Do you have to nag, plead and beg to get your child to even consider completing their homework? It could be time to admit defeat and call in the professionals. If you and your child are struggling with learning, finding a professional, friendly tutor could save you both. Here are some valuable hints and tips that I can share, having studied what makes a great pupil and tutor match at Impact Tutors.
Some children struggle more than others with schoolwork. Having one-to-one tutoring can help children develop the skills they need to get over any barriers to learning, and a good tutor will make sure your child feels more engaged and interested in learning as a whole.
Too often children who don't grasp new subjects quickly become disheartened, this is the same for children who fall behind with their workload and a calm environment can help them to focus. Parents might look for tutors to cover topics outside of the core curriculum. Extra help isn't just helpful for school age children either, students from colleges and universities can also benefit from the boost of a tutor.
Whatever your specific requirements, you should always look for a qualified teacher who has experience teaching children the same age as your child. A tutor recommended by another parent is high praise indeed, but do bear in mind that what suits their child may not always be right for yours.
If you decide to find a tutor via an agency, ensure that the tutors they provide are right for your child. Agencies will sometimes use secondary school teachers for primary subjects. Whilst they may have the correct educational knowledge, they may not have the skills to teach younger children. It's beneficial, if possible, to speak to an education consultant, who knows each tutor personally and will be well placed to recommend a specific tutor for your child.
Speak to other parents who have used the same tutor. You should be able to get an honest opinion on the way they teach, their skills with younger children and their personality as a whole. It's also important to speak to more than one tutor, so you can compare different styles and approaches. Make sure that those you do speak to live locally too, particularly for regular tutoring agreements, otherwise the travel may become an issue and the relationship could break down.
ALWAYS ask for references. If a tutor is good and can supply excellent references from a variety of parents, then you will be more comfortable about hiring them. It is also vital that any tutor you consider hiring, is able to produce an up to date DBS disclosure.
Before you commit to a tutor, you need to know exactly how they are going to help your child to learn. Some will be employed to assist children with subjects they may be weak at or falling behind with, whilst other parents secure the services of a tutor purely to assist with entrance exams or other qualifications.
Some children will jump at the opportunity for some one-on-one attention outside of the school environment, whilst others may not be so keen. Your child may be nervous about their own ability, or feel that they are being punished in some way by having to do extra work.
If your child is very resistant to the idea of tutoring, try starting with a few short lessons providing the tutor is willing to help you with this. As their confidence grows so will their tolerance for extra lessons outside of the school day. Many agencies will charge a fee even if the tutor and your child are not a good fit, so be sure to ask about this before you sign up to anything. Children, just like adults, can have genuine clashes of personality.
Most tutors will charge by the hour, so don't be afraid to ask exactly what they will be doing during that hour. Whilst fees can depend on where you live, you should still expect a minimum level of service from every tutor nationwide. As a general rule, a qualified teacher will charge approximately the same hourly rate as they would earn in a school. For a recent graduate with a good degree in a relevant subject, the hourly fee is at least £25 for primary level tuition. For qualified teachers at GCSE subjects, the rate can be from £30 to £40 raising to £50 for very experienced A-level tutors. You can expect to pay more for additional training or many years' experience. Don't forget that you are not just paying for the time they are with your child but also for preparation time they do before the lesson as well as resources.
The best way to ensure a successful ongoing relationship with your tutor, is to make sure you communicate well. Tutors want parents to be involved and on side, they also want them to be able to respect the working hours of a tutor and refrain from calling them late at night or on weekends.
If you hire a tutor through an agency, choose one like Impact Tutors that offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, meaning that if you or your child are not completely happy with your first tutoring session, they will refund your money or allocate another tutor.
Finding the right tutor can be hard, but follow these simple rules and you'll be on the path to finding the perfect tutor for your child.