Sonali's Reviews

A truly invested teacher

A few years ago, my elder daughter would struggle with age appropriate focus and motivation in general. This in turn impacted on her ability to learn and knocked her self esteem as others her age, be it classmates or extended family knew way more than she did. Whilst I had always had a tutor for her, the introduction of Sonali in he life, was the best decision I made.

Sonali does not only teach, but through different methods, develops their interest i n learning. She then uses strategies to appreciate their efforts, that goes a long way towards their continued involvement. Another strength in her as a tutor, is her ability to make a meaningful relationship with children. I view that as a quality that is essential, yet rare, in professionals working with children.

My younger one also started her tutoring with Sonali a year ago. I have observed Sonali deal with her differently as she is a different child. Again, another quality you would want in a tutor, i.e. adapting to a child's needs.

My children, though at times question why they cant have a day off; become well engaged in their lessons, as soon as they start. Sonali is a truly skilled and invested teacher, who I can trust as I know, she wants the best for them in every aspect of life.

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by Aasia on 17/09/2025

Response by Sonali on 17/09/2025:

Both your children are sweet, good natured, hard working treasures! They strive to do their best, even when they are having an off day. Their listening skills and focus have developed remarkably in the time I’ve been teaching them. It is wonderful to see their progress.

They each have their individual strengths and weaknesses which I take into account in their lessons. Your older daughter has come on leaps and bounds in every way, whilst your younger one diligently challenges herself with the work that we do together. They are a credit to you!

We’ve formed an endearing bond over time, and it is heart warming that they see me as a friend, as well as a mentor. I’m on their side and I feel they truly know and appreciate this.

Experienced Tutor and Mentor for Kids

I am delighted to write this reference for Sonali, who has been tutoring my son for the past five years. During this time, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, patience, and professionalism. Her teaching has not only helped my son achieve excellent academic progress but has also inspired in him a genuine enthusiasm for learning.

What sets Sonali apart is the personal connection she builds with her students. She has supported my son far beyond academics, encouraging his confidence, resilience, and motivation. Over the years, she has become a trusted mentor and a valued friend to our family. Her warmth, reliability, and caring nature have made her feel like an extension of our home.

I wholeheartedly recommend Sonali for any role in education or private tutoring. She is an outstanding tutor and a remarkable individual, and I am confident she will be an invaluable asset to any student or family she works with.

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by Adina on 15/09/2025

Response by Sonali on 15/09/2025:

It has been so wonderful to see your son mature and develop into a charming, confident and independent young man.

He always perseveres with tasks. Even when faced with challenging work, he strives to do his very best. He is indeed a determined and resilient individual. A formidable combination!

I truly do feel like a valued member of the household. It is an absolute pleasure to know all of you.

amazing tutor, perfect for my son.

Sonali has been teaching my son for the last two years. She was recommended by a good friend, whose son has had the benefit of Sonali's help for the last 5 years. As English is not my first language, it has been extremely difficult for me to help my son.

I find Sonali professional and knowledgeable. My son lost a year of schooling due to Covid and he had a lot of catching up to do. He goes to a private school, so he has a lot of pressure to keep up with the school work. Before I was introduced to Sonali, I was so concerned about my son's lack of understanding, that I was prepared to change his school. I highly recommend Sonali because within 3 -4 months I could see how much my son has learned and what a great improvement he has made at school.

Sonali knows the curriculum inside out and what I appreciate the most is that she gets the best out of my son. Even if he feels lazy, uninterested or moody, she manages to engage him fairly quickly. Also, my son responds well to her witty character, fun teaching style and the lovely reward system that she uses. It is highly effective for helping him to do his best at all times.

She gives comprehensive feedback after the lessons and texts or emails often to suggest additional activities and extra homework, which I find absolutely priceless for my son's development. He has progressed rapidly with Sonali's help.

I just read the last review which seems to complain about Sonali talking to the father of one student. She talks to my husband and myself equally, as that can only benefit my son in the long run. Sonali has been nothing short of kind, friendly and caring towards my son, and our whole family. I can't sing her praises enough!

Maria.

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by Maria on 14/09/2025

Response by Sonali on 14/09/2025:

I really enjoy teaching your son. He is gradually maturing, which is lovely to see.

His listening skills and concentration have developed greatly. This in turn has helped your son to work more independently. I have tried to address any gaps in his learning, in order to challenge him further. Recently, he has shown more focus and works hard in order to achieve better results. What a joy to see a smile on his face when he remembers facts from previous lessons and starts to apply them to his work.

His attitude towards our lessons has changed as he is becoming more confident with his newly acquired skills. With positive reinforcement from both parent and tutor, I know your son will succeed in whatever he chooses to do.

A caution for this lady

To whom it may concern

I found this tutor in 2022 via your website for private homecare tutoring for my daughter who was in yr 2 at the time. I took on the lady called Sonali ( who I just blocked on here tonight). Sonali has been registered with your agency since 2015. To be clear I was a floundering single parent (most likely undiagnosed dyslexic as well) with no teaching experience. My initial telephone call with Sonali was very positive discussing my daughter who had very low self confidence at the time with her academic learning. I was largely very happy with the weekly input and online lessons. Concerns started to arise when over hearing some of the communications online. Sonali would make comparisons saying to Jasmine that her younger year group had already grasped what she was teaching Jasmine and Jasmine should already know it, if not pick it up easily. To be clear we had been wondering if Jasmine might also be suffering from dyslexia so I did not feel this way of addressing Jasmine was useful. Over the two/three years I have had personal communications with Sonali on the phone or via text about Jasmine or money and have found she addresses me rather than a parent, like a child, talking to me in a rather rude and patronising manner. I have put these concerns aside because I wished to keep some stability to Jasmine and her learning. I also avoided communicating with her. We did look last year for another tutor but I choose to stick with Sonali for Jasmine to have continuity. Tonight however, Sonali crossed a line that she has previously, but it was the straw that broke the camels back, so to speak. I am separated from Jasmines father and Sonali is saying to Jasmine 'say hello to your dad for me'. This is not the first time she has done this, but things are not great in our family dynamics atm so it it is completely inappropriate (as it always has been) and nothing to do with my daughters learning. Sonali has met my ex partner online when I have had to work on some occasions and Jasmine has had to have her lessons at another abode. I pay Sonali for the lessons and am the one who employs her. After Sonali had an initial lesson with Jasmine at my ex partner's flat ( online), she added him into her feedback emails with me which I promptly asked her to revert back to sending the emails to just myself as her employer. (She never added Jasmines grandfather after meeting him online for the first time). This request to take Jasmines father out of the email communications resulted in a discussion with Sonali where she disclosed she was also a single parent and understood the complications. Tonight however she is sending her greetings via my daughters lessons to Jasmines father ? This is not the first time I have overheard this but it will be the last as it feels completely inappropriate and tbh her interest feels slightly flirtatious. This may all seem benign to read or perhaps even accusative, but from a family fraught with conflict it highlights to me Sonali has no concept of family dynamics with separated families and no concept of how to address an adult parent without belittling there wisdom of life. Sonali is a knowledgeable teacher for juniors but considering the other aspects of her behaviour I feel the need to report her communication and social skills. Sonali needs some additional training to be able to work with families privately.

Yours sincerely

Tara McGuinness

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by Tara12 on 11/09/2025

Response by Sonali on 12/09/2025:

Thank you for the payment for today’s lesson. It is much appreciated.

I am genuinely sorry to see your daughter go at this crucial point in her learning journey, but I sincerely hope that she gets the help that she needs in her final year of primary school. If you need any further assistance regarding the specific help that your daughter requires, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

I have always only had her best interest at heart. I believe it was upon my recommendation that you had her tested for possible dyslexia. I remember you thanking me for suggesting this and also for her progress and achievements at school on numerous occasions.

Given your predicament, I kept your tuition fees lower than all my other students. This was because I believed that your daughter was capable of achieving her full potential with my help.

I give your daughter homework that she needs to do consistently, including at the weekend (when she is at her father’s house). I try to establish a friendly relationship with both parents of my students in order to maintain a good working environment for each child.

Sadly, I teach many children whose parents have separated or divorced. In all cases, I have successfully maintained good relations with both parties for the good of the child.

I am happy to talk about any grievances going forward. If I’ve offended you in any way, I am truly sorry. I am upset that after all this time, you’ve chosen to publicly question my professionalism. It also saddens me that you feel the need to continue to do so.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish your daughter all the best in Year 6 and beyond.

Excellent tutor

Sonali is a wonderful tutor with a calm and structured approach that has really boosted my 6-year-old daughter’s confidence in reading. In just a few weeks, I’ve noticed her becoming more engaged and eager to try on her own, which has been amazing to see. The clear feedback Sonali provides after each session is also really valuable-it gives me practical ways to keep the learning fun at home and helps maintain steady progress week after week.

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by Andrew on 30/08/2025

Response by Sonali on 30/08/2025:

Your daughter is a model student. She has made remarkable progress in a short time. Her hard work, with your support at home, has really helped her to blossom. I’m so proud of her consistent effort and hard work - this is reflected in her outstanding KS1 SATS results this year. Let’s continue to work together and encourage her to reach her full potential in the year ahead.

Wonderful tutor

We can’t recommend Sonali highly enough! She is a fantastic, engaging tutor who has made such a positive impact on our 5-year-old’s reading and phonics in such a short space of time. Sonali is incredibly kind, patient, and brilliant at what she does — our daughter absolutely loves her sessions and looks forward to them every week. Her confidence and skills have grown so much thanks to Sonali’s thoughtful and encouraging approach. If you’re looking to support your child’s learning journey, Sonali is the one to go to!

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by Amira on 05/08/2025

Response by Sonali on 05/08/2025:

Your daughter is a sheer delight! She brightens up my day. Every time!
Today, it was music to my ears, when she said, “Are you coming to my house again tomorrow? I really love reading with you.” Wonderful!!! Yes, fantastic progress in such a short time. Her listening skills have sharpened and her confidence has grown immensely.
She’s a sweet natured child that loves to learn through games, music and laughter. We have great fun together. I really look forward to lessons with your daughter. She’s a star in the making. I’m sure you are very proud of her.

Flexible, friendly and supportive learning

We are incredibly grateful for the support and dedication Sonali has shown. She has been flexible, friendly, and truly invested in his learning and overall progress. Her ability to connect with him, keep him engaged, and tailor her approach to his needs has made a real difference. She consistently shares the work they do, which helps us stay involved and see how much he’s growing. Most importantly, she has helped him develop a more positive outlook on learning. Thank you for your unwavering support — it means so much to us!

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by Claudia on 30/06/2025

Response by Sonali on 01/07/2025:

Absolutely my pleasure Claudia!

Often, extra help after school is met with some resistance, but together, we are showing your son that this individual assistance is something that is both beneficial and even enjoyable at times!

I try to use an insightful approach to keep lessons fun and interesting. I have seen your son gain confidence, especially when we do shared reading together. In fact, there is very little ‘shared’ reading these days - it’s a joy to see him take centre stage!

He is a bright and capable young man with a thirst for knowledge. Let’s keep working together to help your son achieve his very best at all times.

Excellent Tutor!!

Sonali Bird is an outstanding tutor—knowledgeable, professional, and highly effective. They explain concepts clearly, adapt to individual learning styles, and always come well-prepared. Their supportive approach has greatly improved both confidence and performance. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking top-quality tutoring.

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by Stella on 23/06/2025

Response by Sonali on 23/06/2025:

Thank you Stella. This is high praise indeed!😊

Your son has worked hard and deserves all the success and praise that he is currently getting from us all. He will definitely reap the rewards at school if he keeps working diligently. Well done to you as well for working with him at home behind the scenes.

He has challenged himself (though at first, like most children, he wasn’t so sure that he needed extra help) every step of the way!!! He is a well mannered and focused young man. I really look forward to our lessons because he is an absolute delight to teach. He has an inquiring mind with plenty of questions to keep me on my toes!

Let’s keep it up in the holidays to prepare for the new term in September.

For Creative Writing, Sonali is worth every penny!

As a parent of 4 and someone who earns a living from creative writing, I was fascinated by Sonali’s refreshing approach to this often overlooked aspect of a child’s development. Especially as creative writing brings together the whole of the English curriculum all at once. After all, good grammar, punctuation, spelling and handwriting earns marks at the end of each academic year and therefore shouldn’t be ignored.
— Will Farquhar / Creative Copywriter

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by Will on 21/09/2024

Response by Sonali on 25/09/2024:

It’s been an absolute pleasure helping to nurture your children’s creative writing skills.

English is multifaceted and honing language skills to develop an individual creative writing style takes time and patience. Thank you for your faith in the process. At the end of the day, it is your belief in a systematic approach to teaching that has helped to shape your children’s future.

Fantastic tutor!

We first met Sonali when we were searching for a tutor for our son. We were so impressed by her teaching methods that we used her to guide him throughout his whole primary school life. Save to say that Sonali was invaluable in helping our son navigate through the 11+ process and get into our school of choice. She was always positive and encouraging and although gentle was also firm and had a good understanding of how to relate to our son. Her holistic approach which includes tips and guidance for parents have been incredibly helpful.
Sonali is now also providing our 6 year old daughter with a tailor made teaching plan whereby she will adapt & construct the lessons according to what works best.

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by Angie on 08/11/2022

Response by Sonali on 09/11/2022:

It is wonderful to have the privilege of teaching siblings, and still stay connected to the oldest child, while helping a younger sibling. Truly rewarding to see how your son has blossomed into a confident, charming, mature and well rounded student.

It is such a pleasure to be involved in the development of yet another young mind in your family! Your daughter is a creative, kind and polite young lady. I look forward to helping her to build her knowledge in both English and maths, as well as encouraging her to gain confidence and independence, in time.

I loved helping her in the vital preschool years, and I am truly looking forward to watching her flourish, in the same way that your son did. I feel like a member of your family. So, thank you, too.

Wonderful Tutor! Couldn't Recommend More

We were so grateful to have found Sonali completely by chance on this website. My son has responded so well to her teaching methods and the lessons have made a huge difference to his learning. Sonali is so considered about how she approaches each lesson and always makes it fun. She adapts and changes the topics based on what she feels works best for him so always has a great session. I don't see us ever not using her to help her guide my son through school and support him as and when is needed and cement is understanding across Maths and English. While my son is young I think it's never too early to confirm the best way to learn the basics to build a great foundation for the future. Couldn't recommend more!

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by Andrea on 14/09/2022

Response by Sonali on 14/09/2022:

Wow! Praise indeed!!

I am so glad that you contacted me Andrea, because my teaching technique, combined with your support at home has really created an avid little learner over the summer. So happy that you are continuing lessons.

It is an absolute pleasure to teach your young son. He has developed incredible focus and independence in the short time that I have been teaching him. He is a delight to teach. His listening skills have improved tremendously. It is a joy to watch his progress, and I know that he will continue to thrive and make us all very proud of his rapidly developing skills in both literacy and maths.

Great tutor

Sonali started to teach my 6 years old son when pandemic begun. At that time he couldn't almost read and write at all and because I am Polish I couldn't help him. Then I found a private tutor. When Sonali started to teach him, he made such great progress in the short time. Sonali is a great, experienced and very patient tutor. I am very happy that she taught my son. Highly recommend.

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by Gosia on 28/07/2022

Response by Sonali on 29/07/2022:

It has been such a pleasure teaching your son and watching his literacy skills improve so rapidly. Remarkable progress! Particularly as you do not speak much English at home. I am so proud of his achievements to date. Well done for following up on my recommendations each week. Your son has become a focused and confident young man. I am so sad that you have decided to go back to Poland Gosia, because I will really miss teaching him. He is a model student and I know he will be successful in his future endeavours. Good luck to all of you in your new adventure back at home. Do keep in touch and let me know if you need any help or guidance. Take good care of yourself and each other.

Excellent tutor with a measured and kind approach

Sonali is a fantastic tutor with a measured approach that has significantly improved my 6 year old daughter’s reading in a matter of a few weeks. My daughter has struggled with literacy and phonics for a little while so it’s such a huge relief to finally see some progress. What I also find really helpful is the clear and concise feedback points that Sonali provides. I am able to work on these in a fun way to keep my daughter’s interest and see progress each week.

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by Mimi on 16/12/2021

Response by Sonali on 16/12/2021:

Lovely to hear this. Thank you.

I am so glad that I have been able to help your daughter develop her literacy skills. I truly look forward to our lessons, because she is absorbing so much knowledge and continues to blossom each week.

She has indeed made brilliant progress and I am very proud of her (and your) effort so far. She really benefits from this extra help. Onwards and upwards!

Engaging tutor

Sonali has captured my 7 year old daughter's imagination from the word go. She is very well organised, attentive, manages to keep her attention for a full hour teaching online. My daughter loves receiving marbles and playing games as a treat. I receive a thorough feedback after each lesson and noticed an improvement in my daughter's learning after first 3 weeks already.

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by Kat on 21/07/2020

Response by Sonali on 22/07/2020:

Thank you for your kind words.
It has been a real pleasure helping your daughter. She is keen to learn and ready to listen. The perfect student: a real joy to teach! It has been thoroughly rewarding to observe her blossoming confidence in such a short time. Together with your help, and her continued effort and hard work, I know that we can achieve wonderful results. A round of applause all round.