Hiring a Tutor

Guidance on tutors - what they do, how they might benefit your child, and how to track down the right one.

What does a tutor do?

A tutor is a teacher you pay to work with your child, either on a one-to-one basis or as part of a small group. Usually the tutor focuses on a particular academic subject, or they may coach your child in a particular exam technique.

A tutor often helps a child who is struggling with their studies, or needs a boost to do better at school or do well in an exam (perhaps an entrance exam or a particular subject at GCSE or A-level). But sometimes a tutor is taken on to stretch a child with an exceptional ability in a subject.

Because the tutor is working with your child in a more focused way than would be possible in a class of 25 or 30 children, a lot can often be achieved in a short time. But tutors can be expensive - they can charge around £30-£60 an hour.

Could my child benefit from tutoring?

Many children benefit from having a tutor at some point in their education.  Below are common circumstances in which a tutor is hired.

Some children are academically advanced and are not sufficiently challenged in school.  Sometimes, these students, who may attend schools that do not offer gifted programs, become bored with their coursework and ultimately lose interest.  Their grades begin to slip as a result.  Parents who observe that their child is academically advanced and insufficiently challenged in school can proactively address potential boredom by hiring a tutor to provide additional coursework, something more challenging and interesting for the child.

Some children absorb information better when taught one-on-one.  By hiring a tutor, who provides one-on-one instruction, the child can be provided the one-on-one assistance needed to thrive in the traditional classroom.

Some children do not feel comfortable in the highly structured environment that is the traditional classroom.  As a result, these children may struggle with coursework: not because they lack the capacity to grasp the material, but because the learning environment is not appropriate for them.  By creating a different learning environment, a more open and flexible environment, these children often thrive academically.  A tutor can provide that different learning environment.  While these children may never be comfortable in a highly structured environment, they will, with the help of a tutor, be given the opportunity to learn their coursework and graduate successfully.

Some children may be struggling to understand some of their coursework.  Teachers in a traditional classroom cannot slow the instruction if one student is lagging, so there may be times when a student feels left behind in the classroom.  Hiring a tutor to provide additional instruction and help the child grasp the material in the coursework can help the student catch up with his/her classmates and successfully pass his/her class. 

Most children seek help with their homework, often from their parents.  However, some parents have trouble teaching their own children.  Perhaps the parents did not take the courses the children are now taking, so the parents simply do not have the knowledge base  to provide the help that the children seek.  Or perhaps the children are more receptive to academic instruction from someone other than their parents (most children go through a phase where parents are deemed NOT in-the-know).  By  hiring a tutor, a child can receive the homework assistance he/she needs from someone who knows the material and is regarded by the child as knowledgeable in the subject matter.

For these and many other reasons, tutors can be a successful addition to a child's academic resources.

How to find the right tutor

Many different people work as tutors. They include:

• Teachers who want to earn extra cash
• Retired teachers
• University and college students, or recent graduates.
  

Many work through a tutoring agency. To find an agency in your area, search online. You can also ask your child’s teacher, or other parents, to recommend an agency or a tutor.

Tutors have different styles and approaches to working. It’s worth thinking about what approach you feel would work for your child, and talking it through with a possible tutor. You should also think about where the tutoring would take place. Some tutors come to you, while others work in their own homes. What would best suit you and your child?

It’s vital to make sure a private tutor has had a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. Remember, you are placing your child in a vulnerable position, and you must do all you can to ensure the tutor can be trusted. Don’t take anyone else’s word for it - check them out yourself.

What to look for in a tutor

You will anticipate hiring a tutor for your child, but where do you begin?  What do you need to be looking for in a tutor?  Below is a list of traits, skills, and credentials that you will want to seek.

1.  Education beyond the grade level of your child.  Some parents prefer a tutor with at least a Bachelor's degree as these parents prefer an advanced body of knowledge in a tutor.  Other parents prefer hiring a student who is perhaps only a year or two older than their child as these parents think their child may be more receptive to peer-level tutoring.

2.  Experience in educating or tutoring, especially in the subject matter(s) on which your child seeks tutoring. 

3.  Teaching style.  Some tutors use a structured method of instruction while other tutors use a more informal approach to tutoring.  What style works best with your child? 

4.  Reliability.  You need to know that your tutor will show up when expected, tutor for the full time expected (typically an hour), and will depart when expected.

5.  Patience.  Your tutor should be patient as your child goes through the learning curve.

6.  Honesty.  Your tutor should not misrepresent information to you or your child.  Further, your tutor should not misappropriate items from your home.

Your child will likely also have a set of expectations for his/her tutor.  Thus, you should include your child in the selection of the tutor as doing so increases the likelihood of success of the tutoring match.  At www.londongoverness.com we have a huge data of respectable, successful and checked tutors.  So, far we have received only praise for their effort and dedication.