Finding the right fit for your child is essential when choosing a tutor. This is especially true for children with unique learning needs.

A tutor can make or break your child’s educational experience. To ensure your child gets the most out of their tuition, follow these five tips to choose the right tutor.

Qualification

In many cases, tutors will have teaching qualifications, but checking their experience with children is essential. Look for the tutor’s website and scrutinize their photographs. Look for a comfortable working environment and how the tutor approaches learning. The tutor should also have a DBS certificate to show they have been checked to work with children.

An excellent way to find a suitable tutor is to ask for recommendations from friends and family. Tutoring companies can be a great source of referrals, but so too can local parent forums.

Tutors have passed rigorous in-person interviews and reference checks and are Enhanced DBS certified.

Experience

Tutoring can be a valuable tool for children who need extra help with their studies or need to be challenged to fulfill their potential. A tutor can also help prepare for school entrance exams and GCSE or A Level tests.

When finding tutors in London, look for someone with experience teaching your child’s subject or age group. Younger tutors are often better at engaging students and making lessons fun, but older tutors can also bring a wealth of knowledge. Many parents choose to have a mixed-age tutoring team so that their children can learn from each other, which can be an effective way of helping them progress through the core subjects.

Another excellent resource for recommendations is asking other local parents whether they would recommend a particular tutor. This can be done through a parent networking website or your friends who already use private tutoring services for their children. Asking your child’s current school teacher can also be a valuable source of information.

Personality

Tutors must be flexible, adapt to the student’s needs, and make lessons engaging. Lessons should be manageable, starting with more accessible topics and gradually moving to more complex subjects. Tutors should also be willing to try new teaching methods, exercises, or learning methods to determine what works best for each student.

Children and tutors need to get on well for tuition to be a success. If a child isn’t feeling comfortable with their tutor, they will not open up to them, hindering their learning and progress. Tutors should be friendly and approachable yet maintain a professional persona during sessions and while communicating with parents.

It’s always a good idea to ask other parents for recommendations and find out which tutors they would recommend. This will give you confidence that the tutor has been recommended by someone with first-hand experience of their work. This will also help you avoid tutors with a reputation for being complicated or unreliable.

Teaching Style

When choosing a tutor, you must ensure they have the teaching style that best fits your child’s learning needs. If you need clarification, ask to speak with the tutor and see if they can arrange an observation session.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to observe their teaching style and give your child a taste of what to expect. Tutoring is more than just about passing exams; it’s about building confidence and transforming children into lifelong learners.

Teaching styles have been shown to influence students’ motivation significantly. Some of the most influential teacher practices include providing frequent positive feedback that supports students’ beliefs they can succeed, creating opportunities for student success through assigning tasks that are not too difficult nor too easy, and helping students find personal meaning and value in their work.

Once your child starts tutoring, ensure your chosen tutor offers pre- and post-assessments. This is a great way to keep track of your child’s progress and hold the tutor accountable.

Communication

Communication is essential for teachers and tutors as they constantly impart knowledge and information. They also have to keep their students engaged in lessons by understanding when they struggle with a topic and ensuring that they explain concepts clearly.

It is also essential that they can communicate with parents, as it is not uncommon for tutors to interact with parents regularly to discuss their child’s progress or behavior. Tutors should be able to give transparent and honest feedback, and they should also be able to discuss complex topics with their parents.

The best way to find a good tutor is by asking for recommendations from other parents who have used tutoring services. You can ask fellow mums on platforms or even ask schools that your child will apply to if they have any tutoring agencies they recommend. Ultimately, the best thing to do is to take your time and find a great tutor your child can be happy working with for years to come.