This is a case study looking into one of the children and young people that Randstad were tasked with providing tuition for on behalf of a local authority. It follows the journey from Randstad's introduction to the journey of this young person, Alice, and has the viewpoints of both the tutor, Jenny and Alice's carer as Randstad work with the local authority and the tutor to drive positive and long lasting change in Alice's life.
setting the scene
Alice's educational journey was fraught with challenges from the start. Living in a residential home, Alice was initially subjected to a grueling three-hour daily commute to school, which proved impractical. As an alternative, her education was pieced together using BBC Bitesize, worksheets from her enrolled school, and educational trips to museums. However, this makeshift solution was far from ideal. The local authority got in touch with Randstad to provide some basic tuition support after she was offered just three hours of tuition per week, which was insufficient for Alice's needs. Once discussions regarding Alice were underway, Randstad spotted the need for more tuition and worked in partnership with the local authority to provide what the pupil needed to progress. This meant that Alice’s tuition was increased to 15 hours per week, providing her with a consistent and engaging learning environment.
initial challenges
When Alice first started with Randstad, the situation was daunting. Her carer described it as "extremely difficult" to get Alice to engage with the tutors. Alice, who had complex needs and struggled to form and maintain relationships, was often resistant to new approaches. Her reluctance was clear from the beginning. We carefully selected an appropriate tutor that would work well with Alice, called Jenny. Jenny vividly recalled her first encounter with Alice: "On my first visit, Alice stayed about 3 metres away from me, wouldn't lift her head, and the most I could get out of her was a grunt or a shrug."
innovative approaches to engagement
Jenny, who has extensive experience teaching in both the UK and international schools, recognised that Alice required a unique approach. Understanding that traditional methods were unlikely to work, Jenny chose to start with something non-confrontational and engaging. She decided on cooking as their first activity. "We made some Chocolate Krispies, and I talked to her as though she was my daughter, not as a teacher," Jenny explained. This activity allowed Alice to participate without the pressure of direct interaction and provided Jenny with the opportunity to assess Alice’s skills subtly.
Jenny's approach was meticulously tailored to Alice's needs, with lessons designed to ensure early success and gradually increasing in difficulty. "I do spend a lot of time preparing lessons so that each day there is an opportunity for the student to succeed at the start and then I stretch the student with the next level but always in small increments," Jenny noted. This strategy was crucial in building Alice's confidence and willingness to engage.
perseverance in the face of resistance
Despite Jenny's innovative strategies, Alice's resistance persisted. She frequently argued against having lessons, claiming it was her right not to participate. Jenny’s response was both educational and inspirational. She shared with Alice the historical struggles for education rights, particularly for girls, which seemed to resonate with her. "It is her right to be educated," Jenny explained. Further, Jenny explained “how children, then girls in particular, had fought through the years for the right to be educated and how there was a time when women were not allowed into universities. This seemed to resonate with Alice and she accepted the lessons”. This perspective slowly began to change Alice’s attitude towards her tutoring.
Jenny’s patience and consistency were put to the test during particularly challenging moments. One such instance involved Alice reacting violently to an English lesson, throwing a chair in frustration. "I explained that we had to push past this barrier that Alice had built up," Jenny said, recalling how she remained calm and persisted in her efforts to break through Alice's resistance. The next day, Jenny did not mention the previous day’s incident, allowing Alice to move past her embarrassment and focus on the lesson at hand.
building a positive relationship
As time progressed, Alice began to accept and even look forward to her sessions with Jenny. The turning point came when Alice started to see her own progress, particularly in Maths. "For the final couple of months, Alice, at Yr 9 age, was working at a level of Maths at Yr 10 standard even though she last attended school part way through Yr 7" Jenny proudly shared. Alice’s carer also noticed a significant transformation in Alice’s attitude and abilities. "This has made a major impact on the student, giving them self-esteem and self-belief they can achieve in the academic world," the carer noted.
Jenny’s methods went beyond academics. She incorporated fun and engaging activities like Wordle and Sudoku towards the end of each lesson, ensuring that Alice’s final memories of their sessions were pleasant and positive. These activities also helped Alice learn new words, definitions, and spelling tips, contributing to her overall development.
the impact of perseverance
The perseverance shown by both Jenny and Alice yielded remarkable results. Alice’s newfound confidence and skills have empowered her to aspire to future goals, such as becoming an accountant. Her carer observed that Alice is now more relaxed in social settings and has a clearer approach to problem-solving. "The ability to address problems and work through them, to believe in themselves and problem solve, is just amazing," the carer remarked.
the outcome from the tutors perspective
Jenny’s experience with Alice was deeply rewarding. "I really enjoy working with students of any age, one to one, to help them over any hurdles they may have with their learning," she said. The ability to adapt lessons and see students like Alice overcome significant challenges provides a profound sense of fulfillment. "The look of pleasure and confidence they have on their face is wonderful," Jenny added. Alice's journey not only transformed her own life but also reaffirmed Jenny’s passion for teaching and the impact of personalised education.
conclusion
Alice’s journey with Randstad Tuition Services demonstrates the transformative power of perseverance and personalised tuition. Through Jenny’s innovative strategies, unwavering support, and heartfelt dedication, Alice was able to overcome significant challenges and achieve remarkable progress. Alice is now in full-time education at a Special School, with the potential to transition to mainstream schooling in the future. This case study highlights the significant impact of tutoring on a student's life and the profound rewards for tutors who invest in their students' success. As Alice’s carer concluded, "The empowerment and engagement and self-belief the tutors have been able to instill with the student is exhilarating."
Names have been changed to protect the identity of the people involved in this case study.
Randstad's success in Alice's case underscores our commitment to helping children and young people overcome educational challenges through personalised tutoring. By partnering with local authorities and schools, we can provide tailored support that meets each student's unique needs. Our collaborative approach ensures that children and young people receive the consistent and engaging tuition they require to thrive academically and personally. Randstad is dedicated to expanding this support to more children, working closely with schools and local authorities to create meaningful and lasting change for all children and young people we help.