Autistic students are often strong on pattern and detail. Those are academic strengths, not compensations for something else. What usually decides whether they show up in a school report is the environment rather than the ability.
Interest is the way in
One student knew every train timetable but could not get on with algebra, until he was matched with an engineer who shared the interest. Equations became signal-timing problems and the subject made sense.
Another spent hours cataloguing insects and avoided writing entirely. Her tutor shared the curiosity, so the observations became notes, and the notes became essays.
Neither student was taught a different syllabus. They were taught by someone who could find the route in.
What to expect from our programmes
Four things that shape how a session runs.
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Sensory-aware learning environments
Some students need noise-cancelling headphones. One works best lying on the floor. Another needs dim lighting and no background noise at all. We adapt the setting rather than expecting the child to tolerate it, and that applies equally at home, online, or at Lionheart School.
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Predictable structure and steady routines
Lessons follow the same rhythm each week. The tutor signposts what is coming before it comes, and any change is flagged in advance rather than sprung. Uncertainty takes up attention that could be going on the work.
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Communication that suits the learner
Not every student makes eye contact, and not every student can answer a question the moment it is asked. Some need it in writing first. We work with how a child communicates rather than correcting it, and build confidence in spoken academic discussion only once there is something to build on.
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Executive function support
Breaking a task into steps that can actually be started, and putting systems in place for keeping track of work. Taught explicitly, because these are skills rather than attitudes.
Homeschooling an autistic child
Some children do not settle in any school, and after enough attempts the search stops being worth what it costs the child. Home education is a legitimate route rather than a failure. Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 makes you responsible for providing a suitable full-time education, which is not the same as recreating school at the kitchen table.
We build the timetable and we teach it. English, maths, the sciences and humanities, at the pace the child works at, following the National Curriculum closely where a return to school is still the intention. Where it is not, we can go considerably further into the subjects that hold your child’s attention and still get them to a GCSE.
One thing worth knowing early: if your child has an EHCP and is in a special school, you need the local authority’s agreement before removing them. We can talk you through what that involves.
Our Services
You may be interested in:
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Private tuition
One-to-one teaching across all subjects from primary to A-level, in person in London or online. Special interests used as the route into the syllabus rather than treated as a distraction from it.
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Homeschooling programmes
A full timetable for families educating at home, delivered around your child’s energy and attention across the day rather than around a school bell.
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Executive function coaching
Task breakdown, routines and planning, taught explicitly. Available on its own or alongside subject tuition.
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University applications
Oxbridge and Russell Group applications, with interview preparation adapted to how a student actually communicates, and advice on whether and how to disclose a diagnosis.
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Educational consultancy
Choosing schools that genuinely suit an autistic child rather than saying they do, and advising on provision within an EHCP. We deal with heads, admissions staff and SENCOs directly.
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Examination preparation
Access arrangements for GCSE, A-level and entrance exams. Exam technique that accounts for processing speed, and mock papers sat in conditions the student already knows.
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Educational psychology
We are not clinicians and do not diagnose. Where an assessment is needed we can refer you to qualified educational psychologists and then teach from their report.
Creating Programmes Where Children Thrive
“The consistency matters. Same tutor, same routine, no surprises. That's when our child could finally focus on learning instead of managing anxiety.”
Sarah Parent of Year 5 student, London
Frequently asked questions:
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How does autism affect academic performance?
Autistic students are often strong on memory and detail. What tends to get in the way is sensory load in a classroom, and the executive function side of organising and starting work. Both of those are about the setting rather than the ability, which is why the same child can look very different taught one-to-one.
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My child has refused to go to school. How can you help?
Refusal usually points at something specific rather than at school as a whole: sensory overload, an unstructured part of the day, or social pressure. We work out what is being avoided, teach at home or online in the meantime, and build a return where one is realistic. Many of our students do go back to mainstream.
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Are your tutors trained to teach autistic children?
We match on experience rather than on certificates alone. Many of our tutors have worked in SEND classrooms or taught autistic students one-to-one for years, and the match is made on communication style as much as on the subject.
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Do you carry out educational psychologist assessments?
No. We do not have psychologists on staff and we do not diagnose. We can point you to referral routes, and once a report exists we teach from it alongside the school history and what you tell us.
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Can autistic children attend Lionheart School?
Yes, with each place assessed for suitability. The school is one-to-one, quiet and predictable, which suits a good many autistic students. We look at academic level, communication style and attendance history before offering a place.
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Do you support autistic students through GCSEs and A-levels?
Yes, across a full timetable or a handful of subjects. That covers subject teaching, revision planning and exam technique, and we can apply for access arrangements where a student qualifies for them.
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Can tuition be delivered online?
Yes. For some students online is better than in person, because home is quieter and more predictable than anywhere else available. Others need to be in the room. We will talk through which is likely to suit.
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What is the difference between ASD and ADHD?
Autism mainly affects social communication, routine and sensory processing. ADHD is characterised by inattention, impulsivity and difficulty sustaining focus. A good many children have both, which is why an assessment matters before decisions get made about support.
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What does autism look like in older children?
Often more hidden. Difficulty with peer relationships, a strong preference for routine, and intense interest in particular subjects. Some children mask well enough that nothing is picked up for years, and the cost of the masking tends to show as anxiety or burnout later.
