Meet James – SEN Specialist, Learning Designer & Executive Function Coach

Supporting Children and Young People with ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Learning Difficulties and Executive Functioning Challenges

I’m James, the founder of SEN Specialists. I have over 15 years of experience supporting children, young people and families navigating special educational needs, disabilities and barriers to learning.

My focus has always been on understanding the individual, not simply delivering a standard lesson.

James

Learning Designer & Executive Function Coach

15+ years

Supporting children, young people & families

BA Education (SEND)

Plus postgraduate learning design

UK & international

Singapore, Malaysia & Thailand experience

Online support

Specialist guidance wherever you are...

About Me

I hold a BA in Education specialising in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), together with postgraduate qualifications in Creative Teaching and Learning Design.

My professional experience spans mainstream and alternative education, specialist learning support, further education, mentoring, executive functioning coaching and international education.

I’ve worked with learners with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, and complex communication needs, including pre-verbal learners.

I was born in the United Kingdom to parents from SE Asia. My professional life in SE Asia was spent with the British High Commission and the British Council, across Malaysia and Singapore, as well as working as an educational consultant and tutor. Growing up between these countries gave me a deep appreciation for education, cultural diversity and the powerful role of language in shaping opportunity.

On returning to the UK, I saw how many learners with additional needs were being left behind. This drove me to specialise and qualify in Special Educational Needs (SEN), building on my experience with the Singapore, Malaysian and UK curriculums, with a strong emphasis on neurodiversity.

James at a glance

Qualifications & Experience

Pauline’s international experience is a distinguishing feature of her professional career. She has worked across different clinical, educational and cultural environments, contributing to autism services, psychological consultancy, professional training and inclusion initiatives.

BA Education · UK

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

PG Cert Education · UK

Creative Teaching and Learning Design

Education and Learning Design

Postgraduate Diploma

London College of Teachers

Research: How children in SE Asia acquire language

Former Deputy Principal

Private SEN Provision School, UK

English Dept Lead

PSLE and GCE O-Level, Singapore

Author

Books for children with learning difficulties

Published books covering literacy and confidence-building.

My story

Why I Work with Children and Families?

My journey into special educational needs wasn’t driven by having a child with additional needs myself.

What initially struck me was the experience of parents trying to navigate educational systems, understand their child’s difficulties and obtain appropriate support.

I encountered families who were frustrated, overwhelmed or uncertain about where to turn.

It became clear that parents often needed someone who could listen, explain what might be happening and help them understand practical options.

Of course, the child’s needs and outcomes remain central to everything I do.

Supporting Children Who Are
Struggling at School

Many parents contact SEN Specialists because their child is struggling to focus, experiencing low concentration, becoming disengaged or losing confidence in their ability to learn.

Some young people understand their subjects but struggle to demonstrate their knowledge in examinations. Others find it difficult to begin homework, remember instructions, organise their thoughts or manage competing demands.

I work with learners experiencing:

ADHD and executive functioning difficulties.

Autism and social communication differences.

Anxiety associated with education and examinations.

Low self-esteem and lack of confidence.

Difficulties with working memory and recall.

Poor organisation, planning or time management.

Disengagement from school or learning.

Social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

Complex communication and developmental needs.

My role is to identify the practical barriers preventing a learner from making progress and to develop personalised strategies that help them engage more effectively.

Worried about your child? See our guide: Child struggling at school?

Executive Functioning Coaching

Executive functioning affects our ability to plan, organise, manage time, regulate attention, begin tasks and monitor our own progress. These skills are essential for learning, particularly as children move towards GCSEs, IGCSEs, A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate.

I work with learners to develop skills including:

Planning and prioritising.

Task initiation.

Working memory and recall.

Time management.

Organisation and independent study.

Concentration and sustained attention.

Revision techniques and examination preparation.

Self-monitoring, reflection and accountability.

Strategies

Strategies may include chunking, blurting, retrieval practice, visual organisation, structured routines and individually designed learning activities.

My aim

My aim is not simply to help a student complete today’s homework. I want them to develop transferable strategies they can use independently.

Understanding Anxiety, Confidence and Emotional Wellbeing

Anxiety can significantly affect how children experience learning.

A student may understand a subject thoroughly yet become overwhelmed by examination conditions, time pressure, unfamiliar expectations or concerns about how others perceive them.

For some learners, their difficulties involve self-consciousness, low confidence or fear of making mistakes.

How I approach it

I consider these factors when designing educational support. This can include examining the learning environment, classroom positioning, routines, examination access arrangements and the practical strategies that help learners feel more confident and prepared.

Please note: Where psychological or therapeutic needs arise, these remain within the remit of appropriately qualified clinical professionals.

Working with Autistic and Pre-Verbal Learners

My experience includes supporting autistic learners with a wide range of communication, developmental and educational needs, including pre-verbal learners.

I recognise that communication does not depend solely on spoken language.

Some learners communicate through gestures, visual systems, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), behaviour or other individual methods.

Understanding the learner’s communication profile, sensory needs, preferences and interests is important when developing meaningful learning opportunities.

I also have experience supporting learners whose needs involve significant social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

Some learners communicate through…

Supporting Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Learners

Some of the children I support are academically able or gifted but experience substantial difficulties with organisation, attention, memory, emotional regulation or independent working.

These learners are sometimes described as twice-exceptional, or 2e.

Their abilities may mask their difficulties, while their difficulties may prevent others from recognising their abilities.

I believe that learning support should develop strengths while addressing genuine barriers to progress.

A highly able child who struggles to organise homework or manage an examination is not necessarily lacking motivation. They may need a different approach to learning.

Bespoke Learning Design – More Than Tuition

SEN Specialists is not simply a tuition agency. Behind each learner, there can be a coordinated educational approach involving a tutor, mentoring, executive functioning support and personalised learning design.

Where appropriate, I work with our specialist tutors to develop resources and strategies that address an individual student’s learning profile. These may include:

Bespoke worksheets and learning activities.

Memory and recall exercises.

Structured revision plans.

Interest-based learning materials.

Examination preparation strategies.

Parent guidance and progress reviews.

This helps us focus on how a child learns, not only what they are expected to learn.

More Ways I Can Help

I provide highly personalised teaching, mentoring and learning-design services for students across mainstream and international curriculums. 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.

Services

Bespoke SEN-adapted tuition and one-to-one mentoring
Individualised learning plans & progress tracking
Exam preparation (PSLE, O-Level, IGCSE, GCSE)
Learning design: bespoke programmes for GCSE and A-Level (curriculum adaptation, resources, personalised schemes of work)
Teacher CPD and classroom strategies
In-class learning support / shadow teacher provision
Remote parent coaching and progress reviews

Specialised Support Areas

Anxiety: safe, structured environments that build self-esteem and resilience
Autism / ASC: communication, social interaction and emotional regulation strategies
Dyslexia: targeted techniques for reading fluency, spelling and structured writing
ADHD / ADD: enhancing focus, organisation and self-regulation
Working memory & processing: techniques for retaining and applying knowledge effectively
Behavioural & PDA support: empathy-led approaches to reduce resistance and anxiety-driven behaviours

Exam & Curriculum Focus

My lessons go beyond textbooks, embedding pronunciation and accent coaching, vocabulary development, oral examination practice and creative writing.
English (PSLE, O-Level, GCSE, IGCSE, General Paper)
SEN-adapted exam programmes and access arrangements
Pronunciation & accent training
Creative writing & vocabulary mastery

University Advice & Career Support

University adviser for British universities: UCAS application guidance, personal statement support and interview technique coaching
Experience working with applicants targeting Russell Group and other top-tier universities
Support arranging internships, preparing job applications and one-to-one interview coaching to improve employability and progression to higher education

International Educational Experience

My professional experience extends beyond the United Kingdom and includes work connected with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Working across different educational environments has given me experience of learners following different curricula and navigating different cultural and educational expectations.

Through SEN Specialists, I support families in the UK and internationally, including those preparing for GCSE, IGCSE, A-Level and IB qualifications.

Our educational support is delivered online, allowing families to access specialist guidance regardless of their location.

My teaching career in Singapore & Malaysia

My teaching career “officially” began in Singapore and Malaysia, where I worked as a tutor before becoming Head of English at one of Singapore’s leading tuition centres. I specialised in teaching PSLE English, O-Level English and General Paper, blending exam skill mastery with creative communication and mentoring.

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

Why Parents Choose Me?

Pauline’s career spans:

Proven Results

Moving students from passes to A grades in GCSE and IGCSE English; for neurodivergent learners, an average improvement of two grades.

International Expertise

Best practices from the Singapore, Malaysian and UK curriculums.

Tailored SEN Support

Specialist coverage for dyslexia, ADHD, autism, anxiety and PDA.

Holistic Mentoring

Building exam skills alongside confidence, social growth and employability.

Trusted by Parents & Schools

Experienced in delivering CPD and in-school consultancy.

What parents say?

Read testimonials and case studies from families.

Working with Parents

I recognise that parents often need practical guidance alongside support for their child.

I begin by listening to the family’s concerns, understanding the learner’s existing strengths and challenges, and considering what support has already been tried.

Where appropriate, this is followed by a consultation with the student, an agreed plan and a structured programme of sessions.

Listen
The family’s concerns
Understand
Existing strengths and challenges, and what support has already been tried
Consult & agree
A consultation with the student and an agreed plan
Structured sessions
A structured programme of sessions

My aim is to develop confidence, independence, engagement and measurable educational progress, rather than offering generic tuition without a clear understanding of the learner.

Contact SEN Specialists

If your child is struggling at school, experiencing anxiety, finding it difficult to concentrate, lacking confidence or struggling to manage their learning independently, SEN Specialists can help you explore appropriate educational support.

We provide executive functioning coaching, specialist tuition, mentoring and personalised learning design for children and young people in the UK and internationally.

Contact SEN Specialists to arrange an initial consultation.

No-obligation 30-minute conversation – we’ll listen first, then suggest a strategy.

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