Saffron Walden Primary Tutoring
Are you looking for
expert primary tuition in Saffron Walden? personalised support for your child’s learning? a calm, experienced SEN Tutor?SENCo Consultancy?One to One Support?SATs Boosters?
You’re in the right place.
Saffron Primary Tutoring is a dedicated tutoring service based in Saffron Walden, founded by Debbie who has over 23 years teaching practice and over 14 years experience as a qualified SENCo. She provides specialist primary tuition for schooled and home-schooled children. Her aim is to build confidence, develop essential skills, and help children reach their full potential. Debbie’s holistic approach ensures every child receives the guidance they need to thrive academically and personally, fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Saffron Primary Tutoring was established to support young people to be their ‘best’ self through holistic intervention, focusing on building positive relationships with all stakeholders of their education.
The Aim of Saffron Walden Primary Tutoring
Helping Children Thrive Through Personalised Tuition and Expert SEN Support
I help primary-aged children in Saffron Walden go from struggling with confidence or falling behind in class to thriving learners with strong skills, focus, and self-belief – through calm, personalised tuition and expert SEN support.
Qualifications.
-
QTS .
-
SENCO National Qualification.
-
BA Hons Degree in English Literature and Educational Studies.
-
Enhanced and updated DBS certificate (2025).
Tutoring in Saffron Walden & Essex
Our Services
Primary Age Tutoring
Personalised primary tutoring that builds confidence, skills, and a love of learning, available in person or online.
English & Maths
Personalised English and Maths tuition that builds skills, confidence, and enjoyment.
Home School Children
Structured, personalised tutoring for home-schooled children that builds confidence, independence, and progress.
SATs Boosters
Targeted SATs tutoring that builds confidence, closes gaps, and boosts results.
SENCo Consultancy
Expert SENCo consultancy supporting families to understand needs and unlock potential.
1-on-1 Support
Personalised focus time that supports diverse needs, builds trust, and nurtures progress.
Building Strong Foundations
Primary Tuition in English & Maths
I provide tailored one-to-one support in English and Maths for children in Key Stages 1 and 2. Whether your child is schooled or home-educated, each session is designed to build confidence, strengthen core skills, and support steady academic progress. Lessons are adapted to your child’s individual needs and delivered in a calm, structured environment where they can thrive.
English support includes:
- Reading fluency and comprehension.
- Phonics.
- Spelling, punctuation and grammar.
- Writing structure and creativity.
- Handwriting.
Maths support includes:
- Number and place value.
- Measure – geometry, position and direction.
- Fractions, time, and problem-solving.
- Reasoning and mathematical confidence.
My approach is calm, encouraging and rooted in proven strategies that help children progress at their own pace — while enjoying their learning journey.
Home Education Support
Tutoring for Home-School Children
I offer calm, personalised tuition for home-educated children in Key Stages 1 and 2, tailored to each child’s needs and aligned with your home-education approach.
What I offer:
- Curriculum-based lessons in English and Maths
- Flexible scheduling to fit around your family’s routine
- A focus on building confidence, independence, and enjoyment of learning
- Regular progress reviews and clear feedback for parents
- Adaptations and strategies for children with Special Educational Needs
Whether your child is just starting out with home education or needs subject-specific support, I work closely with families to create a nurturing and engaging learning experience that supports both academic and personal growth.
Get in touch to discuss how I can support your home-school journey.
SEN Support & Guidance
SENCo Consultancy
If you’re looking for expert guidance on how to support a child with Special Educational Needs, I offer a professional SENCo consultancy service tailored to families and carers. With over 14 years’ experience as a qualified SENCo, I help you navigate the complexities of SEND provision with clarity and confidence.
Consultancy support includes:
-
Advice on identifying and understanding a child’s individual needs
-
Help with creating and reviewing One Plans and support strategies
-
Observations (if required) with detailed feedback to inform provision
-
Practical recommendations for interventions and resources
-
Guidance through the SEND system, including EHCP applications
-
Liaison with schools and other professionals where needed
My approach is collaborative and compassionate — designed to give parents, carers, and educators the tools they need to ensure every child receives the support they deserve.
Focused Support for Year 6 Pupils
SATs Boosters & Exam Preparation
I provide tailored SATs tuition for Year 6 children, helping them feel confident, prepared, and calm ahead of their assessments. Each booster session is personalised to your child’s needs, with a focus on building both subject knowledge and effective exam strategies.
Sessions include:
-
Targeted revision in English (reading, SPaG, and writing) and Maths (arithmetic and reasoning)
-
Practice using real SATs-style questions
-
Techniques to reduce test anxiety and build resilience
-
Support in identifying and closing learning gaps
-
Regular feedback to parents and carers
Whether your child needs a short-term confidence boost or a structured plan for ongoing support, I’ll help them approach their SATs with clarity and self-belief.
Years of experience
Students
%
Pass Rate
%
Client Satisfaction
Who Am I?
Experience You Can Trust
Debbie Todd is an experienced and compassionate educator who began her teaching career in 2002, working in primary schools in Essex and Hertfordshire. In 2011, she completed the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination (NASENCO) and has since worked extensively as a SENCo in the primary sector.
With over two decades of teaching experience and more than 14 years specialising in SEND, Debbie has developed a deep understanding of how to support children with a wide range of additional needs. Her expertise includes dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and autism, with a particular focus on how autism presents in girls. Debbie is committed to providing personalised, nurturing support that helps every child thrive both academically and emotionally.
My little helper
Coco
Coco is joining me on my new venture as a private tutor and SEN consultant. She is the most placid and calming dog. One of my current pupils had a fear of dogs before he started tutoring with me and now he looks forward to seeing her and is amazed by her tricks!!
When she is not out with her dog walker, she has her own area with me in my office. However, if you or your child does not like dogs, she can be secured in whilst a meeting or lesson is taking place.
What Our Parents & Carers Say…
Client Testimonials
My son has been with Debbie since October 2022 and still looks forward to his tutoring sessions that are personal and engaging. The tutoring has been invaluable in filling the foundational gaps he missed, providing fantastic guidance on how to support him at school. He genuinely enjoys learning with her, and I would highly recommend Saffron Primary Tutoring.
Nicola Sparkes
One to One Tutoring
I went to see Debbie for some advice when my child was homeschooling and found her to be extremely compassionate and considerate regarding her tutoring and the options available.
Highly recommend her to anyone needing extra educational support with or without special educational needs.
Claire Ashen
Homeschooloing
Debbie worked with our neurodiverse child for many years at primary school. She created a patient and nurturing space that helped him work through his anxieties and develop key social skills. Debbie was also invaluable to us as parents, offering her knowledge and support to help us navigate the SEND system. Our son is now flourishing and we truly cannot recommend her enough.
Leni
One to One Tutoring
Debbie has worked with my youngest daughter now since Covid to help bridge the gap from home education and missing school in that time. She has helped to support her with both maths and English, following the school timetable and helping plug the gaps where she has struggled. Debbie helped me identify where there were some other learning and SEN difficulties for her to overcome for example; ADHD and dyslexia. For which we then followed up with diagnosis with a specialist. My daughter has seen Debbie 1-2 times and week now for the past three years and really loves going to her lessons. There is never a time she doesn’t want to go after school and in her own time. Debbie is fantastic at reading the child’s needs and planning her lessons accordingly. She is amazing at supporting, motivating and working with the child’s learning preferences. Debbie is both creative and adaptable and recognises what my daughter needs and adapt her lessons accordingly to her moods and motivation on the day !
Kerinda
Parent
As a teacher of over 35 years, I had the privilege of working with Debbie at two different Primary Schools in a period spanning approximately 15 years. She is a consummate professional: everything she undertakes is to an extremely high standard and her teaching is exemplary. Debbie is kind, fair, hard-working and inspirational: children of all ages learnt from her and liked her – very important qualities for a teacher. Any child being tutored by her is in an enviable position. They have the best! In her career, she advanced and excelled in being a Special Needs Teacher: helping all sorts of children with complex needs and difficulties. She knows how to get the best out of children and they enjoy spending time with her. A great teacher who is sorely missed by the teaching community, however, the tutoring profession will profit from her enormously – from her expertise, knowledge and understanding of a child’s ability, mind and character. I do not hesitate to recommend her.
Melanie Salinger
Class Teacher Senior Management Team
My Story
How I Got Here
1992
Where it began
I started voluntary work in a school nursery, supporting the teacher and working 1:1 with a child with complex needs. This experience was the inspiration for me to retrain as a primary school teacher.
1998
A Foundation in Learning
I completed a BA Honours Degree in English Literature and Educational Studies.
2002
Gaining Key Stage Experience
I began my teaching career in a small, rural primary school in Essex—a school my lovely dad had attended when he was younger. My brilliant mentor supported me in my first year. The class was incredibly challenging in many ways, but it gave me the experience to deal with a wide range of behavioural and special needs.
2008
A New Role
After moving house to Suffolk and having my second child, I began supply teaching part-time. This was in addition to my main teaching role in Hertfordshire.
2011
Becoming a SENCo
This was the year I completed the National SENCo Qualification in Colchester. Looking back, I now realise that managing my teaching roles in two different counties and my new SENCo course and role wasn’t the easiest logistically!
2014
Specialising in Saffron Walden
After moving to Saffron Walden, I became a SENCo at a school closer to me in Essex (while still teaching in Hertfordshire). I had the privilege of working with a former colleague, who I still believe is the most inspirational teacher I know. It was there that I gained a great deal of experience working with a range of children with special educational needs. During this time, I also got the most enjoyment from working 1:1 with children, whether it was mentoring, assessing, observing, or supporting them educationally. Over the years, children have taught me a lot. I believe we learn from them just as much as they learn from us as educators. This role was the final piece of the puzzle, building the foundation for my private tutoring in Saffron Walden, Essex.
2025
Launching Saffron Primary Tutoring
After a rewarding career, I’m excited to have opened Saffron Primary Tutoring in 2025. This business is the culmination of everything I have learnt, offering bespoke support and specialised tutoring in Saffron Walden, Essex, and the surrounding area. I look forward to working with children and families to help every child reach their full potential.
Preparing your child for the future
Exam Arrangements
Pupils with specific needs may require Exam Access Arrangements (EAA), so they can take part in the KS2 tests. Access arrangements are adjustments that can be put in place to support those pupils. Headteachers ,teachers and SENCo’s must decide whether any of their pupils will need access arrangements before they administer the tests.. These may include things like extra time to complete an exam paper, permission to use assistive technology, scribes, or provision of rest breaks.
If you feel your child may benefit from EAA, please speak to their school SENCo, who will then identify and assess accordingly.
Also look at the Government website link for more information. This will be updated to 2026 closer to the time.
Assessment/SATS dates 2026.
Academic year 2025 to 2026
Reception baseline assessment
Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.
Early years foundation stage profile assessment
Schools must complete the early years foundation stage profile assessment between April and June of the academic year in which children turn 5, which is usually the reception year.
Optional key stage 1 tests
It is recommended that the optional key stage 1 tests are administered during May 2026.
Key stage 2 tests
The statutory key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 11 May to Thursday 14 May 2026.
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 1 June 2026.
Phonics screening check
Schools must administer the phonics screening check within the 1-week period from Monday 8 June 2026.
Saffron Walden Primary Tutoring
Useful Links for Children
Saffron Walden Primary Tutoring
Useful Links for Parents & Carers
Saffron Walden Primary Tutoring
Tuition & Consultation Pricing
Tuition Hints & Tips…
From the Blog
Looking for practical advice to support your child’s learning? Our blog is full of helpful tips, expert insights, and tried-and-tested strategies covering everything from SATs preparation and confidence-building to supporting children with additional needs. Whether your child is home-educated, needs a boost in Maths or English, or you’re navigating SEN support, you’ll find guidance you can trust.
Check back regularly for new content designed to help you feel informed, empowered, and supported every step of the way.
What is SEND Consultancy?
Are you struggling with an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) application? Are you struggling to navigate the special educational needs (SEN)system? Do you require support with One Planning or reading professional reports? Do you need support signposting to outside...
SATs in the UK 2025 – What’s Happening & What It Means
The SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) continue to play a vital role in primary education across England. In 2025, SATs are still being used to assess pupils’ understanding and progress at the end of Key Stage 2, and this year’s results reveal both progress and ongoing...
F.A.Q.
Popular
Questions
Do you offer support for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Yes. With over 14 years’ experience as a qualified SENCo, I tailor all tuition to suit individual learning needs, including support for dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and autism.
How long are the sessions and how often do they take place?
Sessions are either 45 minutes or 1 hour, depending on your child’s needs. Most children attend once a week, but frequency can be adjusted to suit your schedule and goals.
What age groups do you work with?
I specialise in tutoring primary-aged children across Key Stages 1 and 2, including both schooled and home-educated learners.
Can you help my child prepare for their Year 6 SATs?
Absolutely. I offer focused SATs booster sessions that build confidence, improve exam technique, and help children feel ready for their assessments.
What is Debbie's experience with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Debbie holds the National SENCo Qualification and has worked as a SENCo in the primary sector for over a decade. She has extensive experience with a range of needs, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and Autism (with a particular focus on girls).
How much does a tutoring session or consultation cost?
Both one-to-one tutoring and parent consultations are charged at £45 per hour. There is also an option for a 45-minute lesson for £34.
Where do the tutoring sessions take place?
All tutoring sessions and consultations are held in person at our dedicated space at Hunters Yard, Second Floor, Debden Rd, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4AA.
How is a tutoring plan created for my child?
Every child's plan is completely bespoke. The process begins with a parent consultation to discuss your child’s needs and goals. Following this, a tailored plan is created to build confidence and help them reach their full potential.
