1. General Information

1.1 What is this free online maths help service?

It is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity and is a Multiply Course.  Multiply seeks to help adults in the UK become more confident with their day to day numeracy skills.

1.2 Who can use this service?

Adults who live in the Wrexham County Area

1.3 What topics does Natalie cover?

Anything linked to day to day number skills. And topics required up to GCSE Maths grade C / 4 (English college)

From Interest Rates to Exchange Rates; Best Value for Money when shopping to booking a holiday; Mean, Median and Mode and how to work out how many pots of paint to buy to paint a room.

Whatever YOU want as an individual, I will do my very best to provide it.

1.4 Do I need to pay for anything?

No, this service is completely free. This

1.5 How do I ask a question?

You can submit your question online via our forum or email, ensuring you include as much detail as possible.

2. About Natalie

2.1 What are Natalie’s qualifications?

I hold a degree in mathematics , master’s degree in applied statistics , I am a qualified secondary school maths teacher and have years of experience teaching and tutoring students from diverse backgrounds. In many many years working in industry as a senior statistician, I would regularly train other employees in Microsoft Excel, various advanced statistical techniques; most importantly how to talk about them to board members in other companies. I would often use practical techniques to engage the learners.  One particular method was to have delegates stood around the training room with a piece of paper in their hand. They had to move around depending on what the paper said. This was particularly helpful in the session after lunch!!

2.2 How experienced is Natalie in tutoring maths?

With many years of tutoring experience, I have helped countless students and adults achieve their academic goals in maths.  I advertised to start some maths tutoring in September 1995. Yes, THAT long ago!  I have always kept up to date with teaching methods, styles and syllabuses.

I would say I take a very broad outlook on the work I do, that is far superior to just being able to explain topics in a text book.  How does the student engage? What are their basic number skills? How do they approach a problem and what vocabulary do they use?

The biggest emphasis I would like to make here is I invest in ALL my students, as people. The more a student feels heard, valued and relaxed, the easier the learning process becomes. I want EVERYONE to know this.  Everyone’s learning experience is unique. And often people think they can’t do maths when actually they could, if only they had been given the opportunity to learn in ‘their way’.

This is what Tea Cake Maths Relax sets out to show. I want it to be the headline news in the Wrexham area for changing the way maths is seen, talked about and promoted.

2.3 What levels of maths does Natalie tutor?

I tutor students at high school, university, and even professional levels, covering a wide range of maths disciplines.  I often refer to it as age 11-111, although I have not been asked to help anyone over the age of 65…YET!

2.4 Can I book private tutoring sessions with Natalie?

Yes, you can book private sessions for in-depth support tailored to your needs. These sessions are conducted online or in person if local. They start at £40 per hour for up to GCSE Level,  £50 per hour for A Level Maths.

This project DOES INCLUDE some FULLY FUNDED  one to one tutoring sessions. You can book these initially for 30 minute slots.

2.5 Are there limits to the questions I can ask?

While there are no strict limits, I encourage concise and specific questions to maximise the value of this free service. Always look to see if anyone else has asked the question. When Natalie looks at the forum every day she will check for any duplicated message from a number of people and respond accordingly.

3. Technical Help

3.1 What tools does Natalie use to explain maths problems?

I use visual aids, step-by-step solutions, and digital tools like graphing software to clarify concepts.

White boards, Teams, One Note, Powerpoint along with the less technical like Playdoh, Lego, blocks, paper clips, counters, card, paper and literally anything I can get my hands on that I believe could help.

3.2 Can I upload images of my maths problems?

Yes, you can upload images or screenshots of your problems onto the forum to make it easier for me to assist you.

3.3 What if I don’t understand Natalie’s explanation?

If something isn’t clear, let me know, and I’ll rephrase or provide an alternative explanation.   Remember this is a learning experience for us all. And one of the first things I would say to a student is simply ‘Don’t be afraid to say if you don’t understand something’ I am extremely experienced and have never been caught out yet with finding a way to explain something that turns that light bulb on for someone. It’s a VERY special moment for us both.

3.4 How can I submit follow-up questions?

You can reply to the original forum thread or email me directly for follow-up questions related to your problem.

4. Maths Topics

4.1 Do you cover algebra?

I do cover algebra up to GCSE grade B level within the fully funded sessions.

4.2 Can you help with calculus problems?

Definitely! I can assist with differentiation, integration, and other calculus topics. However this is outside of the remit for this project and would need to be paid for.

4.3 Can you help with maths puzzles or competitions?

Absolutely! I love helping students tackle challenging puzzles and competition problems. I have got a lesson on how to do sudoku puzzles ready to share.

5. Academic Support

5.1 Can you help with homework?

I can guide you through solving homework problems, but I won’t do the work for you.

5.2 Will you solve the problems for me?

No, but I’ll guide you step-by-step so you can solve them yourself and understand the process. My process is very much

5.3 Can you guide me through exam preparation?

Yes, I provide strategies, practice problems, and tips for effective exam preparation. This is often an area of maths that is misunderstood. For example problem solving has its own skill set and if it doesn’t come naturally to you, I can teach it. YES – IT IS POSSIBLE TO TEACH SOMEONE TO THINK LIKE A MATHEMATICIAN.

5.4 How can you help with time management for solving maths problems?

I offer techniques for prioritising problems and managing time effectively during exams.

6. Engagement and Learning

6.1 What if I find maths boring or difficult?

I use real-life applications and engaging methods to make maths more relatable and interesting. I truly believe that when you recognise your own capabilities with maths and you are shown the subject in a different way, it will take on a completely different energy for you. It may not be your favourite thing to do, but it can move up the ‘ interesting’ scale.

6.2 How can I improve my maths skills outside of tutoring?

Practice consistently, use online resources, and explore problem-solving books or apps. Become curious about it and remember it is a series of tools that you can access to solve real problems.  I often stress to students in school that the skill set you use when doing maths is directly transferable into so many areas of life.