Frequently Asked Questions
Is BloomStone right for my child?
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Many children use English confidently in familiar situations, but find academic English more demanding as school expectations increase. If your child would benefit from stronger reading responses, clearer writing or more developed spoken explanation, BloomStone can help identify the right starting point.
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It can be. Conversational English and academic English are different. School English asks children to use precise vocabulary, organise ideas clearly, explain reasoning and write with increasing control. BloomStone focuses on the academic English children need to show their thinking more clearly in school.
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Yes, where the child is ready for greater precision, depth or independence in English. BloomStone is not only for children who find English difficult. It can also support capable learners who are ready to develop richer reading responses, more controlled writing or clearer academic explanation.
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Yes. BloomStone is designed for children learning in English at international schools, where academic language becomes increasingly important across reading, writing and class discussion.
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BloomStone supports children aged 7–11, usually Years 3–6. Some younger children may be suitable if they are ready for structured online support and would benefit from stronger academic English foundations.
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No. BloomStone is not a homework-completion service. Schoolwork can be useful because it shows how your child is currently using English, but lessons focus on building the academic language skills your child can apply more independently in future school tasks.
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BloomStone may support children with mild learning needs where structured online academic English tuition is appropriate. It is not specialist SEND, clinical or therapeutic provision. If your child needs specialist intervention, BloomStone may recommend a different type of support.
What does BloomStone teach?
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BloomStone offers focused academic English support through three connected programmes: Reading, Writing, and Speaking & Listening. Each programme begins with a clear review of your child’s English profile, so teaching can be adapted to their current strengths, needs and school context.
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Yes. Many children begin with one main focus, such as Reading, Writing, or Speaking & Listening. These areas are connected, so lessons may also draw on vocabulary, sentence control, spoken rehearsal, reasoning or comprehension where this supports the main programme focus.
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Lessons are planned from your child’s English profile, including current strengths, areas that need strengthening and school expectations. Teaching begins from an appropriate starting point and is reviewed as your child develops.
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BloomStone is informed by UK National Curriculum primary expectations and international-school academic English demands. It does not replace the school curriculum. It strengthens the language children need to access reading, writing and discussion more successfully in school.
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Yes, where these are part of your child’s current teaching focus. BloomStone integrates grammar, spelling and punctuation meaningfully into reading, writing and speaking & listening lessons.
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Yes. BloomStone supports Speaking & Listening by helping children organise their ideas, answer in well-thought-out sentences and take part more clearly in class discussion.
This is not general conversation practice. The focus is academic spoken English: the language children need to explain ideas, justify answers and prepare for stronger writing.
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Confidence often grows when children have the language they need to show what they understand. BloomStone focuses on the academic English skills that help children feel more in control of reading, writing and spoken responses.
Lessons, practice and progress
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In some cases, one lesson per week provides a steady rhythm for teaching, practice and review.
Two lessons per week may be recommended where a child would benefit from more intensive support.
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Lesson length depends on the child’s age, attention span, independence and current language needs. Younger children often begin with 45-minute lessons. Older or more independent children may be ready for 60-minute lessons.
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A 12-lesson unit gives enough time to identify a clear focus, teach carefully, build practice, review progress and make a considered recommendation for next steps. It allows development to be reviewed more meaningfully than a small number of isolated lessons.
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BloomStone usually recommends a 12-lesson unit as the standard starting structure. In some cases, a different arrangement may be advised if it is more appropriate for the child’s needs.
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Progress depends on the child’s starting point, lesson consistency, participation and practice between lessons. Some changes may appear quickly, but academic English usually develops through steady, structured support over time.
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Yes. BloomStone may set two short types of task between lessons.
One task may be set after a lesson to help your child practise and secure the language taught.
Another short task may be set before the next lesson to help your child prepare. This may include learning key vocabulary, reading a short text or answering a few questions to revisit previous learning. T
asks are designed to be purposeful and manageable, not excessive.
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Progress is reviewed through written work, reading tasks, spoken explanation, homework and the child’s developing independence. This review informs future teaching.
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Yes. Parents receive a midpoint progress update and a more comprehensive written review at the end of the unit. These outline current strengths, current priorities and recommended next steps.
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At the end of each unit, you will receive a written review outlining your child’s progress, current strengths and recommended next steps.
Where continued support is recommended, the next unit builds on the progress already made. This allows your child to strengthen new skills, apply them with greater independence and move towards a more developed area of academic English.
Online lesson setup
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Yes. Lessons are delivered online through LearnCube, a secure teaching platform designed for one-to-one learning. Zoom is available as a backup where needed.
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A laptop is preferred, though a tablet may be suitable in some cases.
Your child will also need a stable internet connection, working audio and video and a quiet space to work.
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For younger children, a parent or trusted adult should be nearby at the start of the lesson to help with setup, focus or any technical issues if needed. Adults do not need to support the lesson content, as teaching is directed to the child by the BloomStone tutor.
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Once lessons are arranged, BloomStone provides setup guidance and the lesson link. Your child should be ready on time with the correct device, internet access and a quiet working space.
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If there is an unexpected platform issue, Zoom can be used as a backup where appropriate. Parents are responsible for ensuring the child has a suitable device, stable internet and working audio and video.
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Lessons are not routinely recorded. BloomStone uses clear online-safety procedures, professional communication and parent involvement where appropriate to support safe online tuition. Any recording would only take place where there is a clear reason, with prior agreement and in line with BloomStone’s safeguarding and privacy procedures.
Payments and booking
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Lessons are paid for in advance in lesson blocks. Once payment has been received, the lessons are added as lesson credit and used for scheduled sessions. Lesson places are confirmed once payment has been received.
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BloomStone will let you know when your remaining lesson credit is running low. Payment is requested before the next lesson block begins so tuition can continue without interruption.
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BloomStone lessons are:
£75 / 680 CNY for 45 minutes
£100 / 900 CNY for 60 minutes.The recommended lesson length is confirmed after your child’s English profile has been reviewed.
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Lessons are usually delivered as part of a structured 12-lesson unit. BloomStone recommends adding lesson credit for at least four lessons at a time, with six lessons often providing a smoother payment rhythm.
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Lesson credit should usually be used within 12 weeks from the first scheduled lesson in that payment block, unless a different arrangement has been agreed in writing.
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Unused lesson credit remains available during the agreed validity period and can be used towards future scheduled lessons. Refund requests for unused lesson credit are handled according to the Terms & Conditions.
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Lessons may be rescheduled with at least 48 hours’ notice, subject to availability. Lessons missed without notice may be charged.
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Lessons begin and end at the scheduled time. If your child joins late, the lesson will not usually be extended.
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Refunds are handled according to the Terms & Conditions. Completed lessons, late cancellations and missed lessons are not normally refundable. Refund requests for unused lesson credit can be discussed directly with BloomStone.
Policies and safety
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BloomStone is committed to safe, professional online tuition. Ben is Enhanced DBS checked and safeguarding trained. Full details are available in the Safeguarding and Online Safety Statement.
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Lessons are delivered through approved online platforms, with clear expectations for lesson setup, communication and professional conduct. For younger children, a parent or trusted adult should be nearby at the start of the lesson if needed.
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BloomStone only collects information needed to provide and manage tuition. Parent and child information is handled carefully and used for teaching, communication and administration. Full details are provided in the Privacy and Cookie Notice.
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Parents should contact BloomStone directly if they have a concern about lessons, communication or safeguarding. Concerns will be taken seriously and handled according to the Complaints and Concerns Procedure.
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BloomStone’s key policies are available on the Policies page, including Terms & Conditions, Privacy and Cookie Notice, Safeguarding and Online Safety Statement, Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy and Complaints and Concerns Procedure.
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Any testimonials or reviews used by BloomStone are shared honestly and with appropriate permission. BloomStone does not publish misleading or invented reviews.