To tutor or not to tutor?
It’s a pretty good time to own a tutoring company. It can be a fairly lucrative business and there seems to be no signs of this growth slowing down. An entire industry has been manufactured out of the fear of ‘falling behind’ and the need to ‘catch up’ alongside the race to enhance a child’s performance for schools, exams and future jobs. For lots of families tutoring has become a part of their child’s school curriculum. This is largely thanks to technology which has allowed an increase in accessibility and affordability, reaching children in both the private and state systems. But quite frankly, I am not sure how I feel about it all. I have been tutored and I have been a tutor. And it’s something I have recently reconsidered since becoming a Mum, due to its flexibility, rewarding nature, and of course, the money. But by being a part of the supply chain, am I part of the solution or am I adding to the problem?
It’s no surprise that in our current Covid climate, demand for tutoring is through the roof. It’s completely understandable as talk of ‘closing the gap’ continues and fears for the ‘lost generation’ creep in. The pressures on children (and parents) are huge and it certainly seems to be taking a toll on our mental health. The pressures of exams, school and university places, combined with a more competitive jobs market remain and if you knew tutoring could alleviate some of these pressures then surely it’s a no brainer!? We know tutoring can support academic performance and positively contribute to a child’s progress and development, as well as their self esteem. Ultimately isn’t tutoring just practising? Is there a difference between a parent working 1:1 with their child or a tutor, aside from the exchange of money and mutual frustrations? We know there will be times where our children will find things difficult, and need extra help, and will need to spend more time understanding or mastering different skills. So if this is the case, and money permits, why wouldn’t you hire a tutor? It’s important to consider all your options and not just jump straight into tutoring. It can be an expensive slippery slope.
It’s hard to imagine there are any parents who wouldn’t want a personalised 1:1 session that caters to your child’s intellectual and emotional needs. A time to reinforce, consolidate learning and practise new concepts in a safe space. This has to be invaluable. Through tutoring, a child is more likely to participate at school more regularly, take risks, and feel more confident. On the other hand, children will have spent the whole day concentrating, listening, and can easily become overworked and exhausted, especially the younger they are. This could be enough to demotivate children, affecting their work ethic and attitude to learning in the future. I am also unsure if it is possible for deep and meaningful learning to occur after a full day of lessons. In fact, there are studies that show children playing, free time and fun are crucial for educational development. Children need down time in order to process their learning. So alternative activities such as extra curricular clubs, community activities and events might just be what your child needs. They might even need some quality time with you as a parent, building skills and knowledge by shared experiences. Although, I am not pretending that in the short term building dens and climbing trees are going to get you the improved grades, if that’s what you are aiming for.
When you think about the positive impact tutoring can have, then you can understand why it’s a multi billion pound global industry. But when you really think about it, you find yourself wondering what exactly is the purpose of education if we need tutors to teach alongside it? How did we get here, to a place where schools, teachers and parents aren’t quite enough? When parents deem tutoring to be the only option, and therefore a necessity. The point at which some teachers might even suggest to a parent that it’s time to think about a tutor. The point at which some children have a Maths, English and Music tutor by Reception (it isn’t common but it does happen!) We also need to ask ourselves what is the purpose of tutoring? And is it just adding to the national educational inequalities? I really hope that tutoring isn’t because parents have lost trust in our school system, but rather parents are using tutoring as a tool for their child’s performance or a support for learning to develop skills for life. One could argue that the two are necessary and education is about a balance of both of these. I would agree with that to an extent - maybe not equally, but both are certainly an important part of a child’s school career.
It seems that tutoring, whether we like it or not, is here to stay. I believe that most children could benefit from some tutoring, at some stage, although it’s important to know that some personalities might clash with the concept of ‘more work’. There is also a criteria to meet when hiring a tutor which is something to spend some time researching. It’s important to focus and be clear on the intention behind your decision making to tutor. So often for older children a drop in academic standards can be linked to exhaustion and lack of down time, so tutoring possibly would add to this. Equally I know, at times, tutoring can be a life line. Children that have missed prolonged periods of school, or for specific learning needs, but it’s hard to think about where to draw the line. It doesn’t seem right that tutoring has become an educational norm, when so many might not be able to have the luxury of a tutor? Ultimately there is a time and place for tutoring and it’s important to note it does have a shelf life.
This left me wondering would I hire a tutor for my daughter? I hope I won’t need to, but as all parents know, you would do everything possible to help and support your child. Everything and anything. So if you are lucky enough to be able to afford a tutor at some point, should you invest? I guess it depends on your child’s characteristics, needs and goals. Some children suit tutoring and others really don’t. I wouldn’t completely write off the idea of a tutor, however, what I do know is that this decision would depend on whether it was the right tutor and if we had explored all other avenues. The right tutor will work to encourage a child that can only benefit their learning. I would certainly invest in a tutor with a specific goal in mind. Sessions would have to be interactive and really fun. So basically they would have to be the teaching equivalent to Mary Poppins. I know that they are out there, but sadly I am equally aware that there might just be a large price tag that comes with it.
If you are considering tutoring, here are some things you may want to consider:
Identify your end goal. What is it exactly you are hoping to achieve? Is it to fill in certain gaps in their knowledge or it is a longer term learning goal? Either way it’s vital you know so you can measure if it’s been successful or not.
Spend time researching before hiring a tutor. It’s important to check credentials, qualifications and whether they have an up to date DBS form? You need to know who your child will be spending this time with. Ensure they are experienced, skilled and take individual needs into account.
Relationships are key. It’s essential to develop a solid foundation first before any learning or progress can happen. Tutoring should be engaging and interactive. If you or your child isn’t happy after a few sessions, then it’s ok to make a change and look for a different tutor. Positive relationships can improve results.
Please try to avoid sessions that are over an hour and too late in the day, perhaps even term time in general (for younger children especially). Schools really are jam packed with various activities throughout the day and then after school clubs. It’s really important to consider if your child will be able to manage another activity at the end of a long day, which could be emotionally and intellectually draining. Frequent tutoring over the holidays can be an alternative option. It could help keep things ticking over, especially if you know your child needs lots of repetition and practice.
Face to face is much more effective. Try to avoid tutoring over screen time if possible and restrictions allow us. As you may know excessive screen time can be detrimental to children’s health and it is exhausting. There is now a lot of research stating the effects of Zoom fatigue so it’s best to avoid this where possible.
Communicate with your school to ensure you get the best out of your tutoring time / advice on specific targets. If you decide to invest in a tutor then please let your class teacher know. It might feel embarrassing to share this with your teacher, but they really won’t be insulted. Teachers and tutors might be able to share some helpful information or observations over the course of this time, ultimately aiding the child’s progress and results.
A growth mindset will really help your tutoring journey. Both for you and your child it’s really important to have an open mind about the process and what skills or knowledge your child will learn, rather than a ‘fixed’ mindset i.e. already thinking that tutoring that will be a ‘waste of time and money.’
