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 best friend and...

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 meanings. When we break...

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  — the only limit...