With contributions from: Hollie Leach

Imagine walking into a room where you don’t know what to expect, feel overwhelmed by everything around you, and aren’t sure how to ask for help. That’s the reality for many students dealing with anxiety.

As a tutor, you might not always be able to take away their worries - but you can create an environment where they feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Read on to learn how.

What are SEMH and Anxiety?

SEMH stands for Social, Emotional, and Mental Health - a type of special educational need that affects how students manage emotions, interact with others, and engage with learning.

According to a 2022 survey by Student Minds, 57% of students self-reported a mental health issue, while 27% reported having a diagnosed mental health condition.

Anxiety is one of the most common SEMH challenges you’ll come across. While feeling nervous before a big test or presentation is normal, some students experience persistent anxiety that affects their concentration, confidence, and ability to engage in lessons. This can lead to shortened attention spans, difficulties with memory, reluctance to ask for help, and even absenteeism.

How Can You Support Students with Anxiety?

Supporting a learner with anxiety doesn’t mean you need to have specialist training – small changes to your approach can make a world of difference. Here’s how you can help:

Build Trust & Rapport

Establishing a strong, trusting relationship with students is foundational. When students feel valued and understood, they're more likely to engage and share their concerns.

Spend the first few minutes of your session on small talk about their interests - whether it's a favourite book, game, or subject. If they have a special interest, use it to engage them in learning (e.g., incorporating their love of trains into a maths problem).

If they struggle with verbal communication, consider non-verbal ways to build rapport, such as using a consistent greeting, thumbs-up signals, or written check-ins.
Acknowledge their efforts, even in small ways. A simple, “I noticed you focused really well on that last question - great job!” reinforces positive interactions.

Create Clear & Predictable Routines

Anxiety thrives on uncertainty. A structured session where students know what to expect can help them feel more at ease.

Use a visual schedule or write the session structure on the board so students can anticipate what’s coming next.
Stick to a consistent format (e.g., always starting with a recap of the last session). If changes are necessary, give advance notice: “Next week, we’ll be in a different room, but I’ll be there to meet you.”
Use transition cues like, “In five minutes, we’ll move on to our next task.” This helps reduce stress when shifting between activities.

Set Realistic Expectations

Some students might struggle with participation or tasks that feel overwhelming. Break things down into manageable steps, reassure them that mistakes are part of learning, and offer encouragement along the way.

If a task has multiple steps, present them one at a time: instead of “Write a paragraph analysing this poem,” say, “First, underline any words that stand out. Then, write a sentence about how they make you feel.”
Use “chunking” to make large tasks feel less intimidating - e.g., breaking a long reading passage into smaller, digestible sections.
Use timers to help with focus. For example, “Let’s work on this question for five minutes, then take a short break.”

Make Space for Calm

If a student is visibly anxious, allowing them a quiet moment to reset can be helpful. Even small things - like offering a short break or lowering the stakes of an activity -can prevent anxiety from escalating.

If a student becomes overwhelmed, provide options: “Would you like to step outside for a minute, or take a deep breath and try again?”
Build in natural “brain breaks” for students who benefit from movement - e.g., “Before we tackle the next problem, let’s stand up and stretch.”
If noise or distractions are a trigger, suggest using noise-cancelling headphones or moving to a quieter space.

Encourage a Growth Mindset – Anxiety can make students feel like they can’t succeed. Remember our newsletter last half-term on Growth Mindset? Remind them that progress takes time and effort.

Instead of praising results (“You got it right!”), praise effort: “I can see you worked really hard on that - it paid off!”
When a student makes a mistake, reframe it as part of the learning process: “That was a good attempt! What could we try differently next time?”
If a student gets stuck, use guided questioning rather than giving answers: “What part makes sense so far?”

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

Anxiety often makes students doubt themselves, so recognition and encouragement can go a long way. Try using specific praise to highlight their efforts - rather than just saying “Well done,” you could say, “I really liked how you kept going with that tricky question!” or “You explained that really clearly!” . This helps students focus on what they’re doing right rather than worrying about what they might get wrong.

Even non-verbal encouragement - like a reassuring nod or a thumbs-up - can make a difference. Over time, these small moments build confidence and help anxious students feel more capable in their learning.

A Challenge for You

Try incorporating one of these strategies into your next session. How can you make your lessons feel more predictable? Is there a small way you can help a student feel more at ease?

Even the smallest changes can have a big impact.

Supporting students with anxiety can feel tricky, but your patience, consistency, and understanding can help them build the confidence they need to succeed.