The Clara James Approach to learning

As we get closer to the end of term, many families are looking forward to the summer holidays - and rightly so. After a long school year, children often really need that break. They need time to rest, play, recharge, and just be.

But for some children, especially those who are neurodiverse or struggle with anxiety, transitions can be difficult. The move from school into summer can feel unsettling, and then just as they settle into holiday life, September starts to loom and the return to school can bring a whole new wave of worry.

I was chatting to a mum recently who now home educates, but when her child was in school, they used to really struggle with anxiety about going back in September. She shared something so simple but so thoughtful. During the summer, she kept a few small term-time habits going. Things like using packed lunches on some days, keeping bedtimes fairly consistent, and getting clothes ready the night before.

Not to make summer feel like school, but to make the transition back feel a little less abrupt.

I thought that was such a helpful idea, and one that might really support some families.

For many anxious or neurodiverse children, routines bring a sense of safety. Predictability helps them feel more in control. So when the structure of school suddenly disappears, even if school itself has been tiring or stressful, that change can still feel big.

And then, later in the summer, the anticipation of going back can start to build. Some children might become more emotional, more clingy, more irritable, or start asking lots of questions about September. Others might complain of tummy aches, struggle to sleep, or seem worried without really being able to explain why.

One of the most important things we can do as parents is acknowledge those feelings. Let them know it makes sense to feel wobbly. Let them talk about their worries without judgement. Reassure them that they don’t have to manage it all at once.

It can also help to keep some gentle structure in place over the summer. Not a strict timetable, and not at the expense of fun, but a few familiar anchors in the day or week. That might mean keeping bedtime reasonably consistent, having some routine around meals, using a visual plan, or preparing for the next day in the evening.

As September gets closer, gentle preparation can make a real difference. You can gradually move routines back towards school time, talk through what the first day might look like, revisit the school if that’s possible, or look at photos online together. Breaking things down into small steps can make the whole return feel more manageable.

It’s also helpful to think about what support your child might need in school. Is there a teacher, teaching assistant, or other trusted adult who could be their safe person if they feel overwhelmed? Could you give school a heads-up if transitions are usually difficult?

Most of all, I think it’s important to remember that children who struggle with transitions are not being difficult. They are often doing their best to cope with something that feels uncertain, unpredictable, or emotionally big.

And as parents, we do not need to make everything perfect. Sometimes the smallest things are the most powerful. A familiar routine. A bit of preparation. A calm response. Reassurance given again and again.

These small acts can help our children enjoy the freedom of summer while feeling a little safer about what comes next.

There is something terrifying about openly admitting that you were a fool.

Just a year or so into starting to tutor a company phoned me and promoted that they could provide me with a position on the first page of Google. He asked about the business, and I told him how we supported children with special learning needs, and he gushed and goo-ed and did a fantastic job of convincing me that he genuinely thought what we were doing was great. Because what we were doing was in such demand it was important to get the word out there so that we could support more children. In fact, bear with him, he wanted to ask his boss something… Yes, he’d spoken to his boss and because what we were doing was so beneficial, he could drop the price. He could offer us a position at the top of the first page of Google for just £400 for 6-months. Would I be interested? It could make such a huge difference to the business.

Being as naive as I was jumped at the opportunity. 6-months later the phone range. Because I hadn’t opted out of the contract, I now owed them, I can’t remember the exact amount, but thousands of pounds and it was due today.

I didn’t have that money.

He then announced that if I couldn’t pay it whilst he was on the phone they would send the bailiffs around this evening to retrieve goods to that value. They couldn’t do that, my youngest who was about 14 years old at the time would be home along for about ½ an hour, I couldn’t have them here whilst she was here by herself.

At the same time a close friend of my mum was terminally ill with cancer, and we were expecting the call at any time to say he had gone, so I also wanted to get this man off the phone so I could speak to my mum if she rang. 

I had no idea what I should do. The man could clearly sense I was panicking and increased the pressure accordingly. 

Eventually I suggested that I could pay him £50 today on my credit card, then pay the rest off in instalments over the coming months. He told me to give him the card details and to hang up and he would talk to his manager and see if he could get this authorised, though it might take some time to convince him. The man on the call said he would do what he could for me.

Thank you, relief…

A few minutes later, Barclaycard rang. Had I authorised a £50 payment to this company. Yes, I had authorised 1 £50 payment to them.

A few minutes later the company was back on the phone, he had managed to persuade his manager and we could go ahead with this. I don’t know why now but when I left for my lessons I was still in dread that the bailiffs were going to be coming round.

A few days later I had a letter from Barclays saying that I had gone over my spending limit and would be charged accordingly. 

How?

It appeared that whilst I had been on the phone to them, they had taken multiple payments of £50 off the card until they had maxed it out. They had taken over £13,000. I phoned them up and because I had authorised the first payment, that had automatically authorised the other payments to them thereafter.

Long story short: I got the citizens advice involved and they were fantastic, when the man on the phone had been speaking, he had told me that part of what I was paying for was a new website. Because they had never followed through with creating the website they had breached the contract and I was entitled to a full refund.

It took over 18 months to get that money back. When I looked online afterwards there were numerous messages from people who had also been scammed.

Looking back now it seems ridiculous, but it seemed so genuine in the moment.

I hope I haven’t lost all credibility by telling you this story.

I recently wrote a book called: Become a Tutor. Build Confidence. Change lives. If you would like a free copy (no strings attached just a gift from me to you) drop me an email at [email protected] or fill in the form below and I will happily drop a copy in the post for you if aims to answer many of the questions that I had when I first started out as a tutor. 

Become a tutor - Free copy of my book

I wish you all the best on your journey into the world of tutoring.

This probably sounds like I am stating the obvious, but if you are looking to start a tutoring business the biggest/best piece of advice that I can give you is to be helpful. 

By this I mean: if you are commenting on a social media post where someone is asking for help, offer them help and not just the option of taking you on as a tutor. 

If you are giving out fliers, put a valuable tip / suggestion (such as revision tips, ways to learn a specific times table, quotes from a GCSE text book), or whatever it is so that they have a reason to hold on to that piece of paper and not just put it in a drawer.

It also holds you as an expert with valuable information to share and not just someone who is trying to grow their business.

If someone calls you looking for help, ask if they mind if you share a couple of ideas with them that you use and you hope they might find useful. Some might go, no thanks I can’t work with my child, but many will say thank you, that would be really helpful.

But in doing this you are helping to build up a strong relationship from the outset. You are proving that you are doing this because you care and not just because you are trying to increase your numbers…

I hope this helps. I recently wrote a book: Become a Tutor. Build Confidence. Change Lives. If you would like a free copy (no strings attached just a gift from me to you) drop me an email at [email protected] or fill in the form below and I will happily drop a copy in the post for you

The other day I organised a "Tutoring coffee and chat". The idea being that people who were thinking of becoming a tutor or looking to grow their tutoring business could join the call and we could share ideas that could be helpful to get them started.

A point that repeatedly came up was that they were looking to start in September. The new school year.

If this is your plan, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE start telling people now that you will be available, because:

1) there are so many people promoting themselves as tutors that it will take time for you to be heard above the noise.

2) People will be entrusting you with their child's education. They will want time to get to know you, like you, trust you before inviting you into their lives.

3) People are starting to look for tutors now for September so that it is something that is organised and they can put to the back of their minds before the summer holidays begin.

If you would like a free copy of my book: Become a Tutor: Build Confidence. Change Lives (no strings attached what-so-ever) please do drop me a line: [email protected] and I will more than happy to send you one in the post. (I wrote it with the goal of answering the questions that I had when I got started)

I wish you every bit of success on your journey

At times tutoring can feel like a rollercoaster: its nonstop. Then suddenly you hit a bank holiday weekend, and the breaks are slammed on and somehow you have to pick up momentum again.

You are running down the racetrack at a million miles an hour and a parent will declare that actually, we’ve been looking at dates and thanks for your help, but I think we’ll leave it there!

That change in direction wasn’t something you had braced yourself for and you fall flat on your face.

At first, you celebrate the time to yourself and then you start a new relationship with free-time, and you never want it to end…

But you know the reality is that this cannot last for ever.

When I find myself in this situation, I have an image by my desk of the things I strive to achieve so that I can remind myself what it is I am striving for. Why I get up in the morning and head straight to the computer.

Then (I confess) I am a list person. I love lists. It had gotten to the stage that I had lists to remind myself of my other lists, but I have become more disciplined now.

But I have lists of different books, YouTube videos, podcasts that I can refer to that motivate me. They can be on fixing up the house or garden. They can be travel related or based on building a business. They may just be people who inspire me.

Often, I will take myself for a walk and think back to what incredible parents I had and the values that they instilled in us. 

It is whatever works for you in that moment.

And it’s not about making a huge splash on that day, it’s about doing something. Anything, that will get the wheels turning again because that is what builds momentum. Whilst you are static your business can not grow, but 1 small step can become the start of many that will take you on the journey that you dream of.

I am giving away copies of my book “Become a Tutor. Build Confidence. Change Lives” if you would like a (completely free, no strings attached) copy, just drop me a message and I will more than happily drop one in the post for you: [email protected]

I hope it helps.

If you are looking for more tailored support in growing your tutoring business check out this link to discover other ways that I can help: Become a tutor

I've been trying hard to give away copies of my book "Become a Tutor" as a free gift. 

No strings. 

But it is proving so hard!

So, I thought if I recorded the introduction people would know what it was about and might be more tempted to take a copy.

So, please if you are thinking about becoming a tutor or growing your tutoring business and you think this might be of help, please do go to the link below and I will get one in the post for you as soon as possible:

Become a tutor - Free copy of my book

When I first started tutoring I asked tutors in the local area if they wanted to create a group where we could share ideas/highs/lows of tutoring. Work together and support each other.

The response was a unanimous "no!"

Yet it seemed bizarre that people would rather work in isolation rather than build something stronger if we worked as a team. 

For them "team" meant competition.

But I am sure that if we work together our businesses will grow and strengthen as a consequence which in turn will lead to better profits (which at the end of the day is why most of us are in business...)

That is also why I am turning towards supporting people grow their tutoring businesses so that they can be a part of a team, a part of something bigger.

If you would like to know the different ways we can help, may be starting with a copy of my free book: Become a tutor - Free copy of my book

or something more click here to find out how I can help: Become a tutor

Thinking back over the years some of the best advice I have had has been a nugget of something from a book or audiobook, or a child I have been working with.

We can listen to everything, but if it doesn't work for us sometimes it's best not to hear it.

But what I have learned is that sometimes those who charge the most and offer the biggest promises actually provide the least. 

In this podcast I'll talk you through some of the experiences I've had over the years - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I also mention that if you would like me to pop a copy of my book in the post for you (completely free, no ties) I am more than happy to. It's the steps I wish I had been given when I was starting out as a tutor. If wanted, or if you have any other questions, please do ask: [email protected]

If you do enjoy these episodes and you find them helpful, it would mean the world if you subscribed.

Good luck on your journey into tutoring 

Why would you help your competition?

In a Facebook group that I am a part of about tutoring, someone recently asked why were people looking for help from their competition?

That seemed like a bizarre concept that we were competition as there are so many people looking for support in so many areas that we couldn’t possibly support everyone that needed it alone.

We all also have different approaches to tutoring, so although I may offer “this”, it could be that families are looking for “that”, like you do it.

Parents aren’t looking for ‘a tutor’. They’re looking for the right tutor for their child.

But surely, the only way we can continue to improve and offer something better is by seeking help and advice and surely the best people to gain that from are often those who are slightly further along the journey than we are. 

Often, the children themselves are some of our greatest teachers.

They are the ones experiencing the education system every day, and their reactions, frustrations, and successes teach us a huge amount about how learning really works in practice.

Wherever you are finding inspiration and help from, can I suggest that you never stop learning and looking to grow and improve.

My late mum was one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known.

Not because of qualifications, but because she never stopped learning.

She was constantly reading, listening, watching documentaries, and exploring ideas about people and the world around her.

Curiosity never left her.

Wherever you are in your tutoring journey, I genuinely believe we grow faster when we are willing to learn from others rather than trying to do everything alone.

None of us know everything.

The important thing is staying open to learning, reflecting, and improving.

It’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about building supportive spaces for tutors who are starting or growing their journey.

If you are looking for support, guidance, or simply someone to walk alongside you as you build your tutoring business, feel free to get in touch. I’d love to help if I can.

 Become a tutor

Thinking about becoming a tutor?

In this episode, I walk you through a real day in my life as a tutor and what I do, how I structure my time, and what the role truly involves beyond the act of tutoring itself. 

It's not glamours or a jet set lifestyle but I have to be honest and I say that I wouldn't change it.

When the time is right, if you would like help building your own tutoring business, here are some ways that I can help: Become a tutor