Signs a child needs catch-up support
Catch-up is often needed after a period of absence, a difficult transition (Year 6 to Year 7 is the most common), a knock in confidence from a poor set of results, or after a topic that genuinely was not understood at the time and was never properly revisited. A child does not need to be significantly behind to benefit — even half a term of gaps in maths or reading can compound quickly if left unaddressed.
- Teacher feedback suggesting the child is working below expected level
- Reluctance to attempt homework in a specific subject
- Mock or assessment results noticeably lower than previous performance
- A change in school or teacher that disrupted learning routine
- Extended absence through illness that caused missed content
How catch-up tuition works differently
The first session is always diagnostic. Kevin or Serena will work through a range of questions in the target subject to identify exactly where the gaps are — not assume they know based on year group alone. Catch-up lessons then move faster through foundational content than standard sessions, because the aim is to rebuild a base rather than introduce new material from scratch.
Catch-up at different year groups
Primary catch-up (Years 2 to 6) most commonly involves phonics, reading fluency, number sense and written methods. At KS3 (Years 7 to 9), the most common catch-up subjects are maths and English — often because the secondary transition exposed gaps that primary school masked. At GCSE, catch-up usually means working back through missed units and rebuilding exam technique alongside content knowledge.
Next step
Call 07909 274901 or book a free trial. The first session will establish exactly where your child is and what a realistic catch-up plan looks like over the next half-term.