Personal tutors address the specific learning needs of each student by offering truly individual, one-to-one support. Instead of following a fixed scheme of work, the tutor can focus on the learner’s unique strengths, challenges and goals. This personalised approach helps students to understand their subjects more clearly, make steady progress and feel more confident in their abilities.

Tutors usually begin by building a clear picture of the student’s current situation. They may look at school reports, recent test scores, teacher comments and examples of classwork, as well as asking the student and their parents how they feel about the subject. This helps to identify particular areas of difficulty, topics that need revisiting and any barriers to learning that may be affecting progress.

Once these needs are understood, the tutor can create a tailored plan. This might include revising key foundations, filling gaps in knowledge, building core skills such as reading, writing or problem-solving, or preparing for specific assessments and exams. The plan can be flexible, changing over time as the student improves or new priorities emerge.

Teaching methods and resources are then adapted to match the student’s learning style and preferences. Some students benefit from clear, structured explanations and lots of practice questions; others respond better to visual aids, diagrams, real-life examples or short, interactive activities. Tutors can also adjust the pace of lessons, spending longer on challenging topics and moving more quickly through areas the student finds easier.

Throughout the process, tutors monitor progress closely. They can check understanding regularly, review homework and practice work, and use informal quizzes or past paper questions to see how well the student is applying what they have learned. If something is not working, the tutor can quickly change their approach, introduce new strategies or revisit earlier material in a different way.

Communication with parents is also an important part of addressing specific learning needs. Tutors can provide updates on what has been covered, how the student is getting on and any next steps. Parents can share information from school and let tutors know about any changes at home that might affect concentration, motivation or confidence.

Over time, this personalised, responsive approach helps students feel more supported and in control of their learning. Whether a student needs to catch up, keep up or move ahead, a personal tutor can adapt their teaching so that support remains closely matched to the student’s specific learning needs.

If you’d like your child to receive one-to-one support tailored to their specific learning needs, you can enter your postcode in the search box to request a free list of local and online tutors.