Here you can find a small selection of the testimonials about the Learn to shine school.
Nicola has been invaluable with both my boys – not least assessing and working with us to find ways to make things easier. She is the loveliest, kindest, most wonderful teacher and now I am proud to call her a friend. The world needs more Nicolas! Thank you for all you do, you’re amazing x
I found Nicola whilst searching online for clinics to take my 13yr old daughter to for suspected ADHD. As soon as our first consultation started it was clear Nicola was absolutely a million % passionate and committed to helping us. For the first time I felt listened too and understood, previously I’d been made to feel like I had a ‘naughty’ child even though I knew from a very young age that my daughter had ADHD.
My daughter met Nicola very soon after our consultation and she also felt at ease and Nicola enabled her to open up to her and she made her feel ‘normal’.
I have no doubt everything Nicola says she will help us with she will follow through with. It’s clear when speaking to Nicola that she is committed to helping and supporting families like us through our journeys however long they may be.
I feel as a family we have the backing we need to from Nicola to walk our path together and get the help and support my daughter needs to enjoy the rest of her schooling, excel at her chosen subjects and also and more importantly I feel she will be given the tools to help her cope with life in general. I am so glad I chose Nicola to help my daughter rather than an impersonal clinic.
We approached Nicola to help with our 22 year old son who was going into his third year at university but was struggling. He is on the autism spectrum but was diagnosed with ADHD in his second year. Nicola was a great advocate for him at the university, navigating the process and managing his study plan, whilst providing one to one strategies and guidance for him. My son established a very good rapport with her quickly and has committed to regular sessions with her whilst he is at university. We know he is in good hands and has somebody he can turn to for support who understands his process.
Nicola has recently carried out Dyslexia screenings on both my children. This was carried out in a calm, relaxed but inviting way that the children had no idea that they were being “assessed”. The report that Nicola gave me was thorough & clearly laid out & has made paving the way forward with their school a lot easier.
Nicola’s professionalism goes above & beyond, she’s a fountain of knowledge & no conundrum is ever too much for her to dissect & offer the best tools & advice to get over the problem.
Nicola’s coaching sessions always leave me feeling positive & totally equipped for any family issues that may arise & the children respond well to any adjustments that Nicola advises. K.Roberts
Nicola came recommended to me from a clinical therapist whom I’d been working with. I’ve had a number of discussions with Nicola, first of all an initial phone consultation in which she explained the process, got to understand me for who I was and how the next stages would progress. We then scheduled a virtual call which was so enlightening and felt like a weight off my shoulders. Nicola was supportive, probing and informative, sharing her own story and experiences which made me feel especially comfortable in working with her and her clear passion for everyone she works with. I had a number of questions after our call, a little nerves before deciding to go ahead with a formal assessment, only due in part of my own nerves about the outcome and how I would handle it. During this time, Nicola was supportive on email, answered numerous questions and wasn’t pushy in any way, working to my timescale and understanding my trepidations. Once my assessment was booked in, I was prepped and raring to go. Considering it was an ADD/ADHD assessment, I was typically late! The whole process, although quite emotionally draining for me, was easy to understand, easily laid out and flowed nicely. Nicola answered all of my questions, gave me more background on her experiences, and shared her observations. Making me think about my answers, reflect on them and make any changes. She was open, supportive and probing when the time called for it. She put me at ease and I came away from it ultimately feeling like I may have found the answer I have been looking for all this time. I look forward to her detailed findings and I’ve recommended her to a couple of friends who I feel she will massively be of benefit too. Overall I couldn’t have asked for a better service, a more caring and dutiful individual whose passion comes across in spades. I look forward to working with Nicola in the future to harness the power of ADHD to the fullest.
Nicola has been tutoring Ben for over two years now and she has been real lifeline at a time when the education system had let our family down. Ben was diagnosed with ASD at seven but suitable support for his needs was not available in mainstream school.
Additionally to the lessons Nicola also offers enrichment days which many of her students attend. This gave Ben an opportunity to mix with others his age, which is so important for kids like Ben as homeschooling can be rather isolating. The speakers which attend the enrichment days are also fantastic, they are diverse, useful, educational and fun. One particular speaker discussed careers and how to prepare a cv, and how to behave in an interview all of which inspired Ben to think about what he wants to do. From this he has made the decision he wants to work within the computer programming industry.
The encouragement from Nicola and other speakers has told him there is no reason he cannot achieve his goals and his dreams. Ben has gone from a nervous boy in primary school who found the pressures of daily schooling so stressful that he developed tics and anxiety at a high level, to a very calm, settled and confident young man who does not doubt for a minute that he will succeed. I believe with all my heart Nicola not only provides an academic service which is outstanding, but her love and her passion and her selfless dedication to young people like my son is so precious and rare. Most people have that one person, teacher or family member who was their inspiration to achieve great things, I believe Nicola is and will continue to be that for my son and many, many others. Words cannot adequately express my sincere thanks and gratitude to her.
S. O’Brien
I really wish Nicola had been my teacher, I love the way she teaches my daughter. My daughter has special needs and was out of school for 3 years because of her mental state. Nicola has helped her to not only reconnect to learning but positively love it. So the best compliment I can pay Nicola, is thank you for giving me back my confident young daughter. S. Jackson
I have been attending classes since September 2016 and absolutely love them. A totally relaxed and
fun time to spend with a lovely encouraging teacher. You always come away from the class feeling as
though you have achieved something. I would definitely recommend Nicola Carey-Shine. M.Cane
I have been attending art classes with Nicola on and off for approximately six years, I love going to the class it is so relaxed and friendly, with a good mix of ability and age range within the group. I feel like it is a special bit of me time. Whilst still part of a group, Nicola manages to guide each of us individually. As a tutor, she always seems to come up with inspirational and motivating comments for individuals, as and when she can see the person needs that help. I have learnt so much in the time I have been going to the classes, from simple sketches to water colour, acrylics, wire work and more. I would definitely recommend Nicola’s classes to anyone who enjoys art and crafts and needs the support and encouragement she can give. A. Dackombe.
My son is aged 7 and has sensory processing difficulties. This means he can find it hard to settle into new places and interact with new people. After just one session with Nicola, my son was keen to go back and learn more. He coped really well in a new environment and Nicola helped him to relax, with fun and creative ways of learning. I was amazed by how quickly he settled and was able to interact and stay focused on the tasks Nicola taught him. I’m so glad we have found Nicola. She is a warm, wonderful lady who has so much patience and kindness when working with children. She really has a unique ability to tap into children helping not only with learning but also help with self-esteem and confidence, two things I knew my son was lacking. I know my son is in safe hands and his learning will go from strength to strength under Nicola’s nurturing and welcoming learning environment. Thank you! D. McCann
Working with Nicola really helped with my confidence, I felt like she really helped me with topics I struggled on. Before I was working with Nicola I felt no confidence in myself and was really struggling in school with my English. Just after a few sessions I started to feel a lot more confident and understood the structure of my upcoming exams. Some of the activities that Nicola gave me were role plays, games and video clips to understand the plays I had to study in English. Nicola has really helped me and I feel like she gave me a massive boost towards not just my English GCSE but every one of my subjects. Even members of my family noticed the difference in my attitude to revision and self-confidence. C.Coyle *Charley started classes graded as a Fail and went on to achieve the equivalent of a ‘C’ in both of her English GCSEs.
We decided on a tutor for our daughter just 8 weeks ago and we can already see the difference in her. Just an hour a week with Nicola has massively improved Brooke’s confidence and self-belief.
She is very comfortable with Nicola and looks forward to going to her sessions. Brooke tells me how smart she is now! Nicola is thorough and supportive and always keeps us updated on Brookes’ progress. It is also thanks to her that we now understand Brooke has a mild form of dyslexia, something that had been previously missed by the school, helping us to help her in the best way.
Our only regret is that we didn’t send her sooner! M. Edwins
My son has been seeing Nicola for Art and Maths. Since he has been having 1:1 lessons he has become more confident and his marks in tests have really improved, his recent scores doubled in his latest school progress test. At our last parents evening his teacher could not wait to see me so he could tell me how much improvement there has been in this subject. As a parent it is reassuring to know that Nicola understands the real challenges of ADHD and the impact it has on its learners, and she finds creative ways in which to work with the child. My son really enjoys having his lessons with Nicola and I think that speaks for itself. S. Terry
Nicola is a fun, caring and inspirational teacher as well as being a super artist herself. She has the knack of unlocking hidden talents using her professional lesson plans and techniques whatever your age or ability. Highly recommend. V.Whitter
A genius balance of achieving the best and enjoyable learning. Nicola is a fabulous (one in a million) teacher. Planning & adapting lessons to suit the very individual needs of her pupils [whilst still meeting the criteria required]. Don’t be duped by the lovely relaxed and informal atmosphere, Nicola is very professional and every effort is made to get the very best from her students. J.Hills
I have had the pleasure of knowing Nicola for many years and I can honestly say she is one of the most caring people I know. Nicola is capable of bringing out the best in you regardless of whether you are an adult or a child. She thrives on encouraging you to be the best you can be, which leaves you feeling amazed by your own achievements. Incredible doesn’t even begin to express how special Nicola is. She is exceptionally knowledgeable, can adapt her classes to suit all abilities and is great fun. If you want to learn in a relaxed atmosphere then look no further.
T.Proctor
Jennie Kingwell
Nicola Carey-Shine & The Learn to Shine School CIC school you are absolutely AMAZING
The changes you’re making to so many peoples lives on a daily basis is nothing short of INSPIRATIONAL
You really are one of the most beautiful, passionate ladies I know xx
Nicola Carey-Shine is such a ray of light and hope to many, she so deserves recognition. She believes passionately that all children deserve the best chance in life and aims to help as many as possible.
Nicola at The Learn to Shine School CIC has given me & my family endless support & I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without her being the tower of strength & fountain of knowledge that she is. Finally someone listened & made our world a happy place, thank you Nicola.
Nicola Carey-Shine at The Learn to Shine School CIC you are such an incredible human being.
I have seen first-hand how you have changed children’s attitudes towards education for the better and made them more confident after mainstream education has let them down.
You are immensely knowledgeable and you make learning fun, which is a hit with your students.
You truly go above and beyond and your passion for improving children’s lives is so evident. The way you also offer support to your students families is something special.
I only wish there were more Nicola Carey-Shine’s in this world.
The Learn to Shine School CIC – Thank you for everything you have done for us as a family. Nicola is amazing, my children adore her and knowing and understanding the reasons behind their behaviour makes such a difference. After a tough few years before we met her, things are now moving in the right direction! xx
Nicola Carey-Shine at The Learn to Shine School CIC is an inspiration. She has helped so many to achieve so much when traditional education has failed them. Nicola’s down to earth, fun approach means youngsters without a voice (often literally) are really supported to engage in education. Her school setting literally brought a tear to my eye. It is a place of magical transformation and will change the lives of so many.
Fran Hannah
Nicola has been amazing in helping us get on the right route to getting the support we need for our child. She opened my eyes to so much in understanding his struggles and helping me manage as a parent. Thank you!
Jayne Hills
The Learn to Shine School CIC Nicola Carey-Shine deserves recognition for the ‘above and beyond’ work you continue to do with children that fall through the cracks of mainstream schooling systems. Your diverse teaching style is truly tailor-made to suit each and every child’s individual needs. Your assessments and understanding is second to none. And… the knock on support to parents and families should never be under-stated x #oneinamillionteacher #numberonemumfan
Nicola Carey-Shine your The Learn to Shine School CIC is the best of the best. You are the most beautiful person with the such a kind heart, and everyone loves you. Your care, passion and warmth for your students and their future is amazing. You have helped so many people with their struggles who weren’t not being listen to and have changed so many lives for the better. You are an inspiration xx
