A diagnostic first session
The first hour is spent finding the exact point where confidence drops away — usually two or three topics further back than the one causing trouble today.
One-to-one tuition · Online & in person
Steady tutoring that follows the thread of how your child thinks.
Olive Thread is a small private practice for secondary and exam-year students. Every plan starts from what a student already understands, then works outward — patiently, and at a pace that actually sticks.
Sessions run weekly during term time, with a free thirty-minute introductory call before anything is booked.
The approach
Three things every student gets
No scripted curriculum and no rushing ahead. Tutoring here is diagnostic first and repetitive only where repetition genuinely helps.
A plan written for one student
You receive a short written plan after the first session: the topics to rebuild, the order they will be covered in, and roughly how long each is likely to take.
Notes after every lesson
A few honest lines home after each session — what was covered, what clicked, what to practise before next week. No jargon and no padding.
Subjects & levels
What I teach
Four areas, taught properly rather than broadly. If a subject is not listed below, say so in your enquiry and I will point you to someone who covers it.
Mathematics
- Number, algebra and graph work from the ground up
- Geometry, trigonometry and problem-solving method
- Statistics and probability for coursework and exams
- Introductory calculus for students moving up a level
Years 7–13 · GCSE · A-level foundations
Sciences
- Combined and separate science exam preparation
- Physics: forces, energy, waves and electrical circuits
- Chemistry: bonding, moles and the required practicals
- Biology: systems, genetics and long-answer technique
Years 7–11 · GCSE
English
- Reading unseen texts without panicking about time
- Essay structure, evidence and the shape of an argument
- Set texts, poetry comparison and close analysis
- Creative and descriptive writing for the language paper
Years 7–11 · GCSE language & literature
Study skills
- Revision timetables a teenager will actually follow
- Note-taking, recall practice and past-paper routines
- Managing exam nerves and the week before a paper
- Organising folders, deadlines and homework load
Any year group · Short blocks available
How it works
From first message to weekly lessons
A short introductory call
Send the enquiry form and we will arrange a free thirty-minute call. You describe what is going wrong; I tell you honestly whether tutoring is the right answer.
The diagnostic session
One paid hour with the student, working through a mix of topics to find the real gaps. The written plan follows within two days, with no obligation to continue.
A regular weekly slot
We hold the same time each week during term. Slots are reviewed every half term so you can pause, step down to fortnightly, or finish when the student is ready.
The tutor
Hello — I'm Nadia Ellory.
I taught secondary maths and science for nine years before moving to tutoring full time. Classroom teaching taught me pace; tutoring lets me slow down for the one student in front of me, which is where most of the progress hides.
“Almost nobody is bad at a subject. They are usually missing one small idea from three years ago, and nobody has had time to go back for it.”
- Nine years teaching maths and science in secondary schools
- Enhanced background check, renewed annually and available on request
- Experienced with students who have additional learning needs
- A deliberately small roster, so nobody becomes a name on a list
Ways to work together
Formats and indicative rates
Rates are held for the whole academic year once you start, and are confirmed in writing before the first paid session.
One-to-one
A single student, weekly, online or at your kitchen table. The default choice and the one most students stay with.
£48 / 60 minutesPaired sessions
Two students at a similar level, taught together. Useful for siblings or friends working towards the same paper.
£32 / student, 75 minutesExam-term block
A fixed six-week run in the term before exams, built around past papers and timing rather than new content.
£270 / six 60-minute sessionsQuestions
Before you enquire
Are lessons online or in person?
Both. Online sessions use a shared whiteboard so the student's working stays visible, and in-person sessions are offered within a short local radius. Many families mix the two across a term — it makes no difference to the plan.
What happens if we need to cancel?
Give twenty-four hours' notice and the session is simply moved, with no charge. Illness is always an exception. If I have to cancel, the session is rescheduled at a time that suits you or credited to the following week.
Do we need to buy books or materials?
No. Worksheets, past papers and practice sets are prepared for each session and sent through afterwards, so the student keeps everything in one place. A notebook and a pencil are genuinely all that is needed.
How will we know it is working?
You get lesson notes every week and a longer review at the end of each half term, comparing where the student is against the original plan. If progress has stalled, I will say so and suggest what to change — including stopping.
How long do students usually stay?
It varies. A single stubborn topic might take four sessions; rebuilding two years of shaky foundations takes a good deal longer. The aim is always to make the tutoring unnecessary, not permanent.
Enquire
Ask about a weekly slot
Tell me a little about the student and what is proving difficult. I reply to every enquiry personally, usually within two working days.
- Term-time availability Weekday late afternoons and early evenings, plus Saturday mornings.
- No commitment up front The introductory call is free and nothing is booked until you have read the plan.
- Waiting list When the roster is full, enquiries are held in order and answered the same way.