Special Education Needs Student Case Studies

Case Study: Amir

This case study highlights the journey of Amir, who faced challenges during his university studies in Law but overcame them through tailored support and mentorship.

Challenges Faced

Amir initially struggled with his university studies in Law after A Levels, failing several modules. These academic difficulties were compounded by a lack of direction and confidence in his abilities.

Support and Mentorship

To address these challenges, Amir was provided with personalised mentoring sessions. Additionally, he participated in a shadowing internship with a UK barrister. This experience allowed Amir to gain prac tical insights into the legal profession, build confidence, and develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Outcomes Achieved

With the support and guidance received, Amir successfully completed his university studies in Law. Motivated by his progress, Amir went on to pursue a specialist master’s degree in Law, further solidifying his academic and professional foundation.

Conclusion

Amir’s journey demonstrates the transformative impact of tailored support and mentorship. By addressing individual challenges and providing practical experiences, Amir was able to overcome academic setbacks and achieve his goals.

Case Study: Wei

Su Ling attended an international school and, although not assessed or medically diagnosed with ADHD or autism, she experienced learning difficulties. Both the school and her parents were aware of these challenges. This case study explores her journey, the challenges she faced, and the tailored approach that helped her succeed academically and personally.

Challenges Faced

Su Ling's learning difficulties manifested in several ways, including:

· Struggles with concentration, particularly during long lessons.

· Difficulty processing complex instructions, which often led to confusion.

· Challenges in retaining information when taught using traditional teaching methods.

Approach Taken

To support Su Ling, we adopted a bespoke, person-centered learning approach. This approach was designed to cater to her unique needs and interests, ensuring that she could engage with the material effectively. Key elements of this approach included:

· Using resources tailored to her interests, which she engaged with immediately.

· Providing a dedicated tutor who worked closely with her to build understanding and confidence.

· Regular mentoring and coaching sessions from Year 9 to Year 11 to ensure consistent progress.

Outcomes

Through this tailored approach, Su Ling was able to overcome many of her learning challenges. She studied four GCSEs with us, achieving high grades in all of them. Her hard work and determination, combined with the support she received, enabled her to secure a place at Surrey University, where she is now studying law.

Conclusion

Su Ling’s journey highlights the importance of a personalised approach to education, particularly for students with learning difficulties. By focusing on her strengths and interests, and providing consistent support, she was able to achieve her academic goals and build a foundation for future success. Through mentoring, she also developed her social skills and confidence

Case Study: Josh

Josh joined us in Year 10 GCSE and went on to A Level with a diagnosis of ADHD and a strong passion for football. His enthusiasm for the sport was evident, and we recognised the importance of incorpor ating his interests into his learning journey. Josh faced challenges in maintaining focus and required a structured yet engaging approach to his studies.

Our Tailored Approach

To support Josh, we developed resources that aligned with the national curriculum whilst integrating elements of his passion for football. This personalised approach ensured that he remained engaged and motivated throughout his studies. Additionally, we scheduled mentoring sessions every six weeks, which involved collaboration between his tutor and learning designer. These sessions provided consistent guidance and helped address any challenges he faced.

Achievements

Through this tailored and supportive approach, Josh achieved remarkable academic success. He completed 8 GCSEs and went on to excel in A-Levels, studying Economics, History, and Chemistry. Josh’s dedication and hard work paid off as he pursued a degree in Economics and Politics, followed by a Master’s in International Finance and Politics

Current Success

Josh’s journey is a testament to the power of personalised learning and mentorship. Today, he is thriv ing in his professional career, working for a blue-chip company in software as a Sales Development Representative (SDR). His story highlights the importance of recognising individual strengths and tailoring educational approaches to meet unique needs.

Maths Olympiad Case Studies Thailand & Singapore

Two standalone case studies for the SENSpecialists blog, showcasing how our maths olympiad tutoring, tuition and coaching support students in Thailand and Singapore. Each case outlines the student profile, challenge, tailored intervention, outcomes and a short testimonial.

Case Study — Thailand: Nicha (16)

Profile

Student: Nicha (Thailand), 16 — strong visual reasoning and interest in geometry, but needed structured proof techniques and contest‑style practice.

Challenge

• Good intuition for geometry constructions but inconsistent proof structure and difficulty presenting clear, exam‑style solutions.

• Limited opportunities for high‑quality peer discussion and international contest simulation.

What SENSpecialists did

• One‑to‑one maths olympiad tutoring focused on olympiad geometry: constructive techniques, synthetic proofs, and diagram annotation.

• Weekly group coaching sessions with an international cohort to practise presenting solutions and receiving peer feedback.

• Mock contest runs (synchronized timing) to build pacing and clarity under exam conditions.

• Worked example breakdowns and scaffolded writing templates to help structure proofs step‑by‑step.

• Targeted mentoring on how to communicate solutions clearly and check proofs efficiently.

Outcome

• Developed a consistent approach to writing concise, exam‑ready geometric proofs and improved accuracy on construction problems.

• Greater confidence in presenting solutions aloud and defending reasoning during group problem discussions.

• Improved contest results in regional mock events and stronger application of geometry techniques in national contests.

Testimonial

“SENSpecialists taught me how to organise my proofs and explain them clearly — I feel much more confident in contests.” — Nicha

Case Study — Singapore: Jun (15)

Profile

Student: Jun (Singapore), 15 — talented with number sense and algebra, but needed deeper strategies for olympiad‑level number theory and modular reasoning.

Challenge

• Strong at routine problems but struggled with advanced number‑theory concepts (modular arithmetic, infinite descent) and selecting efficient solution paths in timed settings.

• Wanted more exposure to diverse problem types and collaborative problem‑solving practice.

What SENSpecialists did

• Tailored 1:1 maths olympiad tuition concentrating on number theory techniques: modular arithmetic, bounding arguments, and problem classification.

• Weekly cohort coaching to encounter a wide range of contest problems and to practise collaborative solution development.

• Curated problem sets plus stepwise solution clinics and short video walkthroughs for independent revision.

• Timed mini‑contests and reflective debriefs to improve problem selection strategy and time allocation.

• Mentoring on metacognitive strategies: when to persevere, when to switch problems, and how to write partial‑credit steps clearly.

Outcome

• Gained fluency with modular reasoning and developed faster heuristics for identifying promising approaches to tough number‑theory problems.

• Consistent improvement in timed practice scores and better strategic decision‑making during contests.

• Increased confidence working on unfamiliar problem types and explaining solutions to peers.

Testimonial

“Working with SENSpecialists helped me think faster and pick better strategies during contests — I’m seeing real improvement.” — Jun

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