Mr James

About Me

I was born in the United Kingdom to parents whose professional lives with the British High Commission and the British Council spanned Malaysia and Singapore. Growing up between these countries gave me a deep appreciation for education, cultural diversity, and the powerful role of language in shaping opportunity.

My teaching career began in Singapore and Malaysia, where I worked as a tutor before becoming Head of English at one of Singapore’s leading tuition centres. Over the years I specialised in teaching PSLE English, O-Level English, and General Paper, creating a distinctive teaching style that blended exam skill mastery with creative communication and mentoring.

I had the privilege of working with students from Singapore’s top schools, including:

Primary Schools: Raffles Girls’ Primary | Nanyang Primary | Henry Park Primary | Tao Nan School | Ai Tong School
Secondary & IP Schools: Raffles Institution | Hwa Chong Institution | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) | National Junior College (IP) | Singapore Chinese Girls’ School

My lessons went beyond textbooks — embedding pronunciation and accent coaching, vocabulary development, oral examinations practice, and creative writing. I have always believed that English is not only an academic subject but a life skill that empowers children to express themselves with clarity and confidence. Parents appreciated this holistic approach, noting that their children became stronger exam performers while also growing in confidence socially.

On returning to the UK, I saw how many learners with additional needs were being left behind — from high-achievers quietly struggling with undiagnosed conditions, to students with more visible challenges whose true abilities were underestimated. This drove me to specialise and qualify in Special Educational Needs (SEN), building on my experience with the Singapore, Malaysian, and UK curriculums.

My work places a strong emphasis on neurodiversity, particularly supporting learners with ADHD and autism spectrum conditions. I have successfully worked with both diagnosed and undiagnosed learners, mentoring and coaching them to move from simple passes to achieving strong A grades at IGCSE and GCSE level across Asia and the UK. By using bespoke resources, targeted strategies, and one-to-one mentoring, I have helped students unlock academic potential while also building resilience, focus, and confidence.

I also work closely with international schools, supporting SEN departments with tailored interventions, and ensuring each child receives an individualised learning plan that reflects both their challenges and their strengths.

In addition, I have authored several books for children with learning difficulties, providing practical guidance in literacy, vocabulary mastery, creative writing, and confidence-building. These reflect my belief that education should not only prepare students for exams but also equip them to thrive in life.

Across every stage of my career — from Southeast Asia’s top-performing schools to SEN-focused work in the UK — my mission has remained the same: to unlock hidden potential, mentor with empathy, and ensure every student — whether neurotypical or neurodiverse — is supported, celebrated, and given the tools to succeed academically and socially.

Services

I provide highly personalised teaching and mentoring for students across mainstream and international curriculums (Singapore, Malaysian, UK, IGCSE, GCSE). My work is rooted in SEN expertise and neurodiversity awareness, ensuring every child receives the strategies and support they need to thrive academically and socially.

Specialised Support Areas

Anxiety Support – I help children manage anxiety by creating a safe, structured environment that builds confidence, self-esteem, and resilience.

Autism / ASC Support – Using autism-friendly strategies, I support communication, social interaction, emotional regulation, and academic growth.

Dyslexia Support – I use targeted techniques to improve reading fluency, spelling accuracy, structured writing, and comprehension.

ADHD / ADD Support – I provide structured strategies to enhance focus, organisation, and task management, while building motivation and self-regulation.

Working Memory & Processing Development – I teach techniques for retaining, recalling, and applying knowledge effectively.

Behavioural & PDA Support – I use empathy-led approaches to reduce resistance and anxiety-driven behaviours, helping children feel safe and motivated to learn.

Exam & Curriculum Focus

- English (PSLE, O-Level, GCSE, IGCSE, General Paper)
- SEN-Adapted Exam Programmes
- Pronunciation & Accent Training
- Creative Writing & Vocabulary Mastery

Why Parents Choose Me

- Proven Results – I have helped students, including those with ADHD and autism, move from passes to A grades in GCSE and IGCSE English.

- International Expertise and Understanding – I bring best practices from the Singapore, Malaysian, and UK curriculums.

- Tailored SEN & Neurodiversity Support – covering dyslexia, ADHD, autism, anxiety, processing challenges, and behavioural/PDA support.

- Holistic Teaching & Mentoring – building exam skills, confidence, communication, and social growth.

- Trusted by Parents & Schools – with most classes fully booked in advance and partnerships with international schools.

Tutor Mentor & Learning Designer :

Former deputy Principle private SEN provision School UK

English dept lead PSLE and GCE OLevel singapore

BA Education UK (2.1) : SEND

PG CERT UK :

Education: AND Learning Design

Post graduate DIPLOMA UK distinction ( London college of teachers) : how children in SE Asia Aquire Language

in Learning Design

Email: info@senspecilaists.org

With James’s tailored lessons in English Literature, I was able to understand complex texts and write essays that truly stood out.

Michael

Student, Pattaya Thailand

James’s personalised approach to English Language helped my daughter, Emily, improve her writing skills and express her ideas more clearly.

Laura

Parent of Emily, Singapore

★★★★★

★★★★★

Testimonials

James - Tutor and Mentor

Thanks James enjoyed your methods and support in English . I will keep in touch for A levels

Sophie

Student, Malayasia

James’s bespoke resources and patient teaching style made English Language enjoyable and accessible for my son, Daniel.

Fatima

Parent of Daniel, Dubai, UAE

★★★★★

★★★★★

With James’s guidance and support, I developed better study habits and a clearer path toward my goals.

Michael

Student, Toronto, Canada

James’s mentoring gave my daughter, Emily, the confidence and motivation she needed to excel academically and personally in her GCSEs and to progress to an apprenticeship.

Laura

Parent of Emily, Leicester UK

★★★★★

★★★★★

Testimonials

James - Mentoring

Thanks to James’s mentoring, I feel more confident in managing my time and tackling difficult subjects.

Sophie

Student, Sydney, Australia

James’s personalised mentoring helped my son, Daniel, stay focused and overcome challenges throughout the school year.

Fatima

Parent of Daniel, Dubai, UAE

★★★★★

★★★★★

Thanks to James’s tailored support, my daughter Mia, who is on the autism spectrum, has gained confidence and improved her social and academic skills significantly.

David

Parent of Mia, Sydney, Australia

James’s mentoring has been a lifeline for my son, Ethan, who has ADHD. His personalised coaching helped Ethan develop strategies to manage his focus and stay motivated in school.

Rachel

Parent of Ethan, Birmingham, UK

★★★★★

★★★★★

Testimonials

James - Autism and ADHD Mentoring and Coaching

With James’s expert guidance, my daughter Zara learned practical executive functioning techniques that have made a huge difference in her daily school routine.

Fatimah

Parent of Zara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

James’s coaching on executive functioning skills transformed how my son, Noah, approaches his studies. He’s now more organised, manages his time better, and feels less overwhelmed.

Amina

Parent of Noah, Dubai, UAE

★★★★★

★★★★★

Thanks to James’s coaching, I’ve improved my social skills and feel more comfortable participating in class despite being on the autism spectrum.

Mia

Student, Sydney, Australia

James’s mentoring helped me understand my ADHD better and taught me ways to stay focused during lessons. I feel more confident now.

Ethan

Student, Birmingham, UK

★★★★★

★★★★★

Testimonials

James - Autism and ADHD Mentoring and Coaching (Student)

The executive functioning strategies James taught me have helped me manage my schoolwork and daily routine much better.

Zara

Student, Kota Kinabalu , Malaysia

James showed me how to organise my time and break down tasks, which has made studying much less stressful.

Noah

Student, Dubai, UAE

★★★★★

★★★★★

The free consultation with James was incredibly thorough and insightful. His report helped us understand our daughter’s needs better, and the school has been much more supportive since working with him.

David

Parent of Mia, Sydney, Australia

James’s initial free consultation and detailed report were spot on. It gave us clear insights that have helped immensely both at home and at school. The school has since collaborated closely with us, making a real difference for our son.

Rachel

Parent of Ethan, Birmingham, UK

★★★★★

★★★★★

Testimonials

James - Initial Consultation and School Collaboration

Thanks to James’s free consultation and comprehensive report, we now have a clear plan that works both at home and school. The school’s collaboration has been fantastic.

Fatimah

Parent of Zara, Johor Baru , Malaysia

James’s initial assessment and report were accurate and very helpful. It has improved communication between us and the school, leading to better support for our son.

Amina

Parent of Noah, Dubai, UAE

★★★★★

★★★★★

With James’s help advocating for my daughter, the school became much more responsive to her autism-related needs. We finally feel heard and supported.

David

Parent of Mia, Sydney, Australia

James’s advocacy made a huge difference in ensuring my son’s needs were understood and met at school. His support helped us navigate the system and secure the right accommodations.

Rachel

Parent of Ethan, Birmingham, UK

★★★★★

★★★★★

Testimonials

James - Advocacy Support

Thanks to James’s strong advocacy, the school has implemented effective strategies to support my daughter’s learning and wellbeing.

Fatimah

Parent of Zara, Selangor, Malaysia

James’s advocacy was invaluable in helping us communicate our son’s challenges to the school. Thanks to him, Noah now receives the support he needs to thrive.

Amina

Parent of Noah, Dubai, UAE

★★★★★

★★★★★