Page 31 - SEN116 January-February 2022

Autism
About the author
Becky Ward is the Education Experience Specialist at Tutor Doctor. She is a certified teacher, qualified SEN educator, and has been a tutor for over 16 years.
She is also the mum of two sons who both have SEN needs and are supported by the SEN system in school.
tutordoctor.co.uk
31
■ Studying with help at home.
One UK-based Tutor Doctor office has been supporting a student who has autism and dysgraphia and did not attend school during the height of the pandemic. Through online tutoring during the last academic year, the student was equipped with all required learning and skill building. The tutor worked with the student to build their English and writing skills and came to a point where the student was able to write a magazine article about their passions. This was later published by the student’s favourite magazine, and through continued academic support, this same student has now returned to school.
The student’s mum had this to say: “Our child is so proud of having the article published in a magazine, and it has been amazing to watch the work with their tutor to write the article. Our tutor has helped our child learn how to build their thoughts into a masterpiece, which they find challenging as they have dysgraphia. This couldn’t have been done without the one-to- one tutoring that has allowed our child to express themselves without the anxiety of others judging them.”
Elsewhere, another tutor explained, “I have a student with ADHD that is in his 4th year of tutoring with me. Over his journey, I’ve seen improvements in retention, speed, and most importantly his self-confidence. In the past, he has had accommodations during the school day to help him with organisation and time management with assignments. Because last year was virtual, he was responsible for keeping up with a lot of it on his own, and it really pushed him to have more self-directed learning. I’m so proud of his progress and to have been able to support him along the way! Organisational tasks that would have taken a lot of our time three years ago have become second nature now. He is now back to in-person learning and is doing a great job keeping up with assignments and even tells me what he’d like to focus on during some of our sessions. It’s great to see him taking control of his own learning!”
These significant achievements from students with diverse educational needs have enabled them to build their confidence. Through overcoming obstacles that arose as a result of limited
senmagazine.co.uk
“Sudden changes can cause behaviour changes”
contact and disruptions to routines, SEN students have emerged better equipped to face unpredictable circumstances beyond their educational journey. The consistent support and contact afforded to them by tutors not only helped this but has also demonstrated that regardless of the circumstances, anyone can achieve incredible things with the right support.
Frank Milner, the global president of Tutor Doctor, has seen the positive impact tutors have had on those with SEN during the pandemic: “With having so little control over so much during the pandemic, it has been brilliant to see such high- quality support provided to those with special educational needs. Maintaining a rigorous structure is vitally important to the development and emotional wellbeing of those with SEN, and adapting to sudden changes can cause behaviour changes and increased anxiety. Our community of amazing tutors have supported these extraordinarily strong children and their families throughout the last 18 months and have seen that these children emerged from such testing times well equipped and excited to be back in the classroom.”
Now students have returned to the classroom, children are ready to learn and move forward in their social and academic development. By tutors playing a significant role in the educational experience for those with SEN during the pandemic, the transition back to the classroom environment has been made a smoother and more enriching period for many.
For more information, please visit: tutordoctor.co.uk SEN116