Tutoring, whether it is online, or face to face, is very much a buzzword of our times.
Whether it's tutoring for primary aged kids, to fill post pandemic gaps in their learning,
straightforward 11 plus tutoring, or specialist subject tutoring for KS3 students, it seems there is
a growing demand for one-on-one learning, that with the advent of online tutors, is increasingly
accessible to all.
But is it effective, and what can you expect to be covered?
There are many reasons you might be considering finding a tutor, whether just as a short-term
gap filler, or for part of a longer-term support strategy. It’s worth considering it's not just for children who are finding school learning tough - conversely, there might also be significant value in extending your child’s learning beyond the classroom, and keeping them one step ahead.
"We live in a competitive world. Parents now feel a responsibility more than ever to do the best
they can for their kids,” explains Colin Levy, CEO of Chepstow Tutors.
Most important is that you find a good personality fit between your tutor and child
“And when we feel our children aren’t thriving in a classroom, or need to be learning at a faster
pace, we look around for ways to re-engage and remotivate them. Tutoring is by no means a
new concept. It existed back in Roman times with Aristotle and Plato. We read of one to one
tutelage, and the benefit of a relationship based system of learning, where the relationship
between tutor and student creates a bond that was a bit magic… and it works just as well now
as it did then!” says Levy.
So how does tutoring work?
At the heart of tutoring, is the idea that the student needs to take on responsibility for their
learning. In a busy classroom, regularly with up to 30 students, a struggling student can keep a low profile and feel disengaged from their learning, with teachers often unaware of their struggles.
There might also be a variety of learning needs within a class, with some students having a
greater grasp of the subject than others, and each having a different learning style, making it
quite a challenge for the teacher to meet their individual needs effectively.
One to one tutoring allows the tutor to tailor the style and content of the teaching to that specific
student's learning needs. Whilst there’s no magic bullet that will turn your child into the next
Einstein, an hour long session will allow the tutor to really drill down into a deeper comprehension of one specific topic and practice it until it is secure, after which they can move onto the next subject in their next session, whilst also revisiting the earlier topic, to ensure it is properly embedded. Most important is that you find a good personality fit between your tutor and your child - and this is where a tutoring company will work with you to find the right connection, with a long list of appropriate tutors and experienced coordinators to help find that match.
“The tutor provides the scaffolding around the learner, whilst they grow their own strong walls,
and then the tutor takes away the scaffold, with the intention that the learner will stand up on
their own ultimately." explains Levy.
How often, how long, how much?
Sessions can range from £50 - over £100 per hour, depending on the experience of your tutor.
Sessions are usually an hour long, and are generally recommended on a weekly basis. Whilst this
might not seem a huge amount of time, compared to the remaining hours your child spends at
school, a dedicated hour, focussing purely on them and their learning needs, plus the additional
work that will be set by the tutor for them to complete in their own time, should noticeably boost
their understanding in those areas, boosting their confidence and helping them become happy learners.
Article written by the team at Chepstow Tutors; for more information on their services head to www.chepstowtutors.com.
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