slow&sure.
If something isn't clicking, we can help.
Foundation Phase is where confidence is built or broken. When the basics slip, children notice — and so do parents. Here's where Wild About Learning fits:
Reading isn't landing
Your child's bright, but decoding, blending, or reading fluency is falling behind. They're starting to avoid books.
Writing or spelling is slipping
Letter formation, spelling patterns, or sentence construction need more scaffolding than the classroom can offer in a group of 30.
Maths concepts aren't sticking
Number sense, place value, or early operations feel shaky. Your child needs concrete, hands-on teaching — not more worksheets.
Teaching that trusts how children really learn.
I'm Chelsi Cryer — a qualified teacher trained in remedial therapy through Bellavista, based in Ballito. I work one-to-one with Foundation Phase learners who need more than a classroom can give them: time, patience, and teaching that moves at their pace.
My approach is hands-on and multisensory. We use manipulatives, movement, stories, and small wins that compound into confidence. No worksheets-as-homework. No rushing. No shame.
You don't need a formal diagnosis to start. If one's needed later, I'll refer you to a trusted ed psych on the North Coast.
Four steps. One child. One plan.
Seed
We start with a free 20-minute call. Tell me about your child. I'll tell you if we're the right fit.
Plan
An informal learning screening across reading, writing, and numeracy builds a picture of where your child is and what they need next.
Teach
Weekly one-to-one sessions. Hands-on, playful, and targeted at the exact skills we've identified together.
Review
Termly reviews with you. Progress in plain language. What's shifting, what's next.
Straightforward rates. Nothing hidden.
Most Ballito practices hide their pricing. I don't. Here's what sessions cost, so you can decide if it fits before we speak.
One-to-one sessions
A full hour of dedicated teaching, just your child and me. The core of what we do.
Small group (2–4 learners)
Focused group sessions for children who benefit from peer learning. Matched by age and skill, not convenience.
Learning screening + written plan
An informal screening of reading, writing, and numeracy, plus a classroom observation where useful. You receive a written plan describing where your child is and what we'll work on.
Homeschooling support
Structured Foundation Phase support for homeschool families — lesson planning, weekly teaching, termly reviews.
Remedial work is slow by design. Most parents notice small shifts in confidence within four to six sessions; academic progress follows in the term after.
"[Placeholder testimonial — Chelsi to supply 2–3 parent quotes with written permission before launch. Lead quote should describe the emotional outcome for the child, not the process.]"— Parent, [Child's grade], Ballito
Local, and proud of it.
Sessions happen in Ballito. I work with families across the North Coast — Simbithi, Zimbali, Salt Rock, Brettenwood, Umhlanga. Some learners come to me; in special cases I travel.
If your child's school is in the area and their teacher has flagged a concern, we're almost certainly a short drive apart. Get in touch — I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit before you commit to anything.
Ask a questionphoto placeholder
Questions parents ask me.
How do I know if my child actually needs remedial support?
If their teacher has mentioned a concern, if homework is taking twice as long as it should, or if your child is starting to avoid reading or writing — those are signals worth taking seriously. Book a free 20-minute call. If remedial support isn't the right path, I'll tell you and point you in the right direction.
Do I need a formal diagnosis before we start?
No. You don't need an educational psychologist's report to start working with me. If formal diagnostic assessment is needed along the way, I'll refer you to a trusted ed psych on the North Coast.
What does a session actually look like?
An hour, one-to-one, at a calm table with the materials your child needs that week — letter tiles, number rods, reading cards, stories. We move between skills, we play, we talk. No worksheets-as-homework.
How long before I'll see progress?
Honest answer: most parents notice small shifts in confidence within 4–6 sessions. Academic progress shows in the term after that. Remedial work is slow and steady by design.
What's your cancellation policy?
[Placeholder — Chelsi to confirm. Suggested: 24-hour notice, no charge; under 24 hours, full session fee.]
Do you work with schools?
Yes — I'm open to working directly with schools on the North Coast to support individual learners or small groups. Schools can get in touch via the contact page.
Not sure yet? Let's talk.
The first call is free. Twenty minutes, no pressure, and you'll know whether I'm the right teacher for your child.
Book a free 20-min call