Learn With Cal

29/08/2026

🚗 If you’re sitting up at 6am every Monday looking for a cancellation, read this.

DVSA has finally published some very clear guidance about when driving-test appointments actually appear, and hopefully this clears up one of the biggest myths I hear from learners.

Yes, new driving-test appointments are released at 6am every Monday, including bank holidays, but those are appointments for 24 weeks in the future.

Cancelled and earlier tests are completely different.

DVSA says earlier appointments can become available at any time during the week when somebody cancels, moves their test or additional examiner availability is added.

There is no magic cancellation time and no special 6am Monday release for earlier tests.

So if you’re joining that huge Monday morning queue hoping somebody’s test for next week suddenly appears, DVSA is actually saying there is no benefit in doing that.

Another important warning is not to sit there constantly refreshing the system or trying several phones, tablets and laptops at the same time. Search too often and you can hit the search limit or get blocked temporarily with Error 15.

Appointments are currently available up to 7 February 2027, and the next new batch released on Monday will be for the week beginning 8 February 2027.

Personally, I think having this information clearly published is long overdue because learners are constantly being told there is a secret day, secret time or secret trick to finding cancellations.

There isn’t.

And while we’re talking about cancellations, please don’t let desperation for a test date become more important than actually being ready to take it.

A test appointment is only useful if you’re ready to drive independently when you get there.

Source: DVSA, published 28 August 2026.

29/08/2026

Although a little outside of my area of teaching, it is inside my family, so I am pleased to announce Learn With Cal's sponsorship of my son, Luke Hart, for the upcoming 2026/27 season with Capenhurst RUFC.

PLAYER SPONSOR 🚨

We are pleased to announce that Luke Hart has been sponsored by Learn With Cal for the upcoming 26/27 season!

Learn With Cal is a Female Automatic Driving Instructor, covering Buckley, Mynydd Isa, Mold and surrounding areas.
Teaching safer driving for life.

A huge thank you to Cal for supporting Luke & Capenhurst Rugby this season!

22/08/2026

🧸 Something as innocent-looking as a soft toy hanging from your mirror can become a serious obstruction.

A driver has been sentenced after an 80-year-old man was killed in a collision in Wakefield.

Police investigators found that stuffed toys hanging from the rear-view mirror had significantly affected the driver’s visibility.

Had they not been there, investigators said she would have had a clearer view of the pedestrian.

We talk constantly about phones and distraction.

But anything that blocks your view through the windscreen can matter.

Air fresheners.
Large sat-nav mounts.
Dangling decorations.
Soft toys.
Before you drive, ask yourself one simple question:

Can I see everything I need to see?

Credit: West Yorkshire Police.

Sheena Ahmed

15/08/2026

One part of the service I provide that I’m incredibly proud of doesn’t actually end when someone passes their driving test.

Some of my clients have plenty of support around them. Parents, partners, friends and family who can help them choose their first car, sort insurance, understand what they’re buying and answer all those little questions that suddenly appear once the L plates come off.

But some don’t and that’s why I always tell my clients that when you learn with me, you get a lifetime warranty.

Passing your test doesn’t mean you suddenly know everything about cars, insurance, breakdowns, warning lights, buying a vehicle or the thousand other things that come with being a driver.

So I always say, please never be afraid to text or call me. If I can help, I will.
Yesterday was a perfect example.

An older client who passed with me a few months ago contacted me because she had found a car she had absolutely set her heart on. She asked if I would have a look over it and do some checks before she went any further.
Of course I would.
Within a short time of checking it, alarm bells were ringing.

The car had previously been written off and there was also outstanding finance showing against it.
Suddenly, that lovely car she had fallen in love with didn’t look quite so lovely and it made me think about how easily somebody could get caught out.

Imagine being a young student who has saved every spare penny for their first car. Money is already tight, insurance can cost a fortune and you finally find something you think you can afford.

It looks shiny, it drives nicely, the seller says all the right things and you hand over your savings.
Then you discover what you’ve actually bought.
That could be devastating for somebody who simply doesn’t have the disposable income to recover from a mistake like that.

Teaching someone to drive is obviously my job, but I’ve never believed my responsibility ends the moment they hold that pass certificate.

Sometimes being an instructor means teaching.
Sometimes it means reassuring.
Sometimes it means answering a message months or even years later and occasionally it means saying…
STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR. 😂

So yes, my pupils might technically leave me when they pass.

But fortunately for them, the lifetime warranty has no expiry date. ❤️

If you’re buying your first car, please do your checks before you fall in love with the shiny paintwork and if you don’t understand something, ask someone who does.

A five-minute check could save you thousands.

Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation school of Motoring

15/08/2026

Wow...! 😱

11/08/2026

Is this you....?

Can I help....?

DRIVING WITH ANXIETY
WHAT IS YOUR BODY DOING?

Something I see quite often when teaching nervous or anxious drivers is how much tension they’re holding without even realising it.

The shoulders creep upwards, the hands grip the steering wheel tightly and the elbows become completely locked.

But it isn’t always just the arms.

Some drivers hold their breath when approaching a busy junction or roundabout. Others clench their jaw, grip the wheel harder, sit too close to it or become so rigid in the seat that their whole body is tense.

I also notice people staring too close in front of the car when they’re anxious. The more worried they become, the narrower their vision seems to get. Getting those eyes up and looking further ahead can make everything feel far less rushed.

Locked elbows and a tight grip can also affect your steering. Instead of small, smooth adjustments, you can end up making sudden movements because there’s so much tension going through your arms.

I regularly find myself saying, “Drop your shoulders… relax your hands… unlock your elbows… breathe… and look further ahead.”

Sometimes the change is almost immediate.

The steering becomes smoother, observations improve and the driver gives themselves more time to process what’s happening ahead.

You don’t need to wrestle the car into submission.
Relaxed doesn’t mean less in control quite often it means the opposite.

Next time you’re driving, when it’s safe, check yourself.

Shoulders up
White knuckles
Locked elbows
Sweaty Palms
Holding your breath
Staring just over the bonnet

Do you find yourself doing any of these without even realising? ❤️

Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation school of Motoring

11/08/2026

Do you know what you’ll be tested on during your car theory test? 🚗💯

The theory test will test your knowledge of driving theory – including the rules of the road and best driving practice.

📘 To prepare for the first part (multiple choice section) you can practise with The Official DVSA Theory Test for Car Drivers.

You can study with over 740 official DVSA theory test revision questions to test your knowledge before you book your test.

👉 Get started: https://ow.ly/4xjK50ZkxIZ

11/08/2026

The Department for Transport recently published the final road casualty statistics for 2025 - revealing that 29,918 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes in Britain last year, a 4% increase compared with 2024.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists make up more than half (56%) of deaths and serious injuries, a disproportionately large number when factoring in their share of traffic.

This news brings into sharp focus that vulnerable road users deserve better protections when they travel, and that they pay the greatest price when collisions happen. For Road Safety Week 2026 we're shining a light on the roles of different road users, and how we must all work together to protect ourselves and those that we share the road with.

Although we each have a role to play, those with the potential to do the most harm have a greater responsibility to protect vulnerable road users. Throughout our November campaign, we will explore this issue, sharing important messages and highlighting active ways to make a difference.

Sign up now to take part in this campaign: www.brake.org.uk/road-safety-week

Read the full news story of the latest road casualty statistics here: https://www.brake.org.uk/how-we-help/raising-awareness/our-current-projects/news-and-blogs/more-than-half-of-people-killed-or-seriously-injured-on-britains-roads-in-2025-were-pedestrians-motorcyclists-or-cyclists-as-brake-calls-to-protect-vulnerable-road-users-for-road-safety-wee

08/08/2026

Yes, yes and yes again!

“SINCE WHEN DID DRIVING INSTRUCTORS BECOME THE SCAPEGOAT FOR EVERY BAD DRIVER ON THE ROAD?”

I see this comment all the time whenever poor driving is shown online.

But here’s something worth thinking about…
At what point did every bad decision made by a qualified driver become the responsibility of the person who taught them?

Driving instructors teach learners how to drive safely, legally and responsibly.

We teach observation, judgement, speed awareness, appropriate following distances, safe overtaking, hazard awareness and consideration for other road users.

What we cannot teach is what somebody CHOOSES to do once they have that licence in their hand.

I have never taught a learner to race their friends down a country road.

I have never taught somebody to pick up their phone because a message apparently cannot wait five minutes.

I certainly haven’t taught anyone to drive after drinking, taking drugs or nitrous oxide.

I don’t teach tailgating.
I don’t teach road rage.
I don’t teach showing off to passengers and strangely enough, “forget everything you’ve learned the moment you pass” isn’t part of my syllabus either. 🙃

Sometimes poor driving isn’t a lack of education.
It’s a lack of responsibility.

A driving instructor can give someone the knowledge, skills and understanding to be a safe driver.
We cannot sit beside them for the next 50 years making sure they continue to use them.

We can teach the skills, the rules, the risks and the responsibility and believe me, I do my absolute utmost to shape the right attitude too.
But the one thing we can’t always change is someone’s mindset once they’re out there making their own choices.

We teach the driver.
What they choose to become afterwards is ultimately up to them. 👀

Once you hold that licence, YOUR decisions behind the wheel belong to YOU.
So perhaps instead of automatically asking…

“What are instructors teaching these days?”
We should occasionally ask ourselves a much more uncomfortable question:

“What am I doing with what I was taught?” 👀
Because passing your test doesn’t end your responsibility to learn.
It begins it. 🚗

Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation school of Motoring

07/08/2026

I'm incredibly proud to share that I've completed the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism.

This qualification strengthens my commitment to providing driving lessons that are calm, supportive and genuinely inclusive for every learner.

Many neurodiverse pupils face unique challenges - whether that's sensory overload, communication differences or anxiety around new environments. This training has deepened my understanding and given me even more tools to tailor lessons, break information down clearly, and create a learning space where each person can feel confident, understood and respected.

To support my pupils even further, I have also completed certified First Aid, First Aid for Mental Health, and Data Protection - Protecting Your Information courses. This means every pupil learns in an environment that is not only patient and inclusive, but also safe, secure and respectful of their wellbeing and personal information.

At Learn With Cal, every learner is welcomed exactly as they are. This latest qualification is another step toward making driving more accessible and empowering for everyone.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a neurodiversity-aware, safety-focused driving instructor, I'm here to help.