Feedback

Ask for regular feedback and reports from the tutor. The Tutor Team, for example, sends a parent’s report at the end of every lesson, so you can see what has been worked on. If you use a tutor who does not do this, ask for a quick update every few lessons or schedule a paid session between you and the tutor, for the tutor to give you a full report and suggestions. Try not to hold the tutor up too much at the end of the lesson though, as they probably have another student to get to.

Check progress via the school too. Are your child’s assignment marks slowly rising? Are they getting more positive teacher feedback? Is their predicted grade going up? Remember also to monitor your child’s attitude to the subject. Do they seem more confident? Are they beginning to enjoy the subject more? All of these are important indicators that private tutoring is paying off.

Communication is key for private tutoring

Last but not least – keep lines of communication open. This is vital for a good tutoring experience. As mentioned above, it is reasonable to ask for feedback from the tutor, but they will also appreciate feedback from you. If your child’s marks are going up at school, or if the teacher has noticed your child is improving, tell your tutor. Not only will it give them job satisfaction and motivate them, it will allow them to adjust lessons accordingly.

If, for some reason, you are unhappy with the service you are getting, talk to the tutor. Of course, if you are using an agency, you can call them instead and ask them to liaise for you. Either way, if no one knows there is a potential problem, it will be impossible to fix.

Private tutoring is an increasingly popular choice for parents and it gets good results. Engaging a private tutor is an investment in your child’s future, but how can you get the best value for your money and get the very best outcome for your child? Here are 7 ways to maximise your investment and get the best for your child.

Hire the best tutor

Make sure your child is working with a qualified, experienced and fully-vetted tutor. Whilst this is likely to be more expensive than using an unqualified and inexperienced tutor, think about value for money and consider the outcomes for your child. What does your child need and what are you hoping to gain from private tutoring? What are your targets? Is it realistic to expect significant improvement if your tutor has no qualifications in the subject and no teaching experience? Also, importantly, you will be leaving your child alone with the tutor for significant periods of time – are you satisfied that they have been checked and vetted before you trust your child with them?