How to find a tutor. The ultimate guide for parents 2024.

Introduction

Tuition in the UK has grown significantly, with 1 in 4 families now employing a tutor at some point in their child's school career.

With so many websites, Facebook groups, Instagram posts, local tuition centres, online tuition agencies, and personal recommendations for tutors .... how does a parent find and secure a good tutor?

More families search for the perfect tutor. Many families share their frustrating experiences with tutors who are not good enough. They lack experience, they are unreliable, and they can be a significant waste of time and money.

As a mum, teacher, housemistress, deputy head, headteacher, and now a business owner in the education sector, I offer you a comprehensive and unbiased guide to everything you need to know and everything you need to do to find a good tutor, avoiding all the pitfalls on the way.

Content:

1. How do you know your child needs a tutor?
2. What type of tutor do you need?
3. How much will a tutor cost?
4. Where can you find a tutor?
5. How do you select a tutor?
6. How will you know you have got a good one?

1. How do you know that your child needs a tutor?

Here are some signs that may show your child could benefit from tutoring:

• If your child struggles to understand or keep up with their schoolwork despite their best efforts and teacher's help, it may be a sign that they need more support.
• A sudden or consistent drop in grades may mean that your child has trouble understanding or keeping up with the curriculum.
• If your child feels frustrated, anxious, or lacks confidence about their academic abilities, it may be a sign that they need extra help. They will need support to help build their understanding and self-esteem.
• If your child has difficulty concentrating or staying focused during lessons or homework sessions, this will slow their progress. A tutor can provide individual attention and strategies to help your child improve their focus and study habits.
• Many school subjects build upon earlier learning, so if your child has missed the basics of a topic, they may not be able to understand the next steps. A tutor can help identify and plug the gaps.
• If your child is lost in a big class, you are not alone. Class sizes have increased in most primary and secondary schools over the last few years. Even the most gifted teacher will struggle to meet the demands of each individual child. Quiet, shy, and well-behaved children often receive less individual attention from their class teacher. They can lose their way, both academically and in terms of their confidence to ask questions and participate in lessons.
• If your child avoids homework or studying, it could be a sign that they're struggling and feeling overwhelmed. A tutor can help break down complex topics and provide guidance to make learning more manageable and engaging.
• Your child may need to prepare for standardised tests or high-stakes exams such as SATs, 11+, independent school entrance exams, GCSEs, or A-Levels. A tutor can provide targeted instruction, exam techniques and test-taking strategies to help them perform their best.
• If your child is talented and interested in advanced topics and seeks further academic stretch beyond the school curriculum, a tutor can provide enrichment and support their growth.
• Children with learning disabilities or special needs may need specialised instruction and support. An experienced SEN tutor, who is trained to work with such students, can provide this help.
• If your child has missed school through a prolonged absence or illness, they may have big gaps in their knowledge and skills. This will make it hard for them to build and progress. A tutor can help identify and plug the gaps.
• If your child has a busy schedule with extracurricular activities (like high-level sports or music or a budding actor or artist), a tutor can provide flexible support tailored to fit in with their busy timetable.

It is important to talk with your child about their academic experiences and any challenges they may be facing. Also, talking with their teachers can provide valuable insights. It can show you how your child is doing and where they can improve.

The decision to hire a tutor should be based on what will best support your child's learning and well-being.

2. What type of tuition do you need?

Face-to-face tuition

Face-to-face tuition is the traditional and perhaps the most widely recognised form of tutoring. It involves a teacher providing tuition for your child in person, usually at your home or some neutral setting (e.g., a library or cafe). Parents will especially look for face-to-face tuition for younger children or those with special needs.

The advantages of face-to-face tuition are:

• Face-to-face tuition allows more personal interaction. It's between your child and their teacher. The teacher can observe your child's learning process and provide individual guidance.
• Face-to-face tutoring can provide a more focused environment, as there are fewer distractions. Your son or daughter can concentrate on their studies without getting distracted by social media or other online activities.
• Face-to-face tutoring provides better communication between you, your child, and the tutor. You can sit in on lessons or have a quick chat before and after each session. There are fewer chances of misunderstandings and miscommunications, which can occur online.
• Face-to-face tutoring can be more engaging. A teacher can use different techniques, like visual aids, to make the learning more interesting and fun.
• With face-to-face tuition, it is easier for a teacher to spot learning gaps. They can observe your child's performance and provide feedback right away.

The disadvantages of face-to-face tuition are:

• Depending on your location, there will likely be fewer teachers available, so your choice may be more limited.
• Face-to-face tuition fees are often more expensive than online tuition fees, as teachers are required to travel to your home, and the extra fee mitigates their travel time and costs.

Overall, while online tutoring offers many benefits, such as a wider choice of teachers, flexibility, and convenience, many parents still see face-to-face tuition as offering the personal touch. It enables the teacher to build a closer rapport with your child and, arguably, can support them to achieve better results.

Online Tuition

With the advent of technology (and Covid), online tuition has gained immense popularity over the last 4 or 5 years. It allows your child to connect with their teacher remotely, eliminating geographical constraints. This tutoring often involves video calls. Shared screens, documents and other digital tools to help learning. You can use a range of platforms for online lessons, including Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc.

The advantages of online tuition are:

• For face-to-face tuition, the teacher must be local to you so they can travel to your family home to deliver lessons. The need to be local limits the choice of teacher and their available timeslots. An online teacher can work from anywhere. This means there are many more teachers available. So there's a better chance of finding that perfect teacher, the one who is just right for your son or daughter.
• Online tuition does not involve travel, which reduces the cost of your lessons by about £6 ph. It also means teachers do not arrive late at your house due to travel delays! and this is better for the planet! If either you or your teacher are travelling away from home, perhaps on holiday, tuition can still continue if required.
• Lessons under one hour long are usually not viable for travelling teachers due to travel time and costs. But with online teaching, teachers can give more frequent, shorter lessons. This suits children who tire easily or have short attention spans.
• On a practical domestic level, there is no need for tuition to take place over your kitchen table. Your child can work in familiar surroundings, with no one invading their privacy, which can be less daunting for a nervous child.
• Online lessons are still live and interactive; this is not a case of just watching a video. This may be mainly through dialogue and shared screens. There are also great apps for virtual classrooms and whiteboards. They let both teacher and child write at the same time using an electronic pen on a shared whiteboard. Other add-ons allow the teacher and your child to edit PDFs together in real-time. Also, your child can record the sessions. They can use them, along with their lesson notes, which may include links, embedded videos, and simulations.
• Today's children live in an online world, so they are used to using computers and screens for learning.

The disadvantages of online tuition are:

• Online tuition is less effective for younger children or those with SEN. These children struggle to concentrate and focus through a screen and usually do much better with face-to-face tuition.
• Online tuition relies on technology. Technical problems, such as poor internet, software glitches, or hardware malfunctions, can disrupt the lesson.
• Online tuition can lack the personal touch and some of the immediate feedback provided by face-to-face interactions. Your child may struggle with the lack of a physical presence, self-discipline, and motivation when learning online. It may also make it easier for your son or daughter to procrastinate or disengage.
• Some subjects, like science, may involve hands-on activities. These activities are harder to do online. Lack of access to labs, workshops, or physical materials can impact the quality of education in these areas.
• Excessive screen time can lead to issues like eye strain, fatigue, and other health-related concerns. Students spend long hours on digital devices. This may harm their physical and mental health.

Small Group Tuition

By teaming up with friends and family members, parents can create their own small groups for tuition, either at home or online. This innovative approach allows children to benefit from the highest-quality teachers and enables parents to share the costs, making quality education more accessible. Children in the group should be of similar ages, abilities, and ambitions.

The advantages of small group tuition are:

• Within a small group, your child can still receive personal attention if the group is not too large and the range of abilities is not too disparate. Whether adapting the pace of instruction, providing additional practice materials, or offering targeted guidance on challenging topics, the teacher can ensure that every child progresses at their own pace and maximises their potential.
• Small group tuition encourages collaboration and peer learning. Students can share their knowledge, exchange ideas, and support each other's learning. This collaborative environment fosters critical thinking, communication skills, and teamwork ... all valuable attributes that extend beyond schoolwork and exams.
• Group tuition is significantly more cost-effective than one-on-one tuition, as tuition fees can be shared across the group. Small group tuition costs range from £15 to £35 per student per hour, depending on the subject, the tutor's qualifications, and the group size.

The disadvantages of small group tuition are:

• Liaising with your friends or family members to create your group will take some of your time.
• You will also need to agree with your group on lesson times and a venue for the tuition unless you are choosing online tuition.

3. How much will a tutor cost?

In the United Kingdom, the demand for tutors has significantly increased in recent years, leading to a diverse range of options for those seeking additional help. The cost of tutoring can vary based on multiple factors, including the type of tuition, the tutor's qualifications, and the location.

Face-to-Face Tuition

Face-to-face tuition is the traditional and perhaps the most widely recognised form of tutoring. It involves a tutor meeting the student in person, usually at the student's home, a library, or a designated tutoring centre. The one-on-one interaction allows for personal attention, tailored lesson plans, and immediate feedback. Costs: Due to the personalised nature of the service, face-to-face tuition tends to be relatively more expensive. Prices can range from £25 to £50 per hour, and sometimes even higher for specialised subjects or more experienced tutors.

Online Tuition

With the advent of technology, online tuition has gained immense popularity. It allows students to connect with tutors remotely, eliminating geographical constraints. This mode of tutoring often involves video calls, shared documents, and other digital tools to facilitate effective learning. Costs: Online tuition can vary widely in cost. On average, rates range from £20 to £40 per hour. However, highly specialised tutors or those with significant experience may charge more.

Small Group Tuition

Small group tuition involves a tutor working with several students simultaneously. This format combines the benefits of one-on-one attention with the advantages of group dynamics, fostering collaboration and shared learning experiences. Costs: Group tuition is often more cost-effective than one-on-one sessions. Prices can range from £15 to £35 per student per hour, depending on the subject, the tutor's qualifications, and the group size.

4. Where can you find a tutor?

Where do you start? A look through your Social Media? An online search for a tuition agency? A tuition centre in the high street or at the local superstore, etc.? A personal recommendation at the school gate?

Social Media

If you scroll through social media, you will see hundreds of posts and adverts, most of which are from individuals selling their tutoring services. If you click on any advert, you will be retargeted and followed around for weeks.

Most individual tutors promise the same: instant results, often for a very low price, some as low as £5 or £10 ph. A significant proportion of these individual tutors are students themselves or tutors with little or no teaching experience. In the UK, anyone can set themselves up as a home tutor. They don't need qualifications, and they don't need to be vetted or approved. Tuition in the UK is an unregulated market, with supply chasing demand, and with few controls and where pretty much anything goes.

"Can't see the wood for the trees!"

Hiring an individual tutor is often the cheapest method for tutoring, as you can agree on fees upfront, and the tutor doesn't pay a commission to an agency. But the problem with these options is that you have to contact each tutor individually, find out if they are available for and interested in a job, interview them, agree on a fee and payment terms, and then hope they are as good as they say they are! This all takes time and, in many parents' experiences, leads to a lot of disappointment. The number one complaint parents have about finding a tutor is finding one who is available in the first place.

These frustrations and the growth of the tutoring industry have inevitably led to the growth of online marketplaces for tutors and tutoring agencies. To be honest, most tutoring companies have minimum standards, but tutors are not legally obligated to be qualified or registered. Many students, new graduates, or people from any background can set themselves up as tutors without experience in teaching and certainly with no DBS checks.

Tutor websites and tutor agencies

A quick Google search will present you with many choices of tutor agencies. These have the advantage over individual tutors because they are a one-stop shop for parents. You sign up once and can access a wide number of tutors through their systems, and fees/guarantees are usually agreed upon upfront and transparent.

But again, you may become frustrated trying to identify high-quality tutors that are available and interested in tutoring your child. Different companies have different approaches, though, and we recommend finding a tutoring company that:

• only uses high-quality, experienced, and qualified tutors as standard
• is clear upfront about its pricing
• has guarantees on lessons or offers introductory calls with their tutors

"Some of the most popular tutor agencies and tuition agencies in the UK"

Comparing Popular Tutoring Agencies and Tuition Centres in the UK

Explore Learning provides tuition centres that support primary and secondary school children aged 4 to 16. They offer a combination of online and in-person tuition and focus on teaching English, Maths, Primary, SATs, and School Entrance Exams. Costs: Their tutors are not qualified teachers. Explore Learning operates on a membership basis, where students attend multiple monthly sessions. Monthly membership fees can range from £100 to £150, depending on the location and programme.

First Tutors is an online platform connecting students with private tutors across various subjects and levels. The platform allows students to browse profiles, read reviews, and choose a tutor based on their preferences. Their tutors are a mix of undergraduates, professionals, and qualified teachers. Costs: The prices of First Tutors vary depending on the subject and the tutor's experience. On average, you can expect to pay between £20 and £40 per hour for the tuition, and you also pay a one-off fee to the platform (between £9.99 to £34.99) to be able to connect with your chosen tutor.

Fleet Tutors specialises in providing private tuition for students of all ages, from primary school to university, with English, Maths, Science and School Entrance Exams as the main focus. They offer face-to-face and online tutoring options. Their tutors are a mix of undergraduates, professionals, and qualified teachers. Costs: Fleet Tutors does not openly disclose its pricing on its website, and you must phone a consultant to find this. However, based on industry averages, you can expect costs to range from £30 to £50 per hour.

Kip McGrath is a well-established tutoring franchise with a network of tuition centres across the UK. It offers face-to-face and online tutoring in English and maths for primary and secondary school students up to 16 years old. Most tutors are qualified teachers. Costs: Vary based on the location and the specific programme, but on average cost £34 per hour.

MyTutor offers online tuition only. It provides a platform for tutors to create profiles and for students to find the right match for their learning needs. All tutors are current or recent undergraduate students. Costs: Tutors on MyTutor set their own rates, and prices can vary based on the subject and the tutor's experience. Expect to pay between £22 and £57 per hour.

Superprof is an online platform that connects students with tutors across various subjects and interests, including music tuition, Rubik's Cube coaches, drumming lessons, and art and cooking classes. It caters to a global audience, allowing students to find tutors both locally and internationally. Tutors are generally students and undergraduates, not often qualified teachers. Costs: Superprof allows tutors to set their own rates. On average, you can expect to pay between £15 and £40 per hour, though some charge more than this.

Teachers To Your Home is a platform that connects qualified teachers with families across the UK for home and online tuition. Tuition is provided across all academic subjects at all levels: Primary, SATs, SEN, 11+, 13+, GCSE, and A-Level. All 20,000 tutors are experienced, professional teachers vetted, and DBS checked. The platform also offers small group tuition, allowing parents to team up with other families to share the tuition and the tuition costs. Costs: Teachers To Your Home allows tutors to set their own rates. On average, you can expect to pay between £40 and £55 per hour, though some charge more than this.

Tutor Doctor is a global tutoring franchise that offers personalised in-home and online tutoring services. It matches students with tutors based on individual needs and learning styles. Tutors are generally students and undergraduates, not often qualified teachers. Costs: Like many other tutoring agencies, Tutor Doctor does not openly disclose pricing on its website. Costs can vary based on location, subject, and tutor experience, with average prices ranging from £30 to £50 per hour.

Tutorful is an online platform that connects students with local and online tutors. It provides a platform for tutors to showcase their qualifications and expertise. Tutors are generally students and undergraduates, not often qualified teachers. Costs: Tutorful allows tutors to set their own prices. On average, tutors charge between £13 and £35 per hour.

Tutorhunt is a service that offers online tuition only. It provides a platform for tutors to create profiles and for students to find the right match for their learning needs. Its tutors are a mix of students, undergraduates, and some qualified teachers. Costs: Tutors on Tutorhunt set their own rates, and prices can vary based on the subject and the tutor's experience. Expect to pay between £20 and £40 per hour.

Personal recommendations

Finding tutors through personal recommendations involves asking friends, family, colleagues, or acquaintances for suggestions.

Recommendations from people you know and trust can assure you of the tutor's reliability and competence. You get direct feedback about the tutor's teaching methods and effectiveness, which can be more honest and detailed than online reviews. It can save you time and effort compared to searching for tutors online or through agencies.

The disadvantage of finding tutors through personal recommendations is that your pool of options is limited to the contacts of the people you ask, which might not cover all subjects or specific needs. Recommendations can be biased based on personal experiences, which might not fit your needs. A tutor who worked well for someone else might not suit you. There might be a sense of obligation to go with a recommended tutor even if they aren't the best fit. Unlike tutors from agencies or professional platforms, personally recommended tutors might not have been vetted professionally.

Finding tutors through personal recommendations can be a valuable approach due to the trust and direct feedback involved. However, it's important to consider the potential limitations and biases and always conduct your own assessment to ensure the tutor meets your specific requirements.

5. How do you select a tutor?

If you are in the process of choosing a tutor for your child, it is a good idea to organise an initial introductory call or meeting with the tutor (face-to-face or online). This will enable you to learn more about the tutor's character, qualifications, experience, and teaching style, and you will be better able to assess whether they are a good fit for your child.

How to structure an introductory phone call or initial meeting

This introductory call or initial meeting may take around 20 minutes. Feel free to include your child in this call (if they are of a suitable age) if you want to see if there is a good rapport between them and the teacher.

• Ask the tutor to introduce themselves to you in more detail and discuss their teaching style and experience.
• Discuss your child's needs and the purpose and ambition for the tuition.
• Provide the tutor with any further details they need regarding the role, such as your child's age and year group, school, current working level, relevant exam board or exam dates, and any specific SEN, EHCP, or diagnostic reports.
• Ask the tutor how they might initially assess your child and how they would implement a plan to measure progress.
• Be clear about your own expectations around setting work and whether you want the tutor to provide and mark any structured homework.
• Please clarify whether you want the tutor to liaise directly with your child's school and class teacher.
• Confirm the fees, payment terms, timings, timescale, and tuition location if it is face-to-face. Fees and payment terms.

Next steps

At the end of the call, confirm any next steps.

• If you decide that this tutor is the right fit for your tuition needs, you may wish to arrange a first lesson with them. If you want time to think about it, please tell the tutor you will get back to them by a specific date.
• If you decide on a first lesson, agree on a time and location that works for both of you and discuss what to expect from that first lesson.
• Establish some ground rules. You should be able to give 'reasonable' notice to your tutor should you need to cancel a lesson with them. Please clarify how you will communicate with your tutor if this happens (text, voicemail, e-mail, etc). Most tutors expect 24-hour notice, though they understand that giving 24 hours is not always possible (e.g., last-minute illness). This reasonable notice should also apply if your tutor needs to cancel a lesson due to unforeseen circumstances.
• For safeguarding reasons, tuition should always occur in a supervised setting, i.e., with a parent, guardian, or carer present in the home, whether face-to-face or online. Confirm their availability for your preferred lesson times.

6. How will you know you have got a good one?

Five signs that you have found a great tutor

They are experienced and qualified

It might sound obvious, but you need to make sure your tutor has teaching qualifications (or, at the very least, is up to date with the latest curriculum) and has direct experience teaching children in your child's age range in the chosen subject. Too many people think that anyone can teach a child if they have a qualification in that subject. The truth is that these 'tutors' often cannot teach very well or make a real connection with their students. Teaching is a skill and should not be 'winged'!

An experienced and qualified teacher makes the best tutor, as they are up to date with the latest curriculum and have real experience teaching children of all ages.

When interviewing a tutor about this, you should cover:

• What professional teaching qualifications do they have?
• What experience do they have teaching the subject to your child's age group?
• How do they stay updated with the latest curriculum and exam board updates?

They personalise the learning experience

Most tutors will have a large pile of worksheets, textbooks, and other materials they regularly use to teach their students, but beware of a tutor who relies only on these things. A good tutor will use these tools but also spend time talking to their student and working through the materials with them,  asking follow-up questions, checking learnings, and drawing from their own experience to make more relevant examples.

You know you have a good tutor when you hear an engaging conversation during their lessons, not just silence and pencil scratchings.

When interviewing a tutor about this, you should cover:

• What you are hoping tutoring will achieve - be specific about goals and aspirations
  
• Examples of how they personalise lessons for students
• How do they do an initial assessment of their students and use this to plan lessons

They are active listeners

Linked to the above is the fact that to be a good tutor, you need to be a good listener. To create a personalised lesson plan for their student, the tutor must first understand how they learn, their strengths and weaknesses, and their interest. Armed with this information, a tutor can deliver a truly engaging lesson and ensure the learnings are properly understood.

As part of this skill, they should also be able to deliver effective feedback. By listening to what their student is saying (and not saying), a good tutor should respond with constructive feedback and follow-up questions to stretch their student.

When interviewing a tutor about this, you should cover:

• How does the tutor plan on monitoring progress and reporting to you?
• What approach do they usually take when giving feedback to their students?

They are reliable and professional

A tutor who is a good listener will naturally build a strong rapport and relationship with you and their student. But remember that a tutor should be a strong role model, not a friend. They should know the difference and how to maintain a professional relationship with your entire family. They should also be setting an example (and making your life easier) through their reliability, specifically through punctuality, manners, and good communication.

Professional teachers are trained in these areas and naturally build positive relationships with their students.

When interviewing a tutor about this, you should cover:

• Are there any rules for cancellations, communication, safeguarding, etc? And how should communication happen?>
  
• Expectations around setting work and the amount. Make clear with the tutor if you want them to provide and mark any structured homework.

They are more than just a tutor

A tutor should be able to deliver more than just a few lessons in a specific subject area. Their aims should always be to grow their students more generally: building their confidence, broadening their horizons, instilling a love of learning, and developing life skills like time management and handling stressful situations like exams.

Be around for the first few lessons and listen in on the teaching and learning. Have a chat with your child after each lesson and watch their response. Though your child may initially be nervous or unenthusiastic, you should quickly begin to see a positive response.

With many years of experience teaching children one-to-one, we know children often make remarkable progress in only a few weeks. Ability, self-belief, confidence, enjoyment ! all begin to take root and grow.

Further reading:

• Private School or a Private Tutor? A guide for parents.
• The benefits of one-to-one tuition. A guide for parents.
• How often does my child need a tutor? A guide for parents.