Tutor Tips: Beat the December Dip 

Summary

Our Tutor Tips segment is back! Find out about tutor Lucy’s “little and often” tip for keeping motivation high during the lead up to Christmas break.

With the December holidays around the corner, it’s easy for motivation to dip. Learners often feel the pressure of wrapping up the term, and the excitement of festivities can make study time slip away. This month, we’re spotlighting Lucy W, one of SEND Tutoring’s experienced one-to-one tutors, who shares her top advice for keeping spirits high and study habits strong.

Meet Lucy W

Lucy W brings warmth, structure and a personalised touch to every lesson. She works with learners aged 5–24, supporting them in both maths and English while also helping them build focus, study skills and emotional resilience. Whether online or in person in Cambridge and Central London, Lucy’s sessions are engaging, confidence-boosting, and designed to make learning feel enjoyable as well as effective. Lucy has particular experience supporting children with dyslexia and ADHD, helping them to build confidence in reading and writing through tailored strategies that make learning feel achievable and enjoyable.

👉 You can view Lucy’s full profile and find out more about her tutoring approach here.

Lucy W’s December Tip: Little and Often

“In December it can feel like January is ages away. Once the flurry of all the festivities is over, there can be a bit of a lull and then the new term is in full swing before you know it. While everyone needs to enjoy the holidays, it’s important that a bit of a break doesn’t make it hard to pick up the pace again, and to this end a ‘little and often’ approach can work well. This may mean planning some suitable activities and having everything ready to get stuck in – a few minutes in the car, or after breakfast can help as much as a longer pen-and-pencil session at a desk. It’s so easy to be distracted by all the other activities going on, so begin with the end in mind: imagine it’s January and the new term has begun, and you’re feeling really proud of yourself for the effort put in over the Christmas break.” – Lucy W

A Note on Different Learners

Lucy’s “little and often” approach works well for many learners, especially those with dyslexia who benefit from regular, manageable practice. However, it’s important to recognise that this strategy may not suit every child. As Dr Naomi Fisher, clinical psychologist and author of Changing Our Minds, explains:

“For some children and young people, the demands of everyday life provoke extreme anxiety. Even things which other people find straightforward, or things that they really want to do. They want to avoid the anxiety, and so they resist and avoid the demands. This is demand avoidance.”

For learners with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), even gentle study routines can feel overwhelming if framed as a demand. Instead, studying needs to be approached more subtly. Through collaboration, choice, and flexibility. For example, rather than saying “Let’s do ten minutes of reading now,” you might invite them to “pick a story we can enjoy together” or weave learning into everyday activities like cooking, games, or conversations. This way, PDA learners can still build confidence without feeling pressured, and study becomes something shared and enjoyable rather than a demand to resist. For further insights, educators such as Eliza Fricker, Laura Kerbey and Naomi Fisher share valuable guidance on working with PDA profiles.

Why This Matters

Lucy’s advice is a reminder that short, consistent bursts of learning can be more effective than long, irregular sessions. By keeping study materials handy and visualising your goals and success into January, learners can enjoy the lead up to Christmas holidays while still building confidence.

Put Lucy’s “little and often” tip into practice over the holidays and see how it helps keep motivation steady. Share your festive study moments on social media and don’t forget to tag us, we’d love to celebrate your progress!

Support for Every Learner

Discover how SEND Tutoring supports students with a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, PDA, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and more. 

Resources and Insights 

Looking for more practical tools and expert guidance? Visit our resources page for additional blogs, strategies, and helpful links.

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Ella Jones

If you’re looking for support for a child or young person with special educational needs or a disability, book a free call with us today and find out how we can help.