About Us
Tutor Led Learning
Be different, together.
Hello! We are Andy and Dave, the founders of Tutor Led Learning.
Tutor Led Learning is an online tuition provider that places the wellbeing of young people at the heart of our teaching. We are fully-qualified classroom teachers who have been tutoring children out of the classroom since 2018. We have also both worked in a wide range of mental health roles and use these experiences to ensure our tutorials are as accessible as possible to students who might be anxious, neurodivergent, have special educational needs and disabilities or otherwise.
I cannot recommend TLL sessions enough both Andy & Dave are amazing they are such genuine & enthusiastic teachers.
Julia D
We work with home educated learners and also with schools as Alternative Provision. We mostly teach in small, supportive tutorial groups and encourage interaction, friendship, curiosity and resilience (amongst other things!).
Everyone is different, and we believe great teaching acknowledges this rather than denies it. That’s why our slogan is ‘Be different, together’.
We love what we do and feel very privileged to work with a wide range of wonderful young people, their families and schools. You can read what our customers have to say about us on our review page, Facebook page or Google reviews.
Home Education | Alternative Provision
Who is Tutor Led Learning for?
Home Educated Learners
Tutor Led Learning is proud to bring the best of classroom teaching practice to home educated children. Our professional teacher training and experience of working with hundreds of different children in schools enhances our tutoring skills because we:
- Have more experience of planning engaging lessons which are purposeful, follow the National Curriculum and help children move towards meaningful qualifications
- Better understand exam board specifications and how to interpret them so learners can achieve their best
- Are better able to communicate with a wide range of learners and learning styles
- Have a range of strategies to enthuse and engage even reluctant learners
- Are able to define and maintain clear boundaries for focussed purposeful learning
- Can plan and deliver lessons which are engaging, flexible and ability (not age) focussed.
If you would like to find out more about how we can work to support your home education programme please drop us an email or complete the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
Alternative Provision for School Learners
In 2023 Tutor Led Learning was Quality Assured by the City of York Council and became a recognised provider of Alternative Provision. Tutor Led Learning supports students struggling to learn in the classroom by providing a nurturing and supportive atmosphere, helping them rebuild confidence and re-engage with learning.
Our small, friendly tutorial groups have helped many anxious students re-engage with learning and believe they can start achieving again.
Our distinctive approach is characterised as:
- Small local company, very responsive to school and parent correspondence
- Exceptionally good value for money
- Easy payment terms and no long-term tie ins
- Highly tailored and supportive tuition
- Thorough understanding of school priorities and challenges
- Tutorials follow the National Curriculum ensuring knowledge gaps are plugged
- Bespoke arrangements possible.
If you would like to find out more about how we can support students in your school please drop us an email or complete the referral form and we’ll be in touch.
In your lessons, though, it is very different. I am constantly so delighted to hear him asking questions, volunteering to answer, nodding away and raising his hand. You are doing a great job of not only teaching in a very engaging, informative and challenging way, but also of making my kid feel seen and valued. Even though it is through Zoom, he likes joining early to have a quick chat, and values your smiles and clear interest. You are among the few adults he feels confident and comfortable with. Thank you!
Our Tutors
Tutor Andy
I’m Tutor Andy, one of the co-founders of Tutor Led Learning and resident science nerd.
My journey as a science educator began by taking a dual honours degree in Biology and Psychology, with an Education Studies subsidiary, at Keele University. After graduating I had 6 wonderful months teaching English in Nagasaki, Japan before returning to the UK to set up a design and communications agency with university friends. After about 10 years of creating magazines, running comedy and music events, publishing a joke book attributed to Peter Kay (a long story…) and far too many late nights (!) I decided I might finally be mature enough to be an actual teacher…
In 2010 I gained a PGCE from the University of York which included additional study on the Health and Social Care Diploma and supervisory work in a specialist autism centre. I went on to spend nearly 7 years teaching sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Human Health and Physiology and Applied Sciences) to 11-18 year olds in British state secondary schools.
In 2018 I left employed teaching to explore other avenues. Alongside an increasing book of private tuition, I gained two separate part-time roles in the NHS. I worked in a tier 4 CAMHS inpatient unit and also in a mental health research team where I focussed on the potential use of the Chimp Paradox Model to reduce exclusions of vulnerable children from secondary schools. These experiences were invaluable in deepening my understanding of the importance of good mental health as a precursor to learning.
When Covid struck in early 2020 Tutor Dave and I decided we’d both like to do a lot more to support children not in mainstream education. In summer 2020 we combined our separate tutoring businesses and Tutor Led Learning Ltd was formally launched.
The latest development is for TLL to be Quality Assured by the City of York Council meaning we can now work directly with schools and support children still on-roll but struggling to learn in the classroom. We’re hugely excited by this opportunity to join a collaborative effort by Alternative Providers to support young people and get them learning again.
My experiences in and out of the classroom have shown me that 1:1 or small group online learning can have a very significant positive impact on student engagement and progress. Children with SEND can thrive with online learning as it gives them more control over their learning environment, can enable families to have more control over their schedules and help reluctant or anxious learners get back on track.
Initially sceptical of what can be achieved by teaching online I’ve come to realise that what most children value over anything in their learning is to feel included and involved, to make progress and have their questions and answers considered by a competent and kind tutor.
My teaching style is rooted in encouraging the ‘why?’ questions so innate in all children and working together on answers which develop their learning along the lines of the National Curriculum and more recent relevant developments in current affairs (environment, space, medicine etc).
Tutor Dave and I are extremely grateful to all the home educators and schools that have welcomed us into their communities with such warmth and kindness. We’ve done our best to repay this with thorough planning and super teaching. Our reviews suggest we’re doing something right!
Relevant Qualifications
- BSc in Biology and Psychology
- PGCE and QTS
- Enhanced DBS
- Designated Safeguarding Lead Level 3 Training
- Mental Health First Aid trained
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Training
- Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Safeguarding In Education Training
- Prevent Training
- All statutory NHS and school training when employed there
Tutor Dave
I have been working with HomeEd families since 2018 and haven’t looked back! I studied a wide range of subjects at university including English, Creative Writing, Philosophy and History, and love being able to explore these topics with our students.
Having this breadth of knowledge is invaluable in contextualising novels and looking deeper into the texts we study. I also co-founded a mental health training company, and I believe student wellbeing is one of the most important factors for helping children succeed. After all, we learn best when we feel happy and well-supported.
My approach to education is probably best defined by the word ‘flexibility’. Everyone learns differently, so a one-size-fits-all approach is definitely not for me; I love to be able to adapt and support students according to their needs, whether that be increasing the challenge and debating their ideas with them, or offering motivation and encouragement for each small step along the way.
Finding what works for each student is something I enjoy doing and there’s no greater reward than seeing students who were feeling ‘stuck’ start to make progress.
I’m also interested in mechanics (I recently taught myself to weld!), music (both listening and playing) and all sorts of literature (as you’d expect from an English teacher!). I love to learn new things, and feel very grateful to have had a love of learning instilled in me from an early age – thanks to everyone who made that happen!
Mental Health
Tutors Andy and Dave deeply understand and value the importance of good student mental health. We recognise that academic success is not solely dependent on grades and test scores, but also on the overall well-being of our students. Thus, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within our tutorial groups is paramount.
We believe that when students’ mental health is prioritised, they are more likely to thrive academically and personally. We strive to create a space where students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, concerns, and struggles without fear of judgement. By actively listening and empathising with their experiences, we aim to provide emotional support and guidance when needed.
In our tutorial groups, we promote awareness of mental health topics, allowing students to appropriately share their experiences and learn from one another. We promote self-care practices, stress management techniques, and time management strategies to help students maintain a healthy balance between their academic and personal lives. We understand that each student is unique, and we tailor our approaches to meet their individual needs.
Moreover, we collaborate with other stakeholders within the educational community to raise awareness about mental health and ensure that necessary resources and support systems are readily available. We regularly read and share resources relating to good mental health and are committed to maintaining up to date CPD in this area.