Starting the process
Learning to drive can be exciting, challenging and fun! Holding a full driving licence can open up opportunities for jobs and gives you mobility and independence when you have your own car.
Everyone learns at a different pace, with varying levels of confidence. At Essandelle there is a complete focus on teaching new drivers, at a pace that they are comfortable with, to give confidence and ability. We believe that in teaching you to drive well you not only attain the standard required to pass your test, but also to drive well and safely for life. Some learner drivers attain test standard quickly and others take a little longer, whatever your pace we will encourage you to take your test as soon as you have reached the right standard to do so.
There are various steps to go through before you begin your lessons. You need to be old enough to hold a Provisional Driving Licence and you need to find the right Driving Instructor.
Applying for your provisional licence
In the UK the age that you can legally begin to drive is 17 years old. This means that from the age of 17 you can legally learn to drive and even take a driving test. You are able to obtain your provisional driving licence ready for your 17th Birthday and you can do that in one of two ways.
Apply for your Licence Online
You can apply for your provisional driving licence by completing the D1 application form that is available from the DVLA form ordering service or Post Office® branches. You will also need to enclose original documentation confirming your identity, a passport style colour photograph and the fee of £50.00. Send your completed application and payment to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD or you may be able to use the premium checking service.
What to expect when you start your lessons
You will be able to arrange your lessons at a time when your Driving Instructor has availability in their diary at a time that is convenient for you. You will arrange with your Driving Instructor where you will be picked up, whether that is from home, school, college, university or work.
You must have your Provisional Driving Licence with you for your driving lessons and you should expect that your Driving Instructor will ask to see it. Your Driving Instructor will also ask you to read a vehicle registration number at the prescribed distance.
You will be given a lesson plan showing you how you will progress in learning to drive and recording what has been done on each lesson, together with an appointment card and a business card so that you can always contact your Driving Instructor easily.
Your first lesson with us will always be for 2 hours. Many Driving Schools do a 1 hour lesson for the first lesson, but we like our pupils to actually do some driving on their first lesson to give them a taste of what is to come in the future. We will also give you your appointment card and lesson plan on your first lesson and discuss with you what you will be doing on your next lesson.
Your lessons will initially centre around the area from which your Driving Instructor collects you to begin your lesson. Once you have gained sufficient experience you will travel greater distances during the course of your lessons so that you can gain experience about the full range of road situations to make you a competent, confident and safe driver.
You should be prepared to plan your lessons on a weekly basis and commit to a regular day and time to ensure that you maintain good progress in learning to drive.
Your Essandelle Driving Instructor will be able to offer help and guidance in preparing you for your Theory Test. This test now includes a section on Hazard Perception.
If you have access to a car to practice with a family member, your Driving Instructor will tell you when it is time to do that.
Intensive driving courses
If you have a need to gain your qualified driver’s licence in a specific period of time please talk to us about how we can help you do that.
Intensive training can be undertaken to very positive effect, but we do not offer, for example, continuous blocks of 30 hours training in one week. In our experience this is very rarely beneficial for the novice pupil who will often become very tired and stressed by attempting to undertake this level of skill acquisition in such an intense manner.
Instead we work with our pupils to deliver the quickest possible opportunity to successfully attain their driving licence at a pace that they are comfortable with, whether that is 2 or 3 weeks or months - whichever works best for the learner driver.
"What I like most from driving instructor Sean at Essandelle is the personal and tailored driver teaching that I get. I get the opportunity to go at my own pace and don't feel pressured. He is patient and kind in the way he teaches me."
Connor Lee
