Year 4 parent
"I just wanted to say that X was so happy on the drive home [from settling in session]. She said she can't wait to go back and she actually got the book out that you kindly lent us and started to read it aloud in the car!!! I'm so happy!!"
Year 1 parent
FAQs
Q. "Where do tutoring sessions take place?"
A. "All sessions take place face to face in my family home in Hook Heath, Woking GU22 0DR. I have a calm, focused learning space and all my resources are to hand to use with the children."
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Q. "When do tutoring sessions take place?"
A. "During term time, I tutor after school on Mondays to Fridays and sessions start at 3.45pm, 4.45pm and 5.45pm. I also offer sessions for home educated children on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings. During the school holidays I offer optional tutoring and can do morning sessions as well as afternoons."
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Q. "Which subjects do you teach?"
A. "I specialise in teaching early reading, phonics, writing and maths skills."
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Q. "Which age group do you teach?"
A. "I tutor four to eight year olds in Reception to Year four. I do also occasionally teach older children, where they are working at an earlier stage of development. I would generally recommend children are five years old before starting after school sessions but am happy to work with four year olds in the school holidays."
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Q. "What qualifications and experience do you have?"
A. "I have a BA (hons) and PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education), specialising in Early Years (three to eight year olds). I have 25 years primary teaching experience in schools and have been tutoring fulltime for the last three years."
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Q. "Do you teach children of all abilities?"
A. "Yes I work with children of all abilities, helping children who are struggling as well as those who need to be further stretched. I can help your child to feel more confident, enjoy learning and to reach their full potential."
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Q. "Do you work with children with additional learning needs?"
A. "Yes, absolutely. I have experience teaching children with a wide variety of special educational needs including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia and speech delay. I also work with children experiencing anxiety."
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Q. "How will I know how my child is getting on?"
A. "There is the opportunity to have a quick chat and get verbal feedback at the end of each session. I also provide written feedback in a communication notebook each week. I am always happy to answer questions over email in between sessions and to look through any reports or targets from school."
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Q. "How long is each session?"
A. "Sessions are 50 minutes long."
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Q. "How much do sessions cost?"
A. "Sessions cost £43 (January 2025)."
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Q. "Do you teach home educated children?"
A. "Yes I work with several home educated children and am happy to chat about the type of support you are looking for."
Q. "Do you run group classes?"
A. "No I don't currently offer group classes, all my tutoring is one to one and individualised to your child's specific next steps in learning."
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Q. "Do you offer online lessons?"
A. "No I don't offer online tutoring. I find that face to face sessions work best for this age group. We play lots of games and use practical resources in sessions."
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Q. "Do I stay with my child during tutoring?"
A. "You are very welcome to sit in on sessions, particularly for the first few weeks, whilst your child is settling and getting to know me. Once they are comfortable please feel free to drop and go if you prefer. (Some parents always stay and that is absolutely fine too.)"
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Q. "How long do children attend tutoring for?"
A. "Some children come for just a few holiday booster sessions or for a half term or term of after school sessions. Others stay with me for years. It's entirely up to you."
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Q. "Do you offer weekend tutoring?"
A. "No I don't offer weekend sessions, all my sessions are on weekdays."
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Q. "Are you insured?"
A. "I hold a full enhanced DBS check, registered on the update system, and I have public liability insurance."
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Q. "What additional CPD have you done?"
A "I have recently completed courses in dyslexia awareness, ADHD, dyscalculia and autism and anxiety."
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Q. "How do we pay for sessions?"
A. "Payment is by bank transfer, preferably monthly in advance, but can be weekly as long as it is received 48 hours in advance."
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Q. "Where can we park?"
A. "I have plenty of driveway parking."
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Q. "Do sessions run through the school holidays?"
A. "I offer optional booster sessions during all half terms, one week of the Easter holidays and three-four weeks of the summer holidays."
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Q. "What do we do if we can't make a session?"
A. "Tutoring is a weekly term time commitment and your child's slot is reserved for them. Only one cancellation is permitted per term, with at least 48 hours notice, for an essential appointment or school commitment. If your child becomes ill on the day I will always do my best to rearrange to another day but I can't refund, unfortunately."
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Q. "I work full time and I'm not sure how to fit tutoring in, but my child really needs help."
A. "Some parents bring a laptop and work in the room during their child's session, others park on the driveway and make work calls from their car. We also have a local cafe where you could sit and work, just around the corner on Wych Hill."
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Q. "My child has lots of after school activities and we can't commit to weekly term time sessions at the moment."
A. "I always have availability for school holiday sessions and these can make a significant difference. Do get in touch. I occasionally have ad-hoc availability in term time, these are pay as you go. Take a look at my Availability page to book these."
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Q. "I will have a younger sibling with me."
A. "To help your child focus and concentrate during their session, it may be best not to bring their younger sibling in. We have Woking Park and St John's / Mayford playgrounds nearby as well as quiet roads for a walk and a duck pond by Woking golf club."
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Q. "You are fully booked, what can we do?"
A. "Spaces do become available periodically, so please get in touch and pop your child on my waiting list. I also generally have some availability in the school holidays and occasionally ad-hoc availability in term time."​​​​