In recent years, there has been a tutoring revolution. It has gone from a model based around remedial needs to one that focuses heavily on making students more academically competitive. Both parents and educators have jumped on the private tutoring bandwagon, piling more and more work on young people. An entire tutoring industry has developed.
On the downside, families are increasingly spending their hard earned dosh on something they don't need and potentially damaging their kids. The upside is that there are more tutors than ever out there for families that genuinely do benefit from private tuition.
Whether it’s to prepare for an exam, to help after an extended absence from school or to boost a problem area, a clear objective is key to ensuring you don’t get a tutor unnecessarily. If you’re not really sure why you’re getting one, chances are you don’t need one at all.
Schools do not ‘test’ children under 5 – they may look at how they interact with adults and with other children, whether they can concentrate, whether they enjoy playing or listening to a story, but tutoring a child of this age is nonsense and you should be suspicious of those who offer it.
We are sceptical of those who offer coaching in verbal and non-verbal reasoning. There are test papers in these things available from our online bookshop and it is usually sufficient to give your child plenty of practice while gradually encouraging her to up her speed. If a child has real problems with these papers, you are probably wise to have her assessed by an educational psychologist.
Children who are off school for prolonged periods, for example through illness, should be helped by the local authority’s home tuition service, and this should be your first line of enquiry. Whether they provide what you need is another matter.
You might be surprised how much you can improve your child’s academic performance by simple measures like regular bedtimes and mealtimes and turning off screens an hour before bed – children can’t work well if they’re either tired or hungry. Read with your children and put time aside for a few maths problems here and there.
Study upon study shows how important play, fun and free time are to children’s educational development. In many cases, a drop in academic standards is a sign of exhaustion and lack of downtime. Overworking children will soon backfire.
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Review snapshot: A highly branded, tech-savvy, energetic tutor agency run by bright young things who have come in and shaken up industry norms. A company with a clear edge and one we would particularly recommend for home schooling.
Review snapshot: ‘It’s on the more expensive side, particularly for more experienced tutors, but it’s absolutely my favourite. They’re honest, on the ball and have the best quality tutors,’ concluded another parent. read more
Review snapshot: "Founded in 2006 by Kate Shand who is committed, passionate, energetic and hugely likeable. Clearly on a mission to deliver a top quality service to her clients – and her tutors – Kate is eloquent on the personal nature of the tutor-client-agency relationship and has a positively moral take on what she sees as her job."
Review snapshot: Getting your child better grades is the raison d’être of this company, which they do through their bank of qualified teachers. So, while other tutor agencies might offer you a med student who teaches science on the side to make a bit of extra money, Capital employs actual teachers with classroom experience to… Areas covered: Around half the tutoring happens online – these pupils mainly live in the South East, with others living all over the UK and beyond into Africa, Singapore and Dubai. The other half is in-person tutoring at the pupil’s home – mainly in London…
Founded in 2014, this company cringes at the term ‘agency,’ preferring ‘network’ instead.