Hilary Burt

The lessons ...

Hilary Burt offers one-to-one English lessons for children from 6 to 11 years of age in Brighton, UK. The first lesson is for Hilary to find out where your child is at. This will involve a check on the alphabet, basic sounds, basic spellings, auditory memory and usually a phonological awareness test. This informal assessment will inform the content of future lessons.

Generally speaking, each hour’s lesson is very structured with perhaps six or seven activities designed to hold the child’s attention and make the lesson both enjoyable and educational. As well as pen and paper work there will also be some computer-based learning and usually a short game to finish.

Each lesson is tailored to the individual’s needs and a detailed lesson plan is provided for each session. For this reason it is recommended that the child works on lined paper keeping everything in an A4 ring binder. The child also needs to have a pencil/pen and ruler.

Lesson Prices ...

Lessons cost £30 an hour plus parking if necessary, and take place at your home. The first couple of lessons can be paid for individually and thereafter payments are made in half-termly blocks. Brighton and Hove state school holidays are followed and these form natural breaks throughout the year which are not paid for. No refunds are given I'm afraid once the invoice is paid. Holiday sessions can be arranged if required (eg. during the summer holidays) depending on Hilary's availability.

Teaching Experience ...

Hilary Burt qualified as a teacher in 1986 and worked as a full-time primary school class teacher in London for the next ten years. She then decided to go part-time and worked as a Language Support Teacher in Tower Hamlets for three years.

More than anything else Hilary decided she loved working with individual children focussing on their learning needs and so in 1999 she set up a private tutoring practice.

Since then she has also worked as a teacher at Dyslexia Action in Tonbridge, Kent, as well as a Learning Support Teacher at Itchingfield Primary School, West Sussex, and St Aubyns Independent School in Rottingdean, East Sussex.

Dyslexia ...

"I have successfully tutored many children with dyslexic type difficulties and I work in a very structured and detailed way which is necessary in this field. I use multisensory teaching methods and my approach is friendly and non-threatening. The children seem to enjoy the lessons and feel energised when they emerge after an hour! If you require an assessment for your child, please consult an Educational Psychologist."

Qualifications ...

Dyslexia Institute - Sept 2004 - July 2005
Postgraduate Certificate in Dyslexia and Literacy - Distinction for Teaching Practice. Approved Teacher Status with the British Dyslexia Association.

International House London - Aug 1998
RSA CELTA - Grade B (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults)

University of Warwick - Oct 1982 - July 1986
BA (Hons) with Qualified Teacher Status. Grade 2:1

Times ...

Lessons for children take place after school and on Saturday afternoons. If you are interested in organising 1:1 lessons for your child, or would like to find out more, then please