The Accessing Excellence Studio
Discover carefully structured small-group learning experiences designed to build confidence, encourage collaboration and support meaningful academic growth within calm, nurturing environments. Through carefully designed workshops and programmes, children are supported to strengthen communication, develop key academic and interpersonal skills, and learn confidently alongside others within a highly supportive environment.
Collaborative Learning Workshops
Alongside our 1:1 tuition, The Accessing Excellence Studio offers carefully structured small-group workshops designed to support confidence, communication, collaboration and academic growth within calm, highly supportive learning environments.
While some workshops are particularly beneficial for pupils preparing for independent school entrance assessments, sessions are also designed for children who may benefit from additional confidence-building, discussion-based learning and guided collaborative educational experiences.
Working within intentionally small groups allows children to strengthen communication, develop problem-solving skills and build confidence alongside others within highly personalised workshop environments.
Upcoming Workshops
Upcoming workshops are updated regulary. For full availability and additional workshop dates, please see the individual workshop information below.
| Workshop | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Entrance Exam Mock Workshop |
10th August 2026 |
5:15 – 8:15 pm |
|
Talking, Listening & Confidence |
17th August 2026 |
5:15 – 7:15 pm |
|
Entrance Exam Mock Workshop |
24th August 2026 |
5:15 – 8:15 pm |
|
Talking, Listening & Confidence |
31st August 2026 |
5:15 – 7:15 pm |
|
Entrance Exam Mock Workshop |
21st September 2026 |
5:15 – 8:15 pm |
|
Talking, Listening & Confidence |
28th September 2026 |
5:15 – 7:15 pm |
Independent School Entrance Exam Workshops
Alongside our 1:1 entrance exam preparation, we also offer carefully structured small-group workshops designed for children preparing for independent school entrance assessments.
These sessions are designed to complement existing tuition while also offering standalone support for families seeking additional preparation in the lead up to assessments and interviews.
Working within intentionally small groups allows children to benefit from collaborative learning, develop confidence within discussion and communication-based tasks and become more familiar with the pace, style and expectations of entrance assessments within a calm and supportive environment.
All sessions are carefully guided by experienced tutors, ensuring children feel encouraged, supported and confident participating throughout.
Mock Exam Workshops
Our Mock Exam workshops are designed to help pupils become more familiar with the structure, pace and style of independent school entrance assessments within a supportive small-group environment.
With no more than six pupils in each session, children can receive personalised support and guidance throughout, while also benefitting from working alongside others preparing for similar assessments.
Alongside exposure to exam-style questions and timed elements, sessions are intentionally designed to remain interactive and guided throughout, allowing tutors to actively support pupils while building confidence, strengthening exam technique and developing greater independence and resilience.
Each mock exam workshop lasts approximately 3 hours and includes:
- Numeracy and Maths
- Reading and Comprehension and Extended Writing
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Talking and Listening Activities
- Short Break
- Parent Feedback and Verbal Overview
Parents are invited back into the learning space at the end of the session for a brief verbal overview of the workshop, alongside an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any initial observations with tutors.
Children are supported throughout by experienced tutors, ensuring sessions remain calm, supportive and highly personalised.
Talking, Listening & Confidence
Our Talking, Listening & Confidence Workshops are designed to help children develop the communication, discussion and verbal reasoning skills increasingly important within independent school entrance assessments.
With a maximum of six pupils in each group, sessions remain supportive, interactive and carefully guided, allowing every child the opportunity to participate and build confidence at their own pace.
Many children find interviews and discussion-based tasks unfamiliar or initially challenging, particularly if the majority of their preparation has taken place within one-to-one tuition environments.
Working alongside other pupils allows children to build confidence within collaborative group environments while still receiving structured tutor guidance throughout.
Each Talking, Listening & Confidence Workshop lasts approximately 2 hours and includes:
- Introduction/Ice Breaker - helping children settle into the session and feel comfortable participating
- Interview Skills Practice - pupils work both independently and in pairs with tutor support, helping strengthen confidence, communication skills and interview technique.
- Debate and Discussion - children explore different topics, work together in groups and practise articulating and defending their ideas thoughtfully and respectfully.
- Short Break
- Parent Feedback and Verbal Overview
Parents are invited back into the learning space at the end of the session for a brief verbal overview of the workshop, alongside an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any initial observations with tutors.
These workshops are designed to feel encouraging, interactive and supportive throughout, helping children communicate more confidently within both interview and collaborative discussion settings.
Register for Upcoming Workshops
Workshops currently take place on Monday evenings and alternate on a fortnightly basis between:
- Mock Exam Workshops
- Talking, Listening & Confidence Workshops
Mock Exam Workshops run from 5:15pm – 8:15pm, with Talking, Listening & Confidence Workshops running on alternate Mondays from 5:15pm – 7:15pm.
Families can register for individual workshops according to their child’s needs and availability up to 10 weeks in advance, allowing flexibility alongside existing tuition and school commitments.
Mock Exam Workshop
- 215 (existing LS Tuition Families)
- 240 (new families)
*subject to a £2 processing fee
Talking, Listening & Confidence Workshop
- 130 (existing LS Tuition Families)
- 150 (new families)
*subject to a £2 processing fee
All workshops are intentionally limited to a maximum of six pupils to ensure sessions remain calm, interactive and highly personalised throughout.
Existing LS Tuition families will receive discounted workshop booking codes directly from LS Tuition prior to registration.
Creative Writing Programmes
Our Creative Writing Programmes are carefully structured six-week courses designed to help children develop confidence, creativity and greater depth within their writing.
Working within intentionally small groups allows children to explore ideas collaboratively, develop confidence sharing and discussing their work, and strengthen the key skills required to produce thoughtful, engaging and well-structured creative writing.
Across the programme, children are carefully guided through the foundations of strong creative writing, learning how to craft believable characters, build atmosphere and setting, structure compelling plots and use language purposefully to bring their ideas to life.
Sessions are intentionally designed to feel calm, supportive and highly interactive, encouraging children to think creatively while simultaneously developing the technical skills that underpin effective writing.
Over the course of the programme, children will develop:
- Character creation and development
- Story structure and plot building
- Setting and atmosphere
- Descriptive and expressive language
- Dialogue, tension, character voice and emotional depth
- Editing, redrafting and refinement skills
Throughout the programme, children will work towards producing their own original creative piece, allowing them to experience the full creative writing process from initial planning and idea development through to editing and refinement.
In the final week of the programme, parents will be invited into the Learning Space for a final programme showcase, where children will have the opportunity to share elements of their work and reflect upon their creative development across the course.
Workshops are intentionally designed to nurture creativity, strengthen confidence and help children develop greater enjoyment, independence and pride within their writing.
A space where creativity is nurtured, confidence is built, and young writers discover the satisfaction of bringing ideas to life.
Register Interest for Upcoming Programmes
The first Creative Writing Programme within The Accessing Excellence Studio is expected to begin in September 2026, with final groupings and session times confirmed following the review of registrations.
As programmes are intentionally limited to a maximum of six pupils per group, families are encouraged to register their interest early in order to be considered for initial programme groupings.
Creative Writing Programmes are booked as complete six-week courses to ensure continuity, collaborative group development and the opportunity for children to fully develop and refine their writing across the duration of the programme.
Families who register interest will be contacted in early August with further information regarding proposed groupings, days, times and programme availability.
Creative Writing Programme Fees
- 595 (current LS Tuition Families)
- 695 (External Families)
*subject to a £2 processing fee
Led by Lydia Scaltsas
All programmes and workshops within The Accessing Excellence Studio are personally led by LS Tuition founder and qualified primary teacher, Lydia Scaltsas.
Sessions are intentionally designed to feel calm, supportive and highly interactive throughout, with a strong focus on confidence-building, collaborative learning and helping children feel confident engaging within discussion-based environments.
As workshops are intentionally limited to small group sizes, children can benefit from personalised support and guidance throughout while still developing confidence in working alongside others.
Frequently Asked Questions
No – workshops are open to both current LS Tuition families and external pupils.
While many children attend as part of ongoing 1:1 entrance exam preparation, some workshops are also suitable for pupils seeking additional confidence-building within communication and discussion-based environments.
No – these workshops are designed to complement existing preparation by providing additional opportunities for collaborative learning, confidence-building and guided exam-style practice within a small-group environment.
Some children attend alongside ongoing one-to-one entrance exam preparation, while others attend as standalone support to help strengthen confidence within communication, discussion and interview-style environments.
Workshops are intentionally limited to a maximum of six pupils to ensure sessions remain calm, interactive and highly personalised throughout.
Workshops are also carefully reviewed prior to taking place to ensure appropriate groupings for all pupils attending.
Workshops are reviewed prior to taking place to ensure appropriate workshop groupings for all pupils attending, including suitable groupings based on age, stage and overall workshop suitability.
In the event that a workshop does not proceed due to minimum booking numbers or unsuitable workshop groupings, families will be offered either a transfer to an alternative workshop date or a full refund.
Yes – unlike our standalone workshops, Creative Writing Programmes run as carefully structured six-week courses designed to allow children to progressively develop their ideas, writing skills and confidence across a longer-term collaborative learning experience.
Places are intentionally limited to a maximum of six pupils per group, with families invited to register interest before programme confirmation. Families will then be contacted directly regarding proposed groupings, timings and programme availability.
Upcoming Workshops
Upcoming workshops are updated regulary. For full availability and additional workshop dates, please see the individual workshop information below.
| Workshop | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Entrance Exam Mock Workshop |
10th August 2026 |
5:15 – 8:15 pm |
|
Talking, Listening & Confidence |
17th August 2026 |
5:15 – 7:15 pm |
|
Entrance Exam Mock Workshop |
24th August 2026 |
5:15 – 8:15 pm |
|
Talking, Listening & Confidence |
31st August 2026 |
5:15 – 7:15 pm |
|
Entrance Exam Mock Workshop |
21st September 2026 |
5:15 – 8:15 pm |
|
Talking, Listening & Confidence |
28th September 2026 |
5:15 – 7:15 pm |