Hi, I’m Jocelyn. Since training as a dyslexia teacher at the Helen Arkell Centre, I’ve spent 18 years working with young people aged 7–16 in independent schools, designing and delivering Maths support programmes and individual tuition.
I specialise in understanding an individual's strengths, building confidence and improving outcomes for children who need some extra support to achieve their potential. Some of the learners I work with have dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD or maths anxiety – and others just need help with confidence, planning or organisation skills.
I’ve also trained as an Executive Function coach with Connections In Mind, with further specialist training in ADHD, and my approach is all about using strengths-based strategies to help children feel more confident and capable – in school and beyond.
Lazy—or Overwhelmed? What’s Really Going On With Your Child at School?
Across my 20 years working with children and young people in the education sector, I have never met a lazy child. What often looks like laziness is actually something else entirely—overwhelm, frustration, or a lack of the tools they need to cope. School today is incredibly demanding. For students with challenges like ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, ASD—or even just those who struggle with planning and organisation—it can feel like trying to juggle a dozen spinning plates with no instructions.
Many parents and schools assume students can manage the admin of school life. But here’s what I see:
A complex hybrid system of online and offline work (Teams, student emails, MyMaths, physical planners, revision notes, exercise books…)
Little to no support in setting up a system to manage it all
Consequences like detentions, public embarrassment or sanctions if they get it wrong
That’s more than most adults deal with in a typical job.
And let’s not forget the social exhaustion—especially for autistic students or introverts—of navigating a full day of peer interaction, performance, and sensory input.
Then they come home. Exhausted. Dysregulated. And parents often face the “after-school explosion.”
It’s not because your child is difficult. It’s because home is safe, and they’ve been holding it together all day.
So what can we do?
Here are a few small but powerful steps:
1. Create Systems Together
Don’t assume they’ve been taught how. Help them set up a clear structure for classwork, homework, and deadlines. Once it’s working—let them own it. Your role is gentle oversight, not taking over.
2. Respect the Decompression Zone
School and homework are often more than enough. Allow time to unwind. No questions, no pressure. Just peace.
3. Do Less, Better
After-school clubs, extra lessons, sports, music… it can add up fast. Prioritise just one or two that truly bring joy—or save them for the holidays.
4. Zone Your Space
Help them set up a “work zone” at home with all the tools they need (paper, pens, calculator, etc.). Keep bedrooms calm and tech-free when possible, so there’s a clear distinction between work and rest.
Our children aren’t lazy.
They’re just navigating a system that’s become too complicated—and sometimes, too unforgiving—for the way they learn.
Let’s start by seeing the struggle clearly—and giving them the support they truly need..
A visual and kinaesthetic approach makes maths more accessible – especially for creatives such as artists and dancers, where conventional maths teaching isn't always effective.
I am experienced in a variety of maths schemes/ exam boards, including White Rose, Singapore, ISEB, AQA and Edexel.
Targeted Maths revision for ISEB Common Entrance, GCSE, and Functional Skills. Calm, supportive strategies to reduce anxiety and boost results.
Helping students improve time management, planning, focus, and emotional control. We start with a simple questionnaire to understand each learner’s unique profile and build practical, personalised strategies together.
I also offer weekly check-ins as an ‘Accountability Buddy’ to help students set goals and follow through on them with support and encouragement.
Executive Function is like air traffic control for the brain – helping us manage all the tasks and emotions we juggle every day. These are the 11 core skills, and each of us has a different profile of strengths and weaknesses:
I usually work in blocks of 10 weeks, with one 60-minute session per week, or two 30-minute sessions for accountability work. Most sessions are on Zoom, but I also offer some in-person sessions from my home near Farnham, Surrey.
Hourly rate: £58
Session slots are generally between 4pm to 7pm during the week and I do have some availability during school holidays.
Interested in working together? Email me to arrange a free discovery call:
zestar@btopenworld.com