Support ladder
A safe order to try
Work through these steps calmly. This is practical routing, not a diagnosis and not legal advice.
Start by noticing the pattern: when the difficulty shows up, which subject or skill is affected, and what has already helped. Use the child guides for homework, reading, resources, and everyday study-skills questions when those are the closest fit.
If the difficulty is persistent, affecting confidence, or showing up across lessons, speak to the class teacher or form tutor. Ask what the school has noticed, what has been tried, and what will be reviewed next.
If your child may need SEN/SEND or wider additional support, ask the school who coordinates support and what the next review step is. Processes and titles differ by UK nation — use the terminology table further down and avoid implying one country’s system applies everywhere.
A tutor can offer targeted practice, clearer explanations, structure, and confidence where the need is academic or routine-based. Tutoring should sit alongside school or official support where those routes are needed — not as a replacement for them.
Escalate towards official or local guidance, the Local Offer where that applies (England), or specialist advice if progress stays limited, school support is unclear, disability or SEND duties may be engaged, or a formal plan or assessment is being considered.