Kumon is the UK’s leading supplementary education provider, with over four million students worldwide and a record of excellence in maths and English. With Kumon study, children of all ages and abilities can excel in these subjects, develop their capacity for learning independently and boost their confidence in all areas of life.

Kumon was established in Japan over 50 years ago by Toru Kumon, a father and maths teacher who wanted to help his son. In 1954 Toru Kumon created a series of carefully sequenced materials for his son who was struggling with maths. Through daily practice and a commitment to mastering each concept, the young boy improved his maths skills and gained the ability to solve maths problems well beyond his school level.
 
As Toru Kumon's neighbours heard about the success of his son they began asking him to work with their children. To meet this spontaneous demand, the first Kumon study centre was opened in 1956. Today, over 60,000 students study at 625 study centres across the UK and Ireland and there are Kumon study centres in 46 countries across the globe.

Kumon’s unique method of learning focuses on each child as an individual, providing them with transferable study skills and ensuring they progress at a level that is right for them. Students attend their local Kumon centre once or twice a week for around half an hour, and have daily worksheets to take away so they can keep up with their studies at home. At the centre, the Instructor observes each student working and monitors their progress, setting new work as appropriate and encouraging the child to take ownership of their learning.

Each child starts at a level they are comfortable with, consolidating familiar topics before moving on to something new. Once they have filled in any gaps and mastered the topic, the Instructor sets new and eventually unfamiliar work, challenging the student to learn for themselves. The essence of this support is guidance rather than explanation; helping students to apply what they have already learned to solve work they have never seen before. It is through this ongoing experience that the seeds of self-confidence are sown and children feel able to discover and succeed by themselves.

As well as building speed and accuracy, our maths and English programmes develop abilities such as concentration and independent learning, time management and problem-solving: abilities which will prepare students for the future. Through working at their own pace over a period of time, children are given the self-assurance to reach their potential both at school and throughout life. 

Kumon focuses on long-term learning and achievement rather than just exams or catching up with schoolwork. Not only are maths and English key to academic success, but the study skills and self-learning abilities they gain through the Kumon programmes will stand them in good stead for adult life, as well as for the pressures of homework, coursework and timed exams.

At Kumon we apply the same values and beliefs to our staff as we do to our students, and we strongly believe in developing our staff so that they can achieve their full potential. Each Kumon member of staff shares a passion for developing the potential of each and every child.