Tutoring in focus as students face rising learning pressures

As classrooms grow busier and curriculum demands continue to evolve, two long-standing Hibiscus Coast tutoring providers say they are seeing a clear shift in both learning needs and student confidence.

Changing needs in the classroom

Julie Whitcombe from Thinking Caps says motivation and enjoyment of learning are increasingly fragile.

“We have noticed that children are more likely not to enjoy learning,” she says. “Children are learning how to learn.”

Whitcombe says many students are struggling with attention, retention and anxiety, particularly when they are not finding success in the classroom, with children who are quiet easily overlooked, and they are coming to them for support.

“The fun has been sucked out of classroom learning with a lot of work in workbooks and whole class learning.”

From the perspective of her business Tutoring to Success, Louise Still points to structural pressures within schools.

“Classroom sizes have increased significantly over the years and as a result learning styles have become more diverse,” Still says. “We are seeing a strong need for support in foundational literacy and numeracy, particularly reading comprehension, structured writing, core Maths skills and the development of effective study strategies.”

She says even capable students can lose confidence when gaps appear in their foundational knowledge.

When families reach out

Whitcombe says parents are becoming more proactive, particularly in the primary years.

The maths and literacy basics are what parents are noticing. First, in primary schools, they are understanding the importance of getting the basics and the foundations right, and parents are coming to us to help maintain their child’s learning.

“Sometimes it’s feedback from the teacher, who may have noticed that the children are not keeping up with the learning in class,” she says.

But they find more children are initiating the conversation themselves.

“They’re finding it hard in class, and they’re noticing that they are struggling. So, they’re asking their parents, could you please get me some extra support?”

Still says families often arrive when confidence begins to dip.

“Families typically reach out when they notice their child is reluctant to engage or shows signs of anxiety about schoolwork,” she says. “Early intervention helps prevent small gaps from becoming bigger challenges.”

Understanding individual learners

Both providers stress the importance of starting with conversation and observation, rather than a one-size-fits-all programme.

Whitcombe says relationship building is central to their approach.

“It’s really important for us to get to know students as individuals,” she says. “For our study buddy after school lessons, we very carefully choose the tutor each student will work with, so that it’s a really good match.”

She notes that support is not computer-based or pre-prescribed, so it runs at the student’s pace.

Still says Tutoring to Success also takes a holistic view, with tutors working closely with each student to understand how they learn and which aspects need focus

“We take a holistic, individualised approach that starts from a place of confidence and builds from there,” she says. Ongoing informal assessments and close observation help the tutors understand how each student learns.

Confidence is the foundation

For Whitcombe, confidence is non-negotiable. “We believe that confidence is absolutely everything,” she says. “It’s the most important thing that we work on.”

Another thing we work on is self-talk, like children saying, “I’m no good at maths. This is too hard.” We deliberately talk with students about their self-talk so they are aware of what they’re saying to themselves, but also how they can change that and the impact that has on their learning.

She says learning is kept hands-on and positive, with progress tracked and celebrated.

Still agrees confidence is central. 

“Too often students shut down because they feel overwhelmed or not good enough, even when they have the ability.”

She says by building relationships, celebrating progress, and breaking tasks into achievable steps, they help students shift from avoidance to engagement.

Filling gaps while supporting schoolwork 

Whitcombe says balancing classroom content with foundational gaps is critical.

“It’s no good just working on what they’re doing in class without filling in those gaps underneath,” she says, noting the importance of repetition, particularly in maths.

Lessons are kept small or one-on-one so tutors can see exactly where students are catching on.

Still says sessions are aligned with the New Zealand curriculum while still addressing skills that may not be explicit in the classroom.

“This ensures that students keep pace at school, bridge any gaps and strengthen the essentials that help them thrive long term,” she says.

Short-term help and long-term partnerships

Whitcombe says some students come for targeted support around exams or co-requisite requirements, while others stay for years.

“Some families have been with us for eight years straight,” she says. “We see ourselves as partners and part of the family’s support network.”

Still also emphasises the value of consistency.

“Tutoring is a process and we value long-term partnerships as these build confidence, consistency, and skill mastery over time,” she says.

Supporting families without added pressure

Flexibility is a shared priority. Whitcombe points to in-school lessons and a lack of minimum commitments.

“Families aren’t locked into a minimum 12-month term,” she says. “Children have to want to come.”

Still says communication is key. 

“At Tutoring to Success, we work closely with families to take the pressure off by creating an individualised learning pathway for every student,” she says.

Looking ahead

Both providers see change continuing. Whitcombe highlights curriculum shifts and upcoming NCEA changes as ongoing challenges, alongside student wellbeing.

“Learners’ mental health and their confidence, their self-belief and their self-talk,” she says, remain critical areas of focus.

Still agrees the landscape is shifting. “The biggest challenge will be maintaining strong foundational skills and confidence in a rapidly changing educational landscape,” she says, while noting growing awareness among families of the value tutoring can offer.

“Many families think tutoring is only for students that are behind academically. In reality, we see students benefit from personalised attention at every level, helping those who are capable but lacking confidence, and those looking for ways to extend their learning. Consistent tutoring not only bridges gaps, but prevents gaps from forming. “