English that feels achievable 

A calm, structured and practical route to a nationally recognised English qualification — designed with home-educated and SEND learners in mind.

Some learners need more time.

Some need to pause, repeat and revisit things.

Some simply learn much better away from the pressure of a classroom.

That is exactly what this course allows them to do.

​

Short pre-recorded lessons
Learn at your own pace
Optional printed workbooks
Simple online learning area
Regular personalised feedback
Exams available from home​​​

​

​How Does the Course Actually Work?

I have designed the course to follow a simple and predictable routine.

Learners are not simply given a collection of worksheets and expected to work everything out by themselves.

Each topic follows the same basic pattern.

​

1. Watch

Start with a short pre-recorded lesson.

The teaching explains one topic at a time using clear language, visual examples and practical, real-life English.

Learners can pause, rewind and watch again as often as they need.

​

2. Practise

Complete the activities that go with the lesson.

Learners can work online or use the optional printed workbook if they prefer having something physical in front of them.

​

3. Check Understanding

After each topic, learners complete a small number of questions in our online learning area.

These reinforce what has just been taught and help me see whether the learner has understood the topic before they move on.

​

4. Receive Feedback

At regular points throughout the course, learners submit work to me for personalised feedback.

I can highlight what is going really well, explain anything that needs another look and help guide the learner towards the next stage.

​

5. Move On

Once a topic is complete, the learner moves on to the next.

​

Watch → Practise → Check → Feedback → Progress

​

No huge pile of work all at once.

Just one step at a time.

​

Designed to Feel Manageable

This course has been created for learners who may find traditional English teaching difficult or overwhelming.

There is:

• no weekly live lesson they have to keep up with

• no need to learn at a particular time of day

• no pressure to finish a lesson in one sitting

• no expectation that everyone progresses at exactly the same speed

• no enormous course suddenly appearing in front of them

Lessons and activities are broken into manageable sections.

Learners can stop when they need to, come back later and repeat teaching as often as necessary.

Course content is released gradually so that learners can concentrate on what they are working on now, rather than worrying about everything that comes later.

The aim is to build skills and confidence steadily, without making English feel overwhelming.

​

What Will We Learn?

Functional Skills English Level 1 covers three main areas:

​

Autumn Term

Reading

We begin with Reading and gradually build the skills learners need to understand and work with everyday texts.

Topics include:

• different types of text

• why a text has been written

• finding key information

• main points and supporting details

• layout and organisational features

• language techniques

• understanding meaning

• recognising fact and opinion

• comparing information

• using evidence from a text

• Level 1 exam-style questions

Reading exam preparation is built naturally into the teaching.

Learners do not have to sit the exam on a fixed date simply because everyone else is doing it.

They sit it when they are ready.

​

​Spring term

Writing

Once Reading is well established, we move into Writing.

Learners develop the skills to communicate clearly for different purposes and audiences.

This includes:

• planning writing

• emails

• letters

• articles

• reports

• formal and informal language

• organising ideas

• paragraphing

• sentence structure

• grammar

• spelling

• punctuation

• proofreading

• writing accurately under exam conditions

Again, exam skills are introduced gradually throughout the teaching rather than suddenly appearing at the end.

​

Summer Term

Speaking, Listening & Communicating

For some learners, this can sound like the most daunting part of Functional Skills English — so we prepare for it slowly and carefully.

Learners will have opportunities to practise discussions with a small, familiar group before their assessment. Wherever possible, they will complete the actual assessment with the same learners they have been practising with, so they are not suddenly expected to communicate with a group of strangers.

We will practise:

• expressing ideas and opinions

• listening and responding to others

• asking and answering questions

• taking turns in a discussion

• explaining a point clearly

• preparing and talking about a chosen topic

The assessment can take place online , so learners do not need to travel to an unfamiliar setting.

If a learner has additional needs, we can also look at appropriate access arrangements or reasonable adjustments. The aim is to make the assessment as accessible as possible while still meeting the qualification requirements.

I will work with families beforehand to make sure we know what the learner needs and that they have had plenty of opportunity to practise in a way that feels familiar.

Nobody will simply be dropped into an unfamiliar group and expected to get on with it.

​

What Is Functional Skills English?

Functional Skills English is a nationally recognised qualification based around the English skills people actually use in everyday life, further education and employment.

Rather than studying literature, the focus is practical communication.

Reading

Writing

Speaking

Listening

Understanding

Communicating

The SENshine course prepares learners for the NCFE Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English.

NCFE is a nationally recognised awarding organisation and the qualification is regulated by Ofqual.​

 

What Can Level 1 Lead To?

Level 1 can be a useful qualification in its own right and can also provide a stepping stone towards Level 2.

Depending on the individual provider and course, it may support progression towards:

• further education

• vocational courses

• apprenticeships

• employment

• Functional Skills Level 2

College and course entry requirements vary, so I always recommend checking the specific English requirements for the course your learner is interested in.

For learners who wish to continue, Level 2 is planned as the next stage of the SENshine English pathway.

​

Not Ready for the Exam? That’s Absolutely Fine.

Not every learner begins this course with an exam as the goal — and that is completely okay.

Your learner is very welcome to work through the full Level 1 English teaching programme simply to build their skills, confidence and independence, without committing to the formal assessments.

For some learners, gaining the qualification is the goal from the start. Others may need time to experience success, become more confident with English and discover what they are capable of before deciding whether an exam feels right for them.

There is no pressure to decide at the beginning of the course.

A learner might start with no intention of sitting an exam and later decide they would like to give it a go. Equally, they may complete the course, make fantastic progress and choose not to take the formal assessments at all.

Either is absolutely fine.

If and when a learner does decide they would like to work towards the qualification, we will prepare carefully. We practise mock exams together, look at the types of questions they will meet, work through anything they find difficult and make sure the assessment format feels familiar before they sit the real thing.

I want learners to go into an exam thinking:

“I know what this looks like. I’ve practised this. I can have a go.”

—not feeling as though they have suddenly been thrown into something unfamiliar.

To receive the official Functional Skills English Level 1 qualification, learners do need to complete and pass the required assessments. However, sitting those assessments is entirely optional for learners taking the SENshine teaching programme.

Learning and progress still matter, whether or not an exam is the destination.

​

​

What Is Included?

Course enrolment includes:

✓ Pre-recorded English teaching lessons

✓ Lessons broken into manageable topics

✓ Access to the Moodle online learning area

✓ Short understanding-check questions after topics

✓ Structured practice activities

✓ Original Level 1 Functional Skills-style questions

✓ Regular personalised marking and feedback

✓ Exam preparation built into the course

✓ Guidance around exam readiness

✓ Flexible learning from home

✓ The ability to pause and replay teaching

✓ Support throughout the programme

This is not simply access to a folder of worksheets.

Learners are:

Taught → given time to practise → checked for understanding → supported as they progress

​

Optional Printed Workbooks

Some learners are perfectly happy completing activities online.

Others strongly prefer having a workbook, a pen and something physical in front of them.

Both are absolutely fine.

The printed SENshine Functional Skills English workbooks are therefore optional.

​

Workbook 1: Reading

The first Reading workbook contains more than 60 pages of structured activities designed to accompany the video teaching.

It includes:

• visual activities

• real-life texts

• guided practice

• Level 1 Functional Skills-style questions

• extra practice

• challenges to help learners build independence

£15.99

Further workbooks accompany learners as they progress through the course.

​

​

 

​​

 

 

How to enrol on the course? There are two options:

1. Pay in Full

£295

This includes the full SENshine Functional Skills English Level 1 teaching programme, Moodle access, learning activities and personalised tutor feedback.

​

2.Spread the Cost

3 monthly payments of £105

Total: £315

Sibling discount is available for both options— please contact me before enrolling.

​

 

 

​

Exams

Exam fees are separate from the tuition course.

Full Exam Package

£185

This covers the required Functional Skills English assessments.

✓ Reading and Writing exams can be taken from home

✓ Flexible booking

✓ Free resit included

✓ Access arrangements available where appropriate

✓ Guidance provided throughout the process

I do not believe in entering learners for an exam simply because a particular date has arrived.

The course builds towards each assessment and learners should sit an exam when they are genuinely ready.

​

 

Taking Exams From Home

All the assessments can be taken remotely from home using online invigilation.

This can be particularly helpful for learners who find travelling to an unfamiliar exam centre difficult.

Full guidance is provided when a learner is approaching an assessment.

Face-to-face examination options are also available through the approved examination provider.

Access arrangements may be available where appropriate and supporting evidence may be required.

I will help families understand the process when the time comes.

​

 

 

 

Who Is This Course For?

The course may suit:

• home-educated learners

• SEND learners

• learners who find busy classrooms overwhelming

• learners who prefer recorded rather than live teaching

• learners who need extra processing time

• learners who benefit from repetition

• learners who work better at their own pace

• learners who prefer clear and predictable routines

• learners looking for an alternative pathway to GCSE English

• learners preparing to progress towards Functional Skills Level 2

Every learner is different.

If you are unsure whether the course is suitable, please ask. I am always more than happy to help advise

​

​

Why SENshine?

SENshine courses are designed to be:

Clear without being childish

Structured without being rigid

Supportive without creating pressure

Flexible without leaving learners to work everything out by themselves

My aim is not simply to help somebody pass an exam.

I want learners to understand what they are doing, recognise the progress they are making and gradually become more confident in their own ability.

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​​

​

​

​​​