Find an expert Phonics Primary tutor
Find a tutor
Build Early Reading Confidence with A Primary Phonics Tutor
Phonics can feel like a whole new language. Many parents remember learning to read through colourful storybooks, not by “decoding” strings of repetitive words or sounding out strange “alien words” like zog. It’s normal to feel unsure about the phonics-first approach used in primary schools today. New terms such as phonemes and graphemes can make the process feel more complicated than it needs to be.
At Tutorful, we want to make this stage feel reassuring, not overwhelming. A dedicated primary phonics tutor can sit alongside your child, at their pace, and help them make sense of the system. With gentle guidance, phonics becomes less about rules and more about building confidence. Children learn that reading isn’t something to fear. It’s something they can enjoy.
At Tutorful, we want to make this stage feel reassuring, not overwhelming. A dedicated primary phonics tutor can sit alongside your child, at their pace, and help them make sense of the system. With gentle guidance, phonics becomes less about rules and more about building confidence. Children learn that reading isn’t something to fear. It’s something they can enjoy.
How Tutorful Works
Step-by-Step Guide for Using Tutorful
Choose your tutor
94% of our tutors hold advanced degrees, Master’s and PhD), have 2+ years of experience and are fully DBS-checked. Find the perfect maths tutor to boost your confidence and achieve your learning goals.
Book your tutoring session
Start your learning journey with a free 15-minute chat and a guaranteed first lesson. Choose a time that works for you, book seamlessly through our platform, and pay only after your lesson.
Start your tuition online
Learn with personalised private lessons in our secure online classroom. Watch and rewatch recorded sessions anytime. Start your tailored learning experience today!
What Your Child Will Learn Through Phonics
Phonics gives children the tools they need to read independently. Strong phonics skills open the door to reading books they genuinely enjoy. While early decodable texts may seem repetitive, they serve a crucial purpose. Once your child has mastered the basics, their world expands. They begin to understand stories, follow characters, and make predictions - all key skills they’ll use across every subject in school.
With the right support, they learn to:
- Recognise sounds and link them to letters.
- Blend sounds smoothly to read new words.
- Break tricky words into smaller, manageable steps.
- Build confidence with those confusing “alien words”.
- Develop early spelling strategies.
- Move from decoding to understanding what they read.
How Phonics Shapes Learning Beyond Reading
Phonics is far more than passing the Year 1 Screening Check. It lays the foundation for all future learning. When children can read with ease, every subject becomes more accessible. Instructions are clearer. Confidence grows. They’re more willing to attempt new challenges because reading no longer feels like a barrier.
This early confidence follows them throughout primary school. It helps them enjoy lessons, take part in class discussions, and build a healthy relationship with learning. Strong reading skills unlock independence - and that’s something that lasts well beyond the classroom and into Key Stage 1.
Why Tutorful Parents Trust Our Phonics Tutors
At Tutorful, we only accept the best tutors. Just one in eight applicants makes it through our selection process, and every tutor is fully background-checked. Parents value this level of care, which is why they’ve rated us 4.6 stars across more than 4,100 reviews.
Our tutors understand that every child learns differently. They turn confusing phonics rules into simple steps. Lessons are supportive, upbeat, and completely personalised. Children feel safe to make mistakes, try again, and celebrate small wins.
Online learning makes everything flexible for busy families. You can choose a tutor who suits your child’s personality, creating lessons they actually look forward to. It’s why so many families - over 200,000 so far - trust Tutorful to help their children build a strong and joyful start to reading.
Meet some of our
154 Phonics Primary tutors:
£85/hr
4.9
Alice A
Phonics Tutor - Making learning memorable
* Book your child in for SUMMER BOOSTER sessions TODAY*- I have had a HUGE increase this year in last minute requests for support, even for the day before the exam...- Many of these young people have been worrying about their GCSEs and A Levels behind closed doors and parents have realised too late that they need support.- If your child is in secondary school or 6th form now and you have any doubt about their independent study skills please consider summer sessions.- I hear all too often that the young people I am working with do not have the skills in order to attempt independent study. These...
Read more
£47/hr
5.0
Rebecca T
Qualified Phonics tutor
Hi! My name is Rebecca and I’m a qualified primary school teacher with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) and a full enhanced DBS certificate. I graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Primary Education with Mathematics specialism (with QTS). I have experience teaching across the primary age range from 5 year olds up to 11 year olds. I love teaching/tutoring because I enjoy sharing my knowledge with children (and adults) and I find it really rewarding to see people progress and think ‘I helped them achieve that’! I would be delighted to help you to improve your skills in either Maths, Engli...
Read more
£28/hr
4.5
Kathy F
Creative Phonics tutor
I am a Royal Holloway, University London graduate with a BA and MA, specialising in arts and humanities. I am very keen to help pupils to learn and fully understand what they might not get in a classroom environment. Whilst at school and even at university, I had one-on-one help and I would not have got the grades if it was not for this extra help. That is why I want to help those who may need the extra help to get the grades they want.I did my A levels at a school as opposed to a college and this gave me the experience to work with the lower parts of the school (junior and senior). I would help...
Read more
£31/hr
4.8
Anita A
Best Phonics Results 4U
Please note that I take all reasonable precautions to avoid contamination with Covid-19. I wear a mask and gloves throughout my visit and ask that secondary school children and parents also wear a face mask whilst social distancing is not possible. I live close to Altrincham town centre. I have a Masters Degree in Modern English Literature from the Victoria University of Manchester. I also teach History and Politics.I`m both patient and motivational for struggling pupils and adept at accelerating the progress of high achieving pupils as well as of course, all in between.I have 20 years experience...
Read more
£56/hr
5.0
Mario S
Strong Phonics Results - Experienced Tutor.
ExperienceI’m an experienced Mathematics, 11+, and Private School Entrance Exam Tutor. I am also a parent of two children, living in Shepperton, where I have been tutoring for some time. I have a Maths Degree from Manchester University and have complete knowledge of the GCSE and KS 2 to 4 curriculum. PerspectiveHaving two children myself helps keep things in perspective and has given me direct experience of the joys of school exams, different learning styles, and the current curriculum.SpecialisationI teach and specialise in Maths for children and adults of all ability levels.Teaching ApproachMy a...
Read more
£37/hr
4.9
Diana A
Phonics Tutor - Creative & Patient
Hello and welcome!TEFL - ESOL - SATS - 11+ exams - Literacy - Phonics - SPaG - Spanish - Hungarian - Dutch - Dyslexia I am Diana, here to offer you support with language learning and challenging linguistic endeavours.Born and bred from a mixed background and having lived in different parts of the world, I have a strong awareness of various cultures.I have taught English as a foreign language for just over 20 years to all age groups and from all walks of life, as well as other modern languages, such as Dutch, Spanish, French and even Hungarian. In the past few years, I have also done a fair bit...
Read more
98% of our students said
their tutors made a difference
Find a tutor
Jayne C
Jayne is a fantastic teacher.She helped assess my daughter's level in English and Math.Jayne is very flexible and my daughter enjoyed the lesson very much.
Eunice A
10th Feb 2026
Joanne W
My daughter Ariya has been taking lessons with Joanne for more than 6 months now and she(my daughter) has improved in her phonics and reading so much. Joanne is so kind, patient and a super fun teacher. They started when my daughter was 5 and I was a bit worried with how she would handle online tutoring but Joanne makes it seamless and Ariya is right there with her the entire time. 10/10 teacher!
Batzaya C
26th Jan 2026
Evi C
Evi is such a great tutor - she’s proactive, resourceful and supportive. She’s been tutoring my sister who’s in year 5 and she’s been a massive help in her learning. Evi is very knowledgeable about the syllabus and puts a lot of care when planning lessons and delivering them. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone. Thanks Evi!
Jaheda K
21st Oct 2025
Rebecca T
We’ve been so pleased with Rebecca as our daughter’s phonics tutor! Since starting lessons, our daughter’s confidence has grown so much, and it’s been wonderful to see how much she enjoys learning now. She looks forward to each session and always comes away smiling. The tutor has a warm and encouraging approach that really brings out the best in her. We’re so grateful for the positive impact she’s had.
Francesca B
14th Oct 2025
Helen B
Helen is tutoring my 5 and 8 year old. The 5 year old is focusing on phonics and the 8 year old on English. They both really look forward to the sessions with her. She keeps them engaged and they are proud of the work they do with Helen. I would definitely recommend. Very pleased we found her!
Michele M
26th Sep 2025
Lucie M
Over the past 5 months, Lucie has been teaching my 5-year-old daughter online and has made a real difference in her understanding of maths. She is patient, encouraging, and shows great perseverance when teaching a child at such a young age. I’m really pleased with the progress my daughter has made.
Rushane S
6th Sep 2025
Daria A
Daria is great. She teaches My little one at least twice a week. The work they’ve been doing together has really made a difference. It is fun and well organised. She’s also very quick to reply to messages, should you need any further support outside of lesson times. Brilliant over all. Many thanks!
Daniel W
19th Aug 2025
Melanie W
Melanie is fantastic with my daughter. After only a few weeks, she has helped her improve so much. Thank you!
Bryony E
7th May 2025
Frequently
asked questions
See all FAQs
How can a tutor help my child prepare for the Phonics Screening Check?
A Tutorful phonics tutor turns preparation into a positive, stress-free experience. They practise real and “alien” words in fun ways, build confidence with sounding out, and explain what the check looks like so nothing feels scary or unfamiliar.
My child finds decodable books boring. Can tutoring make reading more fun?
Yes! Tutors bring stories to life with games, props, pictures, and varied reading activities. They use decodable books when needed, but also introduce activities that keep reading interesting. This helps your child connect sounds to words while discovering that reading can be an exciting experience.
Can a tutor help me understand phonics terms and jargon?
Absolutely. Terms like phoneme, grapheme, and digraph can feel overwhelming if you don't know what they mean. A tutor explains them in simple language and shows you easy ways to help at home without pressure. You’ll feel more confident, and your child benefits from consistent support.
My child struggles to understand what they read. Can a tutor help?
Yes. Tutors go beyond decoding. They help children blend sounds smoothly, recognise common words, and talk about what’s happening in the story. This builds fluency and meaning, turning slow, effortful reading into real understanding and enjoyment.
When should we start phonics tutoring?
Any time your child needs a little boost is perfect. Some children start in Reception to build early confidence. Others get support in Year 1 for the Phonics Screening Check or in Year 2 to strengthen reading before moving on to longer books. A tutor meets your child exactly where they are.
Is phonics tutoring online?
Yes. All Tutorful phonics lessons are online, making them easy to fit around family life. Tutors use interactive tools, digital books, and fun activities that keep young children engaged and focused - all from the comfort of home.
Can I choose my child’s phonics tutor?
Yes. You can browse tutor profiles, check reviews from other parents, and message tutors to discuss your child’s needs. Finding the right match is important, and Tutorful gives you complete control and plenty of choice.