Once upon a time
Creative and story writing tuition in Barnet
Most primary tutoring treats writing as spelling and punctuation. This is the other half: getting a child to want to put something on the page, and giving them the craft to make it good. It is a real part of the curriculum and the part most often left until last, which is also why it decides pre-prep and prep school assessments at 4 plus, 5 plus and 7 plus. Sessions run all year, and the holiday story writing courses are the ones that fill first.
The blank page problem
A child who says they hate writing almost never hates writing. They hate the blank page, and the feeling of not knowing where to start in front of someone who will mark it.
School has thirty of them and forty minutes. There is rarely time to sit with the one child who has an idea but no way in.
Sonali starts from what the child is actually interested in, then teaches the machinery underneath it: openings, character, tension, endings that land. The technical work, spelling and grammar and handwriting, gets folded in around something the child wants to finish.
The measurable result usually shows up in their school work first, because a child who enjoys writing stops fighting every written task in every subject.
What is on offer
Story writing sessions, all year
Tailor made one to one sessions, in your home in Barnet or on Zoom. Built around one child's interests and one child's difficulties.
Holiday story writing courses and workshops
Run through the school holidays for children of all primary ages. Popular, limited places, worth asking about a term ahead.
Handwriting
Letter formation, speed, comfort and legibility, taking account of what a particular child finds hard rather than a generic worksheet.
Reading for pleasure
Reading and writing feed each other. Sonali gets children into books and into reading clubs, which does more for their writing than any exercise.
Letters and postcards
A deliberately old fashioned habit that works. Children who write to a grandparent every fortnight get fluent quickly, because someone is genuinely waiting for it.
You can tell it is working when the writing arrives unprompted
These came in the post from two of Sonali's students in the summer of 2026. Neither was homework.
“I wrote it because I wanted to show you how much you've helped my handwriting. I write to my nanny every other week and I send postcards to my cousins in America like you suggested.”
“I really enjoyed your story writing club this summer. Can I join on Zoom while I'm away like I did last year?”
Two students, aged 9 and 10. Shared with permission.Practical details
Ages
Reception to Year 6. Story writing work suits children from around Year 1 upwards, though pre school children do plenty of storytelling before they can write it down.
Where
In your home across the London Borough of Barnet, including Mill Hill, Hendon, Finchley, Golders Green, Edgware, Whetstone and Totteridge. Or on Zoom, which works well from Year 1 upwards.
Cost
£45 an hour, the same in person or online. A 90 minute trial session and written assessment is £50 on Zoom or £55 in your home. Full fees and what drives them.
When
Before school, after school, weekends and throughout the holidays, Monday to Sunday.
Start with a trial session
Ninety minutes, an informal assessment and written feedback on where your child's writing actually is. £50 on Zoom, £55 in your home.
Questions parents ask about writing
Do you teach creative writing to primary school children in Barnet?
Yes. Sonali Bird runs tailor made one to one story writing and creative writing sessions all year for children from Reception to Year 6, in your home across the London Borough of Barnet or on Zoom, plus holiday story writing courses and workshops.
How much does creative writing tuition cost?
£45 an hour, the same in person or online. A 90 minute trial session with written assessment is £50 on Zoom or £55 in your home.
Do you run holiday story writing courses?
Yes. Story writing courses and workshops run through the school holidays for children of all primary ages. Places are limited, so it is worth asking a term ahead.
My child says they hate writing. Can that change?
Usually the problem is the blank page rather than writing itself. Sessions start from what the child is genuinely interested in, then teach the craft underneath it: openings, character, tension and endings, with spelling, grammar and handwriting folded in around something the child wants to finish.