Online Primary English tutors
Reading, spelling, grammar and writing taught by a tutor who makes words feel fun, from first phonics to Year 6 SATs.
- Every tutor interviewed
- Live one-to-one lessons
- Weekly progress updates
About Primary English
Primary English covers reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation. In Year 1, children learn to decode words with phonics and take the national phonics screening check. By KS2 they are expected to read fluently, understand what they read, and write in different forms with accurate spelling and punctuation.
In Year 6, the KS2 SATs test English in two parts. The reading paper asks children to answer questions on unseen texts, and the grammar, punctuation and spelling papers test technical accuracy. Writing is assessed by the teacher from the work done in class through the year.
English difficulties rarely stay in English. A child who finds reading hard will also find Maths word problems and Science questions harder. Early support pays off across the whole curriculum.
Exam boardsNational Curriculum KS1 and KS2, Year 1 phonics check and Year 6 SATs (reading, and grammar, punctuation and spelling).
What we cover
Phonics and early reading
Letter sounds, blending, tricky words and reading aloud with growing confidence.
Reading comprehension
Finding answers in a text, inferring meaning, and explaining a choice with evidence.
Spelling
Common exception words, prefixes and suffixes, and the Year 3 to 6 statutory word lists.
Grammar
Word classes, tenses, clauses, conjunctions, and the terms used in the SATs papers.
Punctuation
Capital letters and full stops through to commas, apostrophes, speech marks, brackets and dashes.
Handwriting and sentence building
Forming letters clearly and putting words together into full, varied sentences.
Creative writing
Planning and writing stories, descriptions and letters with a clear beginning, middle and end.
Non-fiction writing
Reports, instructions and persuasive pieces, with the right layout and tone.
How a Nerdely Primary English tutor helps
Starts with the sounds
For younger children, lessons follow a clear phonics sequence so reading builds step by step.
Makes reading enjoyable
Tutors choose texts your child likes and ask questions that make them think, not just find a line.
Fixes the grammar rules
Terms like fronted adverbial or subordinate clause are explained simply, with plenty of practice.
Keeps you in the loop
Homework, quick quizzes and a short weekly test, with scores and tutor notes in your account.
How Nerdely works
Tell us what your child needs
Subject, level, exam board and the times that suit you. It takes a couple of minutes.
We find and interview a tutor
We shortlist tutors who teach that subject and level, interview them ourselves and match the right one.
Lessons are booked in
Live, one-to-one, 50-minute lessons in our online classroom, with video, chat and a shared whiteboard.
You see the progress
Homework, quizzes and weekly test scores in your account, plus a short report every month.
Primary English tutoring questions
Can online tutoring help a child who struggles with reading?
Yes. A tutor can go back to phonics or fluency, read with your child, and build confidence at a pace that suits them. One to one attention is often what children need most.
What does the grammar, punctuation and spelling test involve?
It is a Year 6 SATs test with questions on grammar and punctuation, and a short spelling task. Tutors teach the terms and practise question styles so nothing on the day is a surprise.
How can we improve my child’s spelling?
By learning patterns and rules, not just lists. Tutors practise the words that match your child’s year group and the ones they actually get wrong, then check them again in later weeks.
Do you help with creative writing?
Yes. Tutors help children plan, choose stronger words and sentences, and edit their own work. This also supports school writing and 11+ English for children who need it.
Is English tutoring useful for children with English as an additional language?
Often. A tutor can build vocabulary, reading and writing at a steady pace. Tell us your child’s needs when you enquire and we will match with that in mind.
Related tutoring
English at other levels
Other Primary subjects
Find your child’s Primary English tutor
Tell us their exam board, target grade and the times that suit you. We will find, interview and book the right tutor.