For New Chapter Tuition founder Alex Hesse, it’s not just about training tutors – it’s about making sure they’re properly equipped to support the young people who need them the most.

“I’ve always been drawn to making a difference,” Alex explains. “It’s all about helping people. It’s all about being involved in the community.” That belief sits at the heart of everything he does, and it’s what makes this partnership so powerful. From the outset, learning and development has been central to that approach – which is why Staff Skills academy+ became a natural fit.

Supporting the right learners with the right people

New Chapter Tuition trains tutors to provide tailored support to young people with special educational needs (SEN), neurodivergent profiles, or complex circumstances who struggle to access mainstream education.

Although the company was only founded at the start of this year, it’s clear there’s a pressing need for this service. Local education authorities are struggling to support learners who are vulnerable, at risk or have SEN. One of the biggest challenges is making sure each learner is matched with the right tutor. New Chapter Tuition bridges this gap. A big part of that is making sure tutors are not only well-matched, but properly trained – something Alex built into the model from the start.

While it’s easy to assume New Chapter Tuition is a type of recruitment agency, Alex sees it differently. “I don’t like to be known as an agency,” he explains. “I see what we do as a service, because it’s all about helping people. It’s all about collaboration and partnerships.”  That sense of community runs through everything he does, from how he works with tutors – establishing bespoke packages for young people – to the services which partner with New Chapter Tuition.

He describes the company as a bespoke tuition service, “Because somebody can have all the qualifications in the world, but do they have the right experience to support that learner?” That’s why his approach is built around careful, considered matching – reading through every learner’s care plan and referral forms – to make sure he’s delivering the best possible outcome. “I take a lot of time and effort to get to know the educators and make sure it’s the right match.”

It’s a simple principle – but in practice, it makes all the difference.

Raising the standard through continuous professional development

Working with vulnerable learners requires more than good intentions. It requires the right knowledge, the right approach, and a commitment to keep learning. And that’s where the wider system often falls short.

“There’s a lot of people working in education on a temporary or agency basis who haven’t received any CPD training,” says Alex. And that’s not just a gap – it’s a risk. “Policies are continuously changing. The knowledge needed to support people effectively is changing.” For Alex, making sure all his tutors have the right training, to the right standard, is crucial. “We’re offering a service and we need to make sure that the quality is top notch, especially when it comes to vulnerable young people.”

Alex needed a learning solution he could trust.

Building a training model that works in practice

Having worked with Staff Skills academy+ in the past, Alex knew the quality, range and format of the courses met his needs.

At New Chapter Tuition, there’s a stringent training process tutors must complete before they can work with learners. Part of this is using the Staff Skills academy+ LMS to complete CPD-certified courses in six core subjects that give them the skills to manage the practical and psychological aspects of the role, with two additional courses allowing for areas of specialism.

Once completed, tutors can then choose to continue using the LMS to upskill in areas they’re particularly passionate about. “There’s everything you could possibly need,” Alex says, “And it’s not just in one area – people can develop different skills.” 

As well as providing CPD and further training, this approach strengthens his overall offering – supporting both aspiring and experienced educators on an ongoing basis.

Ultimately, it’s about making learning as accessible and flexible as possible. Because all the courses are online, tutors can study at a pace and time that works for them. In fact, he recommends they don’t race through the courses, instead taking the time to complete all the optional workbooks and reflect on how they could apply the knowledge in practice. “It’s making them realise learning doesn’t stop. Everything’s continuously changing – so why not support their development?”

Today, Staff Skills academy+ sits at the heart of New Chapter Tuition’s development model – supporting new tutors, experienced educators, and even partner organisations looking to upskill their teams.

Creating opportunity through accessible learning

Alex’s model isn’t just about training – it’s about giving people a way to move into this kind of work.

“We want to support aspiring tutors – people who want to work with vulnerable young people.” It includes those already in education support roles – such as teaching assistants and mentors – who are ready to take the next step, as well as graduates in psychology, criminology and social work looking to gain real-world experience.

That community focus extends beyond the people Alex works with directly. Even when someone isn’t the right fit, the aim is still to offer support through shared resources, webinars and ongoing guidance. It’s an approach rooted in inclusion – and one that reflects Alex’s belief that opportunity shouldn’t be limited by your starting point.

A partnership that’s raising the standard

Although New Chapter Tuition is still in its early stages, the ambition is clear, “We want to be able to service the whole of the country,” says Alex, “But always offering that five–star service.” Expansion won’t come at the expense of quality.

And raising standards in specialist tuition can’t be done alone – it relies on the support of its trusted partners, including Staff Skills academy+. “Together, we want to make sure that young people are accessing the right education,” he says.

New Chapter Tuition’s model is built on care, consistency and a genuine commitment to doing things properly. And as the company grows, that foundation will only become more important.

At its core, it’s about building something that feels bigger than a service: a community of people working towards a shared goal. “New Chapter Tuition isn’t just a name,” Alex says. “It’s a purpose – for me and for everyone who’s involved.”

Staff Skills academy+ is proud to partner with New Chapter Tuition. If you work in the education sector and are looking for an online training partner, we’d love to hear from you – why not book a call with us today.