As a home educating parent, I am always will to admit that I don’t “do it all” and for some subjects, as we move into GCSE exam planning for our son, have needed expert help and support to enable him to succeed. We have a personal tutor for him for two subject areas to supplment and build up what he is learnign with me at home. When we opted to home educate our son, we knew that it was the right choice for us, but that when he faced exams for college, he would need extra help to supplement working with me. We use a personal tutor for maths and French learning.
Personal tutors can offer one-on-one attention, tailored lesson plans, and a personalized approach to learning that can help students excel in their academic pursuits. If you are considering finding a personal tutor for your child, there are several things to consider to ensure you find the right match. You can opt for online tutoring sessions which are convenient and easy to manage via a site like Tutor Hunt or you can do in person tutoring with someone coming to your home or your child visiting them for teaching sessions.
The first step in finding a personal tutor for your child is to assess their specific needs and goals. Consider what subjects they may need help with, their learning style, and any areas where they may be struggling. This information will help you narrow down your search for a tutor who has the expertise and experience to address your child’s unique needs. Once you have identified your child’s specific needs, you can begin looking for potential tutors.
There are several ways to find personal tutors in your area, including asking for recommendations from friends, family, or teachers, searching online tutoring platforms, or contacting local tutoring agencies. It is important to take the time to research potential tutors, read reviews, and ask for references to ensure you find a qualified and experienced tutor for your child. You should also make sure any personal tutor has had the correct background checks that ensure they have no flags that would mean they are not able to work with children. A tutoring agency will be able to provide you with the details of a Disclosure and Barring check, or the tutor may work for a school or other educational organisation and have a comlpeted check they can show you. You should not skip this step, even if the person has good references and qualifications.
When interviewing potential tutors, be sure to ask about their qualifications, teaching experience, and approach to tutoring. A good tutor should be knowledgeable in the subject matter, patient, and able to adapt their teaching style to meet your child’s needs. It is also important to discuss scheduling, rates, and expectations upfront to ensure that both you and the tutor are on the same page.
Once you have selected a tutor for your child, it is important to establish clear goals and expectations for the tutoring sessions. Communicate with the tutor about what you hope to achieve, how progress will be measured, and any specific areas of focus. Regular communication with the tutor will help ensure that your child is making progress and receiving the support they need to succeed.
In addition to academic support, personal tutors can also help build your child’s confidence, motivation, and study skills. By working closely with a tutor, your child can develop effective study habits, improve their time management skills, and learn how to approach challenging problems with confidence. Personal tutors can also provide valuable feedback and encouragement to help your child stay motivated and engaged in their studies.
It can feel like a lot of effort and work to find the right personal tutor for your child, but it is worth the time and diligence to make sure they are a good fit for your child, have the right skills and qualifications, and will be the best person to help your child learn and thrive. I don’t regret the effort we put in to finding someone to support us where we need it in certain academic areas, it means we are giving him the best educational input we can.