I come from a family of teachers, going back to my great-grandmother, so teaching has always been in my blood. As a child I loved to write and I read widely, so I started out wanting to be a writer or a journalist. I had several 'back and forth' years being pulled between media and teaching. 

After studying Journalism, and gaining a degree in Social Sciences with Psychology and a (very enjoyable) work detour into the world of media, magazine publishing, teaching English as a foreign language and tutoring, I finally followed my heart and attended Jordanhill College of Teaching where I gained my PGCE in Primary Education from the University of Strathclyde. After working as a class teacher, I took a career break to be at home with my two little boys after the youngest was born. 

During this time, I tutored locally, worked on various craft projects, continued professional development, started my own magazine for a while and taught English as a foreign language online to children in China and Japan, which was fascinating.

In 2018, I launched my own tutoring business full-time and I can whole-heartedly say it is the single most fulfilling and rewarding job I've ever done. I love working one-to-one with young people who find Maths or Literacy difficult. I am passionate about helping learners build up their confidence & skill-set, while encouraging an enthusiasm for learning.

I support students from P3 to S3 (around age 7-14 years) - both home-educated and at school -  in Maths and Literacy/ English. Many of the children I work with have ASD or ADHD or have specific learning differences such as dyslexia or dyscalculia. I have a wealth of experience in tailoring sessions to suit the individual needs of each learner, making them feel comfortable and homing in on special interests to help them engage and create positive connections with our learning.

I have over 20 years' experience as an educator. I am fully qualified to degree and PGCE (Primary Ed.) level. 

My approach is fun, relaxed, multi-sensory and often led by the learner. I meet learners where they are, and provide a balance between going at their own pace and providing suitable challenge.  I ensure learners feel comfortable asking questions and always reiterate that we can go over something as many times as needed, often changing the approach as we go. My aim is to help build confidence first and to show each learner that they are so, so much more capable than they think they are. 

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- Monday 7.15pm - 9 to 12 years - (3 spaces)
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Most rewarding thing about being a tutor?
Building a rapport with students and seeing them grow steadily in confidence. When the light bulb moments happen and something that seemed impossible to the student now makes sense... this is the most rewarding part of the job.

Advice you'd give parents seeking a tutor? 
Find someone who is fully qualified and experienced first and foremost. There are many people out there offering tutoring services and there is a huge variance in quality and experience, which is why I have put together this directory. Someone with a genuine, caring attitude who you think your child would like and work well with is very important. Knowledge of the curriculum is essential as is doing your own background checks on qualifications and eligibility to ensure the tutor can deliver what you are looking for. 

Most exciting part of the job?
Every day and every hour is different which I love. In the morning I could be working with a 13-year-old home education student on algebra. After school I could be working with an 10 year old on reading comprehension or creative story writing. In the evening, I could be in our book club pretending to be different characters, analysing their thoughts and actions, and spotting figures of speech. It's fast-moving and ever-changing... and I love it!

Why do you do what you do?
I'm really driven and excited to do my job - so firstly, it brings me a lot of happiness and fulfillment knowing I'm helping young people with something they find really difficult. From my own personal experience, I know what it's like to be that anxious kid in the classroom scared to be asked the answer in case it's wrong. I know other children can almost have a fear - especially with maths, as I did - and my aim is to immediately put children at ease, share that I understand how they feel and try to remove feelings of overwhelm that often become a barrier to learning. I want as many young people as possible, to really believe they can ​improve and ​achieve great things.

One thing you'd like all learners to know?
In the right environment, with the right support, taking into account how you learn best and going at a pace that suits you - you can learn way more than you think. You can learn to understand difficulty things if you give it time and practice. A positive mindset is important and a determination to not give up will serve you well. There are so many possibilities for you - and that's exciting!

Three random, fun facts about yourself that have nothing to do with tutoring..?
1.  I love writing my own short stories & poems. ✍
2. I love Fleetwood Mac! Live music is the best thing ever. 🎸
3. I love people and places. My favourite places in the world are Nice 🇫🇷 , Canada 🇨🇦 and Peru 🇵🇪_______________________________________

Are you a tutor?
If you would like your own feature page - just like this one - ask  us about *FULL GLOW* Membership in The Scottish Tutor Directory, please contact Emma on 07540 049783 or email [email protected] or access our Eligibility & Application Pack here.