At this point in any school year (particularly this year) many people are looking for a tutor in different subjects for their young people. The aim of Skills4Parents is to help parents find the right solutions for each young person and their family. So if you are looking to get a tutor I’ve put together some of the things that you will want to think about.

Purpose

There are many reasons why you might choose to use a tutor. Start by thinking about those as they will have an impact on some of the other things you’ll need to think about . 

Some examples are:

• Supplementing what is being taught at school by doing questions and helping your young person on the topics either before they are taught or afterwards
• Filling in gaps because your child has had some time off school
• You feel unable to help them with their homework
• Going from GCSE to A level and dropping in confidence

Needs

Choosing a tutor is like choosing a car, there are so many options to think about and you need to get the right one to suit your young person’s needs. These could be some of the following:

• Low self-esteem or confidence with maths
•  Anxiety
•  Natural difficulties in maths for example dyscalculia
•  Struggling with the subject
•  Missed content
•  About to sit an entrance exam
•  Struggling with technique

Start by having a conversation with a potential tutor and ask them how they would work with somebody with these needs and if they have got a previous client that you could talk to. It is really important that they are able to build a relationship with the young person and that they click. Ask for a taster session and see how they get on.

Options for different budgets

Tutors charge anywhere between £15 an hour and £60 an hour. Your budget will have an affect  on who you choose. 

Bear in mind the purpose and needs alongside the budget because that will help guide you to the right solution.

 If you are short on money and you are looking for someone who can help generally with maths or another subject then there young person who is earning some extra cash and did well in maths might work for you. Especially if it is help with a missed topic, revision or preparation for an exam.

Another option that works out cheaper is group tutoring. If you need preparation for an exam then small groups can work just as well.

Generally it’s the more experienced tutors who charge more, and they will be better for those who struggle the most, those with natural difficulties in maths and those with a low confidence.

If you know that you are looking for longer term tutoring then you could ask if they will do you a deal with a commitment to a certain length of time.

Other things to think about:

• Qualifications, experience and recommendations
• Do they offer a free taster first
• Online or face to face: Now that we are all getting to grips with technology and being apart many people are finding online tutoring works well. This gives you the option of anyone from across the country.
• Do you have a quiet space at home where tutoring will work or do you need to go to their house. 
• Will they provide resources for use outside of the lesson

How can I help?

I provide online maths tutoring for girls and get excellent results improving their confidence with the Maths GCSE. They are usually aiming for between a grade 4 and a grade 7 at GCSE. I am able to provide extra work and do an assessment and I will then give you a plan showing how we will increase their confidence. I reduce the stress around the GCSE maths exam.

If you would like to explore this further then get in touch for a call to discuss it and for a free taster.

If tutoring is not going to be possible for you but you would like to learn how to support your young person then come and join us in our FREE facebook group for education support, Education Support 4 Parents. Look out for the launch of the skills for parents membership community in January as I will be providing many resources that will help you support your young person .