Information for Parents and Students

What tutor checks does the Agency do?

Each new tutor registered with Chelmsford Tutors is checked in the following manner:)

• Disclosure and Barring Service (Enhanced) to ensure that the tutor can work with children and vulnerable adults. The DBS has replaced the CRB and ISA
• Identity checking of a photographic ID
• Academic qualifications certificates are seen
• Two written references are obtained. These are usually from professional sources such as schools

Do I have to book a course of lessons?

No.

The tuition time needed, frequency and number of lessons is agreed with the tutor.

This is usually one hour a week.

Tutor not teacher

Tutoring differs from teaching in a school because the skills and approach needed are:

• one-to-one personal interaction
• flexibility in teaching style to fit each student
• tutoring at a pace to fit each student
• often tutoring topics which were not understood in school
• practising learning and exam techniques

A good relationship tends to develop between tutor and student so that the association is one of friend and mentor.

Amount of tutoring required

We usually have three kinds of tutoring arrangements:

Weekly tuition: This regular one-hour tuition is a supplement to a student’s schooling and ensures that the student understands and learns the subject week by week as he/she attends school. It can compensate for insufficient individual attention due to large class size, difficulty in grasping concepts or poor motivation.

Catch-up sessions: These are useful to review the student’s grasp of a concept. They allow the student to “catch up” and to thoroughly understand a topic which was causing problems.

Exam preparation: This is useful before internal exams, mocks or formal exams. The tuition required will depend on the level such as GCSE or A level. Extra tuition is useful to reduce feelings of panic and loss of confidence. Exam techniques can be practised.

Tuition is not a quick-fix solution. The amount of tuition required will depend on the needs, aptitude and effort of each student.

Learning difficulties

Many students have dyslexia and this is usually not a problem in one-to-one tutoring. If the student has special needs, these should be discussed to see if we can help.

Students who cannot be helped

Parents can engage a tutor but if the student does not want to learn or cooperate, tuition will be unsuccessful.

A student who expects the tutor to do his/her homework or coursework will be disappointed. A tutor will not do the homework or coursework for the student but can explain the subject and advise on methods which could be used to complete a task.

Having a tutor is not a guarantee of a good exam pass. The tutor explains the subject to make it understandable and easier to learn but the student needs to study and practise to pass the exam.

A tutor is also not an encyclopaedia or quiz participant who is there just to answer specific questions.

Do the parents need to be at home?

Parents must be at home for the first tutoring session so that they can meet the tutor and discuss the kind of help that is needed, the day and hours preferred and any special circumstances.

An adult should be at home during a tutoring session.

From time to time it is useful for the student, tutor and parent to discuss progress at the beginning or end of a session.

What facilities are needed?

Tutors will need a table and chairs and a quiet area for study. This could be in the kitchen, sitting room, dining room, hall or other appropriate room where the student can concentrate.

The student should have his/her exercise books at home together with some lined paper and a pen.

The tutor may advise the student to buy a revision book, practice papers or download parts of the specification from the Internet.

Mobile phones should be turned off!

Payment

Before tutoring begins the tutor and parent will agree an hourly rate and travel expenses, if applicable.

The fee charged will depend on the level of tutoring required. Each tutor will quote an hourly rate.

Attendance

The tutor will make every effort to attend each appointment on time. If there are traffic hold-ups as the tutor is driving in after-school/evening rush hours and the tutor arrives a little late, the student will always receive the one hour session or alternatively an agreed adjustment to the tuition schedule will be arranged.

Cancellation

If you cancel the day before the tutoring session (24 hours notice) the tutor will try to reschedule for another evening.

If you cancel during the day of the tutoring session you should expect to pay the tutor, as it is impossible to schedule another student for that time slot.

If you decide you want to cancel all tutoring arrangements or want to change the frequency, the parent (not the student) informs the tutor.

How much does tuition cost?

Each tutor is independent and sets his/her own fees. Currently tuition charges generally fall within the following fee scale.

From Summer 2023

AS/A Level                                         £35 to £45 per hour

GCSE                                                  £30 to £40 per hour

Primary / 11+                                   £30 to £35 per hour

If the tutor is travelling to the student after school, he/she may charge a petrol/travel time charge. This is usually between £1 and £4 depending on the distance and time taken to drive in rush hour traffic. Ultimately it is for the client to agree the fee with the tutor. To minimise travelling and expense, we try to fit the best qualified and nearest tutor to meet the client’s needs. If a qualified tutor lives a long way from the client they will try to find a sensible, mutually agreed arrangement e.g. tutor or student visits for a longer session when required.