One thing at a time
Nobody remembers a lesson with five points of attention. We take one, practise it until it sticks, and only then add something. At the end of the lesson you know exactly what went well.
Lessons with ADHD, anxiety or a fear of driving.
Learning to drive does not come naturally to everyone. Too many stimuli, trouble concentrating, a head that locks up as soon as someone watches — it makes the road to your licence longer, but not impossible. At Greenlight in Ashbury we adapt the lesson to you, not you to the lesson.
The approach
Small steps, lots of repetition, no rush.
Martin has a teaching background and 38 years of driving experience. You notice that difference mostly in how a lesson is built up.
Explanation before driving
We discuss what we are going to do while standing still, not while you approach a junction at 30 mph. That way you do not have to listen and steer at the same time.
Repeat until it is automatic
Actions that happen automatically no longer cost attention. That attention is then free for the traffic. That is why we would rather practise the same situation once too often than once too little.
A break is always fine
If it gets stuck, we pull over. Getting out for a moment and starting again is not a failed lesson — it prevents you from driving on for half an hour without anything sinking in.
What you may run into
What this means in practice.
With ADHD and ADD
The tricky part of driving is that a lot happens at once, and that your attention drifts off exactly when it gets quiet. So we work with short, clear tasks and keep the pace of the lesson high enough to keep you engaged, but build up the complexity slowly. If you take medication, it is best to plan the lesson at a time when it works well — we simply discuss that together.
With autism and sensitivity to stimuli
Predictability helps. You know beforehand which route we drive and what we work on, and there are no surprises in the lesson. If a busy environment becomes too much, we move to quieter roads and pick it up again later.
With test anxiety
Test anxiety is usually not about the driving itself, but about the idea that someone next to you is judging. We take that pressure away as much as possible: mistakes are part of learning, and we discuss them without making a problem of them. Towards the test we rehearse the test situation with a mock test, so the day itself feels less unfamiliar.
With a fear of driving
A fear of driving does not disappear by pushing through it. We start in a place where nothing can happen and only expand when it feels familiar. You say when the next step feels right. That may mean the first lessons go slowly — that is fine.
If you stopped before
Many learners who come to us have had lessons elsewhere and dropped out, or failed a few times. That says nothing about whether you can do it. We start by looking at where exactly it went wrong, and build up again from there.
The test
Extra support and a mock test.
For candidates whose nerves distort the picture, we offer extra test support: a calm warm-up drive just before the test, a familiar routine and room to settle down. This support costs £40 on top of the regular test fee. Whether it makes sense for you, we discuss well in advance.
On top of that we almost always do a mock test (£95). You then drive a test that does not count: the same set-up, the same duration, a real examiner. For anyone who knows nerves, that is often the most important part of the whole course — the unfamiliarity is gone afterwards.
What else you can expect in terms of rates is on the rates page.
Frequently asked questions
Book your trial lesson
Questions often asked about this.
Can I take driving lessons with ADHD or ADD?
Yes. Martin has a teaching background and lots of experience with learners with ADHD and ADD. Lessons are built up shorter and more focused, with one clear point of attention per lesson instead of five at once, and with more repetition so actions become automatic.
Do I need to report ADHD, autism or medication?
When you apply for your provisional licence you answer questions about your health, and conditions and medicines that may affect your driving are part of that. Answering honestly matters: in many cases you are simply approved, sometimes after a short assessment. We are happy to think along about the order, but the assessment itself is always made by the licensing authority.
I am very afraid of driving. Is that a problem?
No, and you are not the only one. We then start in a quiet place without other traffic, and only take a step further once that feels familiar. You decide with us when we scale up. You never have to do anything you are not ready for.
What if I freeze from nerves during my test?
We offer extra test support, with a calm warm-up drive and a familiar routine just before the test. It costs £40 on top of the regular test fee. Together we discuss whether that makes sense for you and rehearse the test situation in advance with a mock test.
Will I need more lessons?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Some learners need a few more hours because we build up more calmly; others learn faster once the pressure is off. We never fix the number in advance: you pay for what you drive, and with a package we honestly discuss whether the number of hours still fits.
Just drive once first?
A trial lesson comes with no obligation and you are not tied to anything. Tell us beforehand what you run into, and we take it into account straight away.