Questions Every Parent Should Ask Before Hiring A Tutor

If you want your child to enjoy the benefits of private tuition, you’ll be eager to have someone in place instructing them as soon as possible. But, at the same time, any tutor has to be the right ‘fit’ for the student they’re teaching.

So, understandably, you’ll want to talk to your child’s tutor and learn a little more about what they offer before sessions start. And although most agencies vet their staff thoroughly, you’ll no doubt also have some questions of your own.

Here’s our list of what to ask candidates before they start tutoring your son or daughter:

• What are your credentials? This includes teaching experience and qualifications, as well as up-to-date, valid DBS checks and references from previous parents.
• What are your preferred teaching methods? This will help establish whether their teaching style suits the way your child learns best. Remember, your child will probably be tutored after school, when they’re already tired. How will the tutor maintain momentum? Do they have any secondary specialisms, such as exam technique? How will they get a sense of what your child needs? What experience do they have specifically with the area your child is struggling with?
• Which exam syllabuses are you familiar with? This will help prepare your child for the test they’ll take at the end of the programme of study. (You can also check the syllabus online yourself.)
• How will progress be assessed? As with anything else, you’ll want to see some tangible results from your child’s tutoring. So the tutor should have a system in place for this, such as note-taking or marks achieved on past papers, and be happy to share it with you.
• How can I help the process as a parent? You may need to supply some materials, for example, or download some online resources – alternatively, the tutor may provide everything. Ask whether there is anything else you can do to help your child, and the tutor, to secure the best possible results.
• Is it OK to contact the tutor between sessions? Many tutors have no objection to contact between lesson. But all are working teachers, and are likely to be busy. So it’s a good idea to establish in advance the tutor’s availability and how and when you can get in touch if you need to. This clarifies things from the outset and helps build a fruitful working relationship. If no contact is possible between sessions, how will the tutor communicate with you – and how often?
• Ask about the sessions themselves: Obviously, you’ll want to establish how long each session will last, the day of the week and the time they’ll happen, and the location if classes are being held in person. If you think an hour may be too long for your child, for whatever reason, discuss this too, and agree on, say, 40 or 45 minutes.
• How will you ensure my son or daughter enjoys the classes? Remember that tutoring comes on top of the regular school day. So how will the lesson be structured to maximise productivity and focus? If your child has a particular need, from hearing loss to ADHD, make sure the candidate knows about this too, and has previous experience of working in similar situations.
• Other nuts and bolts: There are a few more practical things parents should check out, including pricing, cancellation policy and whether the tutor offers an initial free trial to assess suitability before you make a longer-term commitment. Are there any additional charges on top of the regular fees?
• What results can I expect to see? And by when? And what can we do if my child isn’t seeing the benefits we expected?

StudyBox offers both online and in-person private tuition at four centres across south London. Subjects include maths, English, science and computer coding, plus we prepare students for SATS, 11+ and GCSE exams.

Browse our website, book an initial free trial and look forward to seeing your child thrive at school. We’ll gladly answer any questions you may have.