Kirsty Bennett

My lessons are based on each child's needs.
For 11+ I used tried and tested materials, including a vocabulary list that I have grown from 12 years experience of my students. I use short 10 minute 'tests' to discover areas that we need to focus on, but take great care to include subjects that will not be touched on at primary school before the 11+ test is taken, including Algebra and the mysterious Verbal and Non-verbal reasoning. I don't tend to spend more than 20 minutes at a time on one subject, as I believe that is a good length of time for maximum focus, though over the summer before the exam I will make sure students have worked on practice tests of the full duration.

I often work with students who are ADHD (whether diagnosed or not), so try to work in short bursts so their attention doesn't drift. With children who are struggling with maths I go right back to basics (I find if a stage has been missed out it is impossible for them to continue in their learning until we go back and clarify things).

I am fascinated by children's writing, and am aware that different children need specific, differentiated support in writing both creatively and informatively (eg writing a report or an argument). Most primary aged children find these tasks very challenging, and feel they are supposed to have picked up on the rules/formats without enough structure, so I try to find what will ignite their imaginations so they can become interested in working at a higher level.