At Forest 1st Tutoring, we know that children are better learners when they feel happy, relaxed and supported. Our sessions aren’t just about ticking boxes — they’re about building confidence, curiosity and creativity in a safe, friendly environment. Most of our lessons take place at Nicola’s home, where the kettle is always on, the atmosphere is calm, and our golden retriever Saffie is on hand for hugs. Saffie has become part of the team now. She greets every child as her be

Helping a child with dyslexia improve their spelling can feel like a big challenge. But with the right approach, it becomes a journey full of small victories and growing confidence. I want to share some effective spelling strategies for dyslexia that have helped many children thrive. These techniques are practical, easy to apply, and designed to make learning enjoyable and rewarding. Spelling is more than memorising words. It’s about understanding patterns, sounds, and meanin

Forest 1st Tutoring Short Story Competition Following the success of our two incredible books : The Guinea Pig Saga  and Fur and Feathers Fight for the World , we're delighted to announce our new Children’s Short Story Competition! We will share the winning stories on our website and your creativity with the world. The competition is open to all children, aged 5 - 12, who love storytelling, whether you’ve written before or you're just beginning. Your story can have any theme

Waterstones in Romsey was bursting with excitement on Saturday as more than 100 people gathered to celebrate the launch of two extraordinary books - both written by children, for children. At 2pm, the bustling bookshop hosted the launch of The Guinea Pig Saga , written by Erin, Rowan, Danny and Cara and Fur and Feathers Fight for the World , written by Penelope and Orla. The event, which ran for over two hours, was filled with pride, laughter and heartfelt moments as the you

We are delighted to share some  very  exciting news — our first ever children’s books are heading to Waterstones in Romsey! On Saturday...

As the 11+ tests approach this Saturday, I’m reflecting on what has been a truly inspiring year. Teaching over 30 children has been a...

We are really excited at Forest 1st Tutoring to share some very special news… our first ever children’s books are here! Two Wonderful...

Here at Forest 1st Tutoring we share our huge gratitude to our amazing TAs!

Beach sunsets and neon. Naval aviators with Ray Bans drinking iced water. Maverick and Goose. Well, possibly. But, long before Top Gun...

As the summer sun shines brightly, it’s the perfect time for children to dive into enriching learning experiences. At Nicola's home in...

Two groups of tutoring students have written and are self-publishing their own children's books this Autumn.

When the blazing sun is high in the sky, there’s nothing better than stepping into a cool, air-conditioned classroom. As a tutor, I see...

A Podcast with Remarkable Raffi - an ex-student - who is a rising star! 11-year-old Raffi recently appeared on The High Performance Podcast with hosts Jake and Damian.

At the core of what we do is a deep commitment to getting to know each child as an individual. We take the time to understand their...