Secure Start Framework

Helping Children & Teens Thrive Through Exams and Big Changes

A calm, confidence-building system to help your child through exams and big school changes with ease and clarity— without pressure, conflict, or nagging.

Secure Start Framework
Soumya Karkera

What if exam season and school transition brought more calm and confidence to your child, without the stress or arguments?

Here’s What It Can Look Like
she is reading

Your child revises without overwhelm

friends

They speak up when things feel hard

Imagine your child walking into a new school with steadiness...

she is writing

They’re having the tools to move through challenges

boy have a bag

Walking into a new school feels steady, not scary

…and you’re not on edge. You breathe because your child isn’t just getting through — they’re growing through it.

walking

They are grounded and giving it a try.

2 friends

Relationships with schoolmates improve (connecting and belonging).

As parents, we do everything to give our children the best start in life.

You’ve tried the advice. Been patient. Been firm. But something still feels off. 

Tension builds. Moods shift. Your child shuts down. And you’re left wondering—am I pushing too hard? Or not enough? The truth is, exams don’t just test your child.

They test the connection between you. What’s missing isn’t more pressure. It’s emotional readiness. The safety to feel, regulate, and stay connected through it all.

boy with girl in car

Every child experiences pressure and change in their own way — but none of them should have to face it alone. That’s exactly why I created the Secure Start Framework — to offer calm, steady guidance for your child, so this season becomes less about surviving and more about growing into who they’re becoming.

Learn How I Work

Secure Start Framework

The Secure Start Framework is a process offering support through exam preparation and school transitions with emotional steadiness, practical tools, and personalised attention.

We create emotional stability.

I begin by building a safe, non-judgemental space where your child can speak honestly about what feels hard — whether it’s exams, change, or the pressure to “get it right.” They learn simple ways to name and manage their emotions, so they’re no longer carrying it all alone.

We build personalised support tools.

Together, we explore what helps them stay grounded: breathing techniques, brain breaks, inclusive revision plans, or simply space to talk things through. Not every child needs every tool, but each one leaves with strategies that truly support them.

Online

We strengthen focus, resilience, and adaptability.

Whether they’re facing revision challenges or adjusting to a new school, I help your child meet the moment with less fear and more self-awareness. They begin to reframe unhelpful thoughts, manage stress, and recognise their strengths along the way.

We prepare for what’s next, with confidence.

Instead of rushing through the finish line, we take time to reflect, integrate, and reinforce what’s working. Your child leaves feeling more prepared — not just for the next test or school, but for all the change and challenge that life will bring.

Enrol

Combine mental wellbeing with academic support, so your child can move forward without burning out.

vector

What You’ll Receive

Before we start our coaching journey, we’ll sign a supportive coaching agreement to create a grounded container for our work together and show up with clarity and shared intention.

12 one-to-one sessions over 6 months

1:1 online or in-person sessions to support your child’s emotional wellbeing and readiness for exams or school change. 6 focused on exam support, 6 on transitions.

Personalised support & Self-belief Roadmap

A tailored plan highlighting your child’s strengths, actionable steps, and the practices that help them grow independently long after our work.

Emotional regulation strategies

Simple, age-appropriate tools to help your child understand their feelings and return to calm more easily.

Visual Tools to Help them Speak

The Wheel of Conversation and printable workheets are visual tools we use to explore what’s going well, what feels hard, and what support is most needed.

Feedback between sessions

Short check-ins or voice notes to keep your child supported and to help you stay informed about their progress.

Why Choose Me?

I know what your child is facing — I’ve lived it. Growing up brought intense anxiety, not only during exam periods but also from the family pressure often carried in traditional family settings.

Later, moving to and settling into a new continent added another layer of strain, eventually leading to a mental health breakdown.

Recovery wasn’t about study tips alone. It was about finding safety, practising self-kindness, and building the emotional tools I still use today.

With over 15 years of supporting families and their children through exams, school changes, and major life transitions, I bring calm, personalised guidance that helps each child discover what genuinely supports them.

Some leave with practical calming techniques, others with a new inner script — but all leave with stronger self-belief and confidence.

Who I Support
Soumya Karkera
Mom Son

Who is this for?

Secure Start Framework is designed for adolescents going through a change and need the support to upgrade.

  • Your child is overwhelmed, anxious, or shuts down about exams or a life transition
  • You’ve tried encouragement and structure, but it’s led to arguments, resistance, or withdrawal
  • Your child seems fine, but you can tell they’re holding a lot in and struggles to express it
  • You want to prioritise mental wellbeing alongside academic progress
  • Your child is preparing for a big exam (like 11+, GCSE, A Levels) or moving schools — or both
  • You want support that builds self-awareness, resilience, and calm — not just results.
Pricing & Enrolment

Why Now?

Early support builds self-trust and resilience — this isn’t about waiting for a crisis. It’s about building the capacity when change is approaching and offer tools our children will carry for life.

Pricing & Enrolment

Secure Start Framework runs in seasonal booking windows with limited 1:1 spaces available to ensure that each child receives the personalised support they deserve, and gives me time to offer my full presence.

hello@soumyakarkera.co.uk , LinkedIn

Full Journey (12 sessions over 6 months)

  • 6 sessions focused on exam preparation
  • 6 sessions focused on school or university transitions

£600 (or 3 monthly payments of £210)

Register Now

Single Track (6 sessions)

  • Choose either Exam Support or Transition Support

£330, one-time payment

Register Now

Intro Session (60 mins)

  • A gentle starting point to meet your child, explore their needs, and begin building trust. If you choose to continue, this session is counted as your first.

£65 per session

Register Now

We’re not here to focus only on grades, but to nurture the whole person our children are becoming.

What Parents Are Saying

stars

From anxious to confident

Soumya worked with my son who was struggling with high anxiety levels , finding school difficult and not wanting to leave the house alone.

She built a positive relationship with him and she engaged with his interests in sessions, which got him talking. From this he worked on small goals to manage his anxiety and build his confidence.

The approach worked and the experience was positive for him.
We are all very grateful for Soumya’s input, her care towards him and us as a family, it made a huge difference.

Laura

stars

Incredible shift in communication

My daughter has shown remarkable growth in confidence, actively expressing herself and engaging in open and honest conversations with me about her challenges and concerns.

This shift in communication is filled with valuable advice, suggestions, and practical techniques.

After spending two years in lockdown due to Covid, she transitioned to a new middle school where I noticed her feeling nervous, anxious, and uncertain. Recognizing this, I sought the assistance of Soumya, who did an outstanding job of assisting my daughter in discovering and accepting her true self.

Through Soumya’s unique methods, my daughter felt secure and at ease discussing her struggles, and she was equipped with tools and strategies to cope with stress and adopt a growth mindset. I intend to continue working with Soumya to support my daughter’s transition to high school.

Ameeta

Register Now

What Parents Are Saying

stars

From anxious to confident

Soumya worked with my son who was struggling with high anxiety levels , finding school difficult and not wanting to leave the house alone.

She built a positive relationship with him and she engaged with his interests in sessions, which got him talking. From this he worked on small goals to manage his anxiety and build his confidence.

The approach worked and the experience was positive for him.
We are all very grateful for Soumya’s input, her care towards him and us as a family, it made a huge difference.

Laura

stars

Incredible shift in communication

My daughter has shown remarkable growth in confidence, actively expressing herself and engaging in open and honest conversations with me about her challenges and concerns.

This shift in communication is filled with valuable advice, suggestions, and practical techniques.

After spending two years in lockdown due to Covid, she transitioned to a new middle school where I noticed her feeling nervous, anxious, and uncertain. Recognizing this, I sought the assistance of Soumya, who did an outstanding job of assisting my daughter in discovering and accepting her true self.

Through Soumya’s unique methods, my daughter felt secure and at ease discussing her struggles, and she was equipped with tools and strategies to cope with stress and adopt a growth mindset. I intend to continue working with Soumya to support my daughter’s transition to high school.

Ameeta

FAQ - Things You Might Wonder Before Enrolling