Tutor Time: Should I Get My Child a Tutor?

It’s back to school, but is it tutor time for your child?

For many students, going back to school means worries about grades, achievements and the struggle to keep up with the rest of the class.

Fears of being left behind in class is a big issue for many children, and unfortunately, it is a reality for far too many.

If going into the new school year, you know that these might be your and your child’s concerns, you should consider getting them a tutor.

Being left behind in class doesn’t have to be the reality for your child this academic year. If you recognise early that it might be time to get your child a tutor, you can help them avoid the disappointment and stress that lie ahead this academic year.

We spoke to Alicia Findlay-Joseph, a UK-based teacher and the founder of Haribibi Education to give us a breakdown of what you need to know about getting a tutor for your child.

What Does a Tutor Do?

A tutor can be the difference between your child achieving success and being left behind this academic year.

The tutor helps to improve children’s academic performance by working with them individually and creating personalised plans to close and target learning and development gaps.

They help to improve children’s academic performance by working with them individually and creating personalised plans to close and target learning and development gaps.

According to Findlay-Joseph, the tutor’s role is to assess students to know what help they need and what areas to target through the delivery of personalised lessons.

The tutor may choose to follow the school’s curriculum or to work with the child to close the gaps between their current level of performance and their age-related expectations.

She advises that it’s important that tutors do not work in isolation with the child rather, they should work closely with the child’s teachers and parents to achieve the best results for the student.

What Are Some of the Signs That It’s Time to Get Your Child a Tutor?

Several factors could influence your decision to get your child a tutor. 

Whether you’re getting a tutor to help your child keep up in class or to prepare them for a specific exam, it’s essential to know when it’s time to get a tutor.

Here are some signs that Findlay-Joseph says it might be time to get your child a tutor:

• Lack of confidence
• An inability to quickly grasp concepts
• Working below age-related expectations
• Based on their assessment
• If getting a tutor is recommended by the school

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Tutor?

There can be a lot of benefits to hiring a tutor for your child. Findaly-Joseph, however, highlighted two of the most important ones.

1. Personalised Learning

Hiring a tutor for your child provides them with the opportunity for personalised learning. Large classroom sizes might deprive your child of getting the attention and support they need to succeed.

If your child is already not working at age-related expectations, being lost in a large class can put their learning, development and chances of future success at risk.

However, hiring a tutor can mediate these risks and provide them with the optimal environment that fosters learning.

2. Improved Learning Outcomes Through a Positive Student-Tutor Relationship

A tutor’s positive relationship with your child can improve their learning and motivation because children learn better when they have a good relationship with their instructors. Studies have shown that good tutor-student relationships increase students’ motivation, engagement and learning.

What to Look for in a Tutor?

The benefits of getting your child a tutor are clear. If you decide to hire a tutor this academic year, here are a few things you need to look for; the tutor should:

1. Have an interest in getting to know your child and have a commitment to doing the work
2. Understand the importance of assessing your child to identify their learning needs and developmental gaps
3. Be willing to liaise with your child’s teachers to find out about their learning gaps and the type of support needed
4. Understand the value of working with parents to provide feedback about your child’s progress and make suggestions on how you can support your child at home

How to Monitor Your Child’s Progress?

Once you have made the choice to get a tutor, you want to make sure that they are working for your children. Here are a few tips on how to monitor your child’s progress with a tutor:

1. Talk to your child’s teacher to get feedback on their progress in school since starting their tutoring.
2. Speak to your child to understand their view of the tutoring. You can have regular sit-downs with them to talk about their feelings about the process, their relationship with their tutor and their sense of progress.

3. Communicate with your child’s tutor. Findlay-Joseph suggests that a good way to monitor your child’s progress is to keep the lines of communication open between yourself and the tutor. They should give you regular progress updates and suggestions for continued support at home.