If your child is struggling with learning Maths at school then tutoring is an excellent opportunity to correct any misconceptions, to help build their confidence in a small group or one-to-one setting, whether online or face-to-face. Sonia's vast tutoring experience helps us understand what they are struggling with, give easy to understand explanations, examples and questions to help them learn and thrive.
 

Should I choose online or face to face?

Many children prefer tutoring in their own home where they feel safest. This can be online or face to face. Online tutoring offers the benefit of being able to see animations and make use of the available technology. Online tutoring uses Microsoft Teams or Google Meet along with Microsoft One Note to display the work. One Note allows the student and the tutor to work collaboratively onscreen. Online tutoring works well when the child is able to articulate what they are doing to answer the maths problems and what they are struggling with.
Face to face works best with children who are less confident with computers and with articulating their methods and thought processes. This is most commonly delivered in Sonia's Balsall Common home but could be delivered at your home.

We also offer small group tutoring online and at Balsall Common Village Hall. This is an affordable option where students get face-to-face help in small groups. Experienced Maths tutors work with groups of up to 6 students to help them with their work. These one hourly in person sessions take place In Balsall Common on Mondays from 4.30pm and on Tuesdays from 4.45pm for students in years 7 to 11.

How long will my child need tutoring?

We provide tutoring for as long as you need, often for the duration of the examination they are studying for. This is delivered weekly at the same time and day each week during term time. Sessions are one hour in duration. Sessions can continue throughout school holidays if required.

How does online tutoring work?

We use Google Meet for online tutoring. You will be emailed a link to the meeting, you do not need to have specific software installed nor have an account to access it. The cameras enable us to be able to interact but mainly we share our computer screen with your child and use Microsoft One Note to write explanations, give examples and provide questions for your child to do. When your child does questions themselves to check their understanding they need to be able to talk through what they are writing as they write it and/or be able to write on the shared screen to answer the Maths questions. Students can ask questions using the chat feature or via their microphone.

How does face to face tutoring work?

Sonia usually delivers this in her Balsall Common home. She will initially assess your child, through conversation and providing a few questions for them to do in order to ascertain a starting point. For each session she will provide materials to work through with your child. If something has been covered in school that they are struggling with then she can help with that, or with any homework as well as identifying gaps in knowledge and working to address these gaps. Near to exam sessions she will focus on past papers and revision materials to work through with your child.
Sonia may be able to deliver this in person tutoring at your home if you live near to Balsall Common.

How does small group teaching work like the after school Maths Workshop and Maths Summer School?

We currently run small group teaching classes in The Westlake Room of Balsall Common Village Hall. We have groups of 2-6 students per table with a tutor helping the group to work on Maths tasks, understand concepts and attempt practice questions. Students can get help with homework, with topics taught in class that they haven't developed a deep understanding of and with revision for upcoming exams and assessments.
Monday workshops are from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, Tuesdays from 4.45pm to 5.45pm. Students from years 7 to 11 can bring homework which we will help them with, recent tests they want help with and we also provide worksheets on topics they are studying at school, have previously studied and not mastered or anything else that we can then offer them further help with.  We cater for Edexcel and AQA GCSE Maths at Higher and Foundation levels.

Are you a qualified teacher? 

Sonia, Maths tutor and owner of Heart Of England Tutors, has a BSc(hons) Mathematical Sciences with Physics from Liverpool University and a PGCE 11-18 in Mathematics and Computing from the University of Birmingham. She currently works full time as a Maths tutor (as well as doing some supply teaching) and has over 20 years' experience of teaching and tutoring GCSE and A Level students. Sonia also marks GCSE and A level Maths papers for the exam board. This gives her a huge amount of experience and expertise in helping students to gain the grade they want in their GCSE and A levels to get to their next stage.

Sonia has an enhanced DBS certificate which is registered with the update service. Details of qualifications and DBS certificates for any of our tutors are available on request.

I am interested in getting a tutor, how do I get started?

Please complete the Contact Form or contact us via email. We will arrange a date and time for the first session. It is preferable to have the same time and day slot each week. We are available weekends and after school most weekdays. As Sonia now works as a tutor full time she also has slots available during the school day for anyone who is home schooled.

How does payment happen?

For face-to-face tutoring, payment can be made in advance via bank transfer or cash can be given at the end of the tutoring session. FOr online tutoring payment for each session is expected up front via bank transfer.
For Workshops, for new students we will take a deposit which covers the first session then payment must be made in advance for the remainder of the half term block of sessions before their subsequent session. For shorter school terms workshops may be charged for the whole term rather than half termly.

What happens if I need to cancel a session?

If you need to cancel a tutoring session then please give as much notice as possible. 24 hours' notice of cancellation is required in order to not incur the tutoring fee. Exceptions will be made in case of emergency. No refunds are available for missed workshop sessions unless prior notice is given as above.