Find a SEND Tutor

A SEND tutor has training or substantial experience supporting learners with Special Educational Needs - this might include a SEND-specific qualification (e.g. PGCE with SEND specialism, AMBDA for dyslexia, National Award for SEN Coordination), classroom experience as a SENCO or learning support teacher, or years of 1-to-1 work with neurodivergent students. On Sherpa, you can filter for SEND-experienced tutors and read how each describes their approach on their profile.

Our tutors work with a wide range of needs, including ADHD, autism (ASD), dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, auditory and sensory processing differences, PDA, school-related anxiety, and selective mutism. Many also support children with EHCPs who need subject tutoring alongside their school provision. When you message a tutor, share your child's specific needs so they can confirm fit before a free introduction.

In some cases, yes. If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that includes tuition hours, or if you've been granted Personal Budget funding, Sherpa can invoice your local authority directly. Get in touch with our team via live chat and we'll walk you through what's needed.

A good SEND tutor adapts pace, session structure, communication style, and materials to how your child learns best - not the other way round. That might mean shorter focused bursts for an ADHD learner, visual and multisensory methods for dyslexia, predictable routines and clear expectations for an autistic student, or a low-pressure environment for a child with school anxiety. The subject content is the same; the delivery is individualised.

It depends on the child. Standard sessions are 60 minutes, but many SEND learners do better with 30 or 45 minutes - particularly younger children, those with attention difficulties, or children rebuilding confidence after a difficult school experience. Most tutors are happy to adjust session length, and you can discuss this during the free introduction.

Yes. We support many families whose children are home-educated, on a reduced timetable, awaiting a school placement, or Emotionally Based School Avoidant (EBSA). Tutors can cover core subjects, follow the national curriculum, or work flexibly around your child's interests and pace. Book a free consultation and we'll recommend tutors suited to your situation.

Many of our tutors are happy to liaise with a school SENCO, class teacher, or educational psychologist to align on targets from an EHCP or support plan. Let the tutor know during the free introduction if this is something you'd like - it's often the difference between tutoring that runs parallel to school support and tutoring that genuinely reinforces it

Every tutor on Sherpa offers a free introduction. Use it to explain your child's needs, ask about the tutor's specific SEND experience, and - where appropriate - let your child meet them briefly. Fit matters enormously for SEND learners, and it's fine to try a couple of tutors before committing. If you'd rather we recommend someone, our team can shortlist tutors based on your child's profile.