Online children's coaching and tuition in Dubai and the UAE, for expat families
One to one online coaching for ages 7 to 18 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the Emirates, with British curriculum tuition and UK school preparation available alongside it.
A UK-qualified teacher, in your child's own hour each week.
- BSc Psychology (Hons)
- Qualified Teacher Status
- London Teacher of the Year Award 2021
- Psychological Researcher
- Former Assistant Psychologist
- 10+ years experience across Psychology and Education
- One to one online coaching, across time zones.
Ruby offers one to one online coaching for children and teenagers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE, with support shaped around motivation, friendships, organisation, school changes and emotional regulation. Tuition can also be added when academic support is needed.
What children here are often managing
Friendship turnover is the theme that comes up most. Children learn to make friends quickly, and some also learn to hold something back. Ruby and your child work on both the making and the losing, because the second one is what usually goes unattended.
Many families are also thinking ahead to a UK school, either at the next entry point or when a posting ends. Children pick that up long before it is decided, and it helps to give them somewhere to ask their questions about it.
Social confidence, friendships and communication
In a community where the cast changes every year, being able to start again socially is a genuine skill, and it can be taught. Ruby and your child work on how they join in, how they read a group, and what they do when a friendship ends because someone moved rather than because anything went wrong.
For teenagers, Ruby and your child spend more time on honesty in friendships and on the difference between being liked and being known.
At a glance
- Main service
- One-to-one online coaching for children and teenagers
- Ages
- Coaching for ages 7 to 18. Tuition for ages 7 to 13
- Areas of support
- Friendships, social confidence, emotional regulation, executive functioning, organisation, school transitions and independence
- SEN and neurodiversity
- Psychology-informed support adapted for autistic children, children with ADHD and children with other additional needs
- Tuition
- British curriculum tuition, academic confidence, 7+, 9+ and 11+ preparation can be incorporated where appropriate
- Format
- Individual online sessions tailored around the child’s strengths, needs and goals
- Availability
- Online sessions arranged around after-school hours in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE.
- Practitioner
- Ruby Cole, qualified teacher, BSc Psychology (Hons), former Assistant Psychologist and London Teacher of the Year 2021
- Scope
- Education-led, psychology-informed coaching. This is not therapy, counselling, psychological assessment or clinical treatment
What Ruby can help with
One to one online coaching for whatever your child is finding hard right now, including children who are autistic, have ADHD or are neurodivergent.
Who this is for
- Children who have just lost close friends to another family's move
- Children managing long school days and packed evenings
- Children who need to work more independently
- Families preparing for UK school entry from abroad
Preparing for a school interview or a presentation? There is more on Interview & Speaking Confidence coaching.
Questions families in the UAE ask
My child's best friends have just left. Can coaching help with that?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons families here get in touch. Ruby treats it as a real loss rather than something to get over, and work on both grieving it and rebuilding.
Can you prepare my child for a UK school while we are still here?
Yes. Tuition covers the academic side, including 7+, 9+ and 11+ preparation and interview practice, and coaching covers what the move itself will feel like.
Do you cover Abu Dhabi as well as Dubai?
Yes. Sessions are online, so the whole of the Emirates is covered on the same basis. Ruby is based in the UK and works with families here remotely.
How do you support a child with ADHD?
Practically. Ruby and your child build routines and starting strategies that suit how they think, work on what to do when focus goes, and look at their strengths rather than only the difficulties. This is coaching, not diagnosis or treatment.
Can we do coaching for a term and then stop?
Yes. There is no minimum and no obligation to continue. Some families use a focused block, others keep a regular slot.
Will you talk to my child's school?
With your permission, yes. Ruby is used to working alongside teachers and will only share what you are happy for her to share.
Do you tutor children at British and IB schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Tuition is adapted for children in British curriculum, IB and other international schools across the Emirates, and coaching is not tied to any particular school system.
Tuition is also available alongside coaching. Read about online tuition for international families.
Further reading
Moving to Dubai or Abu Dhabi with children, what the first few months of school can look likeTalk it through with Ruby.
A free 15-minute discovery call, no pressure and no obligation.
Education-led tuition and coaching, not therapy or clinical treatment. If Ruby believes a child would benefit from clinical support, she will always say so.