Tuesday mornings, starting 3rd September 

9.15am-10.15am- Functional Skills / GCSE English KS 3-4 (age 11-16) ONLINE 

10.30am -11.30am - English for KS2-3 (age 7-14) ONLINE 

Contact me to discuss a best-fit in terms of age and starting point.

These lessons are ideal for young people who are out of school or experiencing challenges with accessing school and want to develop their skills in a low-pressure and friendly environment. 

Lessons will be flexible and follow the needs, interests, skills and approaches to learning within the group. For older learner, the balance between GCSE and Functional Skills will depend on the needs of the group but we will cover skills which span both qualifications. 

Group sessios - max 8 learners per session. 

Sessions are 60 minutes long, topic-based and link to the wider world, events, current affairs and society. I am always open to suggestions of topics and will structure learning around these whilst bringing in new ideas and wider links. 

We would usually start with a question or image to discuss before looking closely at vocabulary, language or structure and approaching texts by reading and then writing.

I encourage learners to keep a note-pad during lessons and to read and write at home in between lessons but I understand the pressures and challenges of this for some and that everyone learns differently and at a different pace.

I have a Padlet page for collecting and sharing written work and will give learners access to my own collection of useful links and resources on Padlet. 

For online learning, I encourage cameras and microphones to be on to help everyone to engage and participate but understand that some young people might find this difficult. 

I aim for my lessons to be fun, challenging, collaborative, relaxed and engaging.

1-hour group lesson - £20 per person, max 8 learners per group. 

1-1 lessons £80 per hour. 

I aim to be as inclusive as possible and want to be able to reach those who do not access mainstream education either through choice or through circumstances and needs not being met. My lessons are not about 'catching up', flashy gimmicks, exam prep, homework help or fast-track learning, but are about making real and meaningful connections between people through deep and purposeful learning with support towards acheiving qualifications as a long term goal if and when appropriate. 

My approach is to focus on purpose and functionality, making links across curriculum area and topics. Sharing my love of languages and cultures, I look to broaden my own and others' horizons through learning collectively. Seeing beyond the comparmentalised curriculum, I aim to develop critical thinking and reasoning skills through discussion and gently challenging views and beliefs. I develop supportive, collaborative learning environments in which everyone is genuinely valued and learners support each other to grow and learn. I place a strong focus on verbal communication, using speaking skills to develop confidence for writing. 

Where necessary and appropriate, I am able to support learners to progress towards Functional Skills and GCSE exams with techniques and terminology for the syllabus.

I am kind, calm and patient but with high expectations. I am skilled in harnessing individuals' skills, ambitions and interests to inspire and motivate. I am clear and consistent and have been frequently praised by learners and lesson observers for creating relaxed, collaborative and productive learning environments. 

I teach English including creative writing, non-fiction writing, SPAG skills and strategies, vocabulary and etymology, discussion and debating skills and reading strategies, skills and approaches. 

I also have experience of teaching maths, science, drama, film-making, music, PE, PSHE, citizenship, health and social care, EFL, ESOL, modern languages (French, Spanish and Italian) and circus skills and am open to any combination of these for small groups or 1-1. 

First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid 

Mental Health First Aid 

QTLS

Level 4 Certificate in Supporting Post 16 Resit Learners in GCSE English

Level 3 Certificate in Quality Assurance 

Level 5 Leadership and Management 

Level 5 Specialism in Teaching Literacy 

PGCE in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector

Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health 

Level 2 Cetificate in Understanding Specific Learning Disabilities

Level 2 Health and Safety

Grade A CELTA, University of Bristol Language Centre

1st Class Degree in French, Film and Theatre Studies - University of Bristol

A-level French, Theatr Studies, English Language and Literature 

GCSES including English, maths and Science

Over 20 years' of experience in education including:

Teaching young people with learning disabilities in a generic special school where I am a class teacher across all subjects and lead the school's maths provision and Duke of Edinbugh programme. 

First-hand, personal experince of PDA, ASC, ADHD and school-based trauma. I have two children with diagnoses of ASC, both of whom have had periods out of school, accessed alternative provision and tutoring. 

Six years of management of all aspects of GCSE and Functional Skills English and maths provision at Craven College. 

Established an alternative provision pathway at Craven College for young people who were not accessing mainstream education, which is still running and hugely successful. 

Teaching adults who have returned to learning, supporting them to build confidence and acheive Functional SKills and GCSE qualifications in English and maths.

EFL teaching abroad and ESOL teaching in the UK with asylum seekers and refugees which I continue to do two evenings per week. 

Managing and teaching on traineeship, NEET and foundation learning courses in Burnely College, Keighley College and Leeds City College.

Training and mentoring new and experienced teachers and designing and delivering CPD including supporting learners with additional needs, developing speaking skills across the curriculum, working with learning support assistants, phonics in secondary and Post 16 and embedding numeracy and literacy in a holistic curriculum. 

Published action reseach, conference speaking and workshop facilitating for the Education and Training Foundation.  

Recently established Skipton Circus Skills and run a regular club and circus skills workshops for young people.

I also love playing music, juggling, exploring woodlands, hills and rivers, learning languages, films and books and mucking about on my allotment. 

Use the contact page to arrange a phone call initially. I can then set up a short meeting online or face to face if local before booking onto a lesson if everything seems to be a good fit. 

Young people are blank canvases, ready to learn, to be challenged and develop their invididual characters through exploration, creativity and collaboration. I want to help them to learn in ways that suit them and to make learning meaningful and enjoyable. This often means undoing some of the rigidity and negativity associated with mainstream education which, with my professional and personal experience, I feel well-placed to be able to help with with.

Like any creative process, learning can and should be at times messy and frustrating as well as exciting and rewarding. My idea is to help young people to approach learning creatively and to embrace the non-linear ups and downs in ways that mainstream schools seem to not always support.

Canvas is associated with strength and durability, exploration and adventure as it was originally used for sails on ships. I lalso love camping in our family bell tent where being sheltered under canvas is such a peaceful and relaxing experience. 

I am available during school holidays and can arrange additional, one off or longer sessions and be more flexible in terms of times and location. I work in a special school so have more availability during school holidays.

As a teacher and a parent, I am acutely aware of fact that holidays can very stressful for families as peers and siblings are off school and routines change with other clubs and groups not running. 

Please contact me to arrange something to suit your needs. 

"The most naturally gifted teacher I have ever observed."  Deborah McVey, Education Consultant. 

"Dan delivered an expertly managed session led with quiet confidence. He is skilled tutor who diffused a potentially stressful situation with quiet ease. In a group where all students all have complex needs, Dan demonstrated outstanding skill and experience to ensure that high qualitiy learning took place for all througout the session." Bridget Slater, Curriculum Manager, lesson observation feedback.   

"I had a great experience taking this course. It gave me a great opportunity and a safe environment to practice my speaking, reading and writing. Thank you so much for the amazing course!" Dmytro, Ukrainian ESOL Learner. 

Full, enhanced DBS, available on request.

Personal and character references available on request. 

Full public libability insurance.