I like to first learn what the student knows and/or is interested in knowing before I get a feel for their abilities and begin planning ways to achieve their goals.
I then will go through ideas and activities about the basics if they are needed before seeing if there's any necessary knowledge, for example for GCSEs, that the student needs and request to see any schoolwork or curriculum books available.
Then the sessions begin where I will work through theory and practical knowledge with the student, finishing lessons with as fun a consolidation as I can.