Explicit, Structured Teaching
Each sound and rule is shown before it is practised. That covers phonics, guided reading, handwriting and early SPaG, mapped to the EYFS and the National Curriculum.
Wordy Classroom · Online tuition
KS1 English Tuition
Phonics, Reading and Writing for Reception to Year 2, in 30-Minute One-to-One Lessons
- Per Session
- 30 Min
- Private Lessons
- 1:1
- Lessons
- Online
English Skills at Your Child's Level
Books They Can Actually Read
I choose books that use only the sounds your child has learnt so far, so they can read them on their own.
Feedback Every Session
Clear goals, tracked progress and feedback after every session, so you always know where things stand.
Topics and Skills Covered
Phonics and Decoding
I teach your child to recognise and produce all 44 phonemes in English, working through single letter sounds, digraphs and trigraphs in a clear progression so nothing gets skipped. We practise blending sounds to read words and splitting words into sounds to spell them, until both come easily. I also teach heart words like 'the' and 'said', which don't follow the phonics rules, so your child can read full sentences.
Once the building blocks are in place, I use decodable books matched to your child's phonics stage so they can read whole books successfully from early on.
Reading Fluency and Comprehension
I help your child move from sounding out every word to reading with flow and understanding. We practise retrieval, prediction and simple inference using age-appropriate texts, so they can tell you what has happened in a story and what might happen next.
Writing and Sentence Building
I teach your child how to form clear, correctly punctuated sentences and build them into short pieces of writing. We cover capital letters, full stops, question marks, conjunctions and how to plan and organise ideas. These are the building blocks they need for Year 2 writing and the optional Year 2 SATs.
SPaG and Spelling Patterns
I work through the spelling rules and grammar concepts your child needs at KS1: common exception words, verb tenses, noun phrases, suffixes and more. We practise each pattern in short bursts over several weeks, then use it in your child's own writing.
Who KS1 English Tuition Is For
Children in Reception or Year 1 Who Need a Stronger Start
If your child is finding phonics tricky or isn't reading at the level you'd expect, early support makes a big difference. I help them build a solid foundation before any gaps widen.
Year 1 Children Preparing for the Phonics Screening Check
The Year 1 screening check tests whether your child can decode using phonics. I make sure they're confident with both real words and pseudo-words so there are no surprises.
Year 2 Children Preparing for SATs
The optional Year 2 SATs test reading, grammar, punctuation and spelling. I make sure your child has practised the skills they'll be tested on and has tried a paper in the same format before the real one.
Children Who've Lost Confidence in English
Some children decide early on that they're 'not good at English'. That's usually because they've missed a step somewhere. I find the gap and fill it.
Pricing
KS1 English Private 1:1
£30
per lesson
- 30-minute one-to-one lesson via Google Meet
- Lessons planned around your child
- Aligned to the EYFS and the National Curriculum
- Weekly, or twice a week before the optional Year 2 SATs
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a typical KS1 English tuition session look like?
Every session is structured around what your child needs to work on next. We'll usually cover a mix of phonics or reading, a short writing or grammar activity and some spelling practice. I keep things moving and age-appropriate. Thirty minutes is the right length for this age when the session is focused and well planned.
How do sessions differ by year group?
A Reception child working on early digraphs gets a completely different session from a Year 2 child revising SPaG for the optional Year 2 SATs. I plan every session individually based on where your child is, what they need next and what they're working on at school.
How often should my child have lessons?
Most families do weekly sessions, which gives enough time to build momentum without overwhelming your child. If the optional Year 2 SATs are coming up and you want to pick up the pace, we can do twice a week for a few weeks. I'll tell you after the first session how often I think lessons are needed.
My child struggles with reading. Is this the right option?
Yes. Reading difficulties are one of the most common reasons parents book KS1 English tuition with me. I'll assess where your child is, identify what's holding them back and work through it step by step.
Can I book a one-off session to try it out?
You can. There's no commitment required. Book a single session and see how your child gets on. Most families continue after the first lesson, but there's no pressure either way.
Which phonics programme do you follow?
I use UFLI Foundations, a systematic synthetic phonics programme developed at the University of Florida. I match each lesson to the sound your child's school scheme is teaching that week.
My child can read some words but guesses a lot. Can tuition help?
That's one of the most common things I see. Guessing usually means the phonics foundations aren't fully secure. I go back to find exactly where the gaps are and build from there. It's very fixable with the right support.
What Parents Say
“We are so happy we found Emma. Our son’s English has improved so much over the past year. She is a great phonics teacher 😊”
“Dhiren really enjoy lessons with Wordy Classroom. The lessons are interactive, he is engaged the whole time, always learning something new. Emma is great tutor, she is explaining lessons very clearly and she keeps the kids engaged and excited to learn. She is also always available to help me and answer any of my questions or concerns. Her lessons are tailored to each child needs, which is great. I would highly recommend Wordy Classroom. I just wish we start sooner.”
“Emma is a good teacher and a real encouragement to whom she teaches. My son says during his 11+ preparation, Emma makes the lessons fun with a Baamboozle and she is very patient. When he gets any questions wrong, Emma would help him understand the fundamentals. With no doubt, my son was blessed to have Emma for his 11+ journey and my son has chosen to qualify Emma with these 5 words:
Patient
Humorous
Encouraging
Highly strategic
Helpful”
Book a free 15-minute call
Tell me where your child is now and what you'd like them to work on, and I'll suggest the best place to start.