One of the hardest things for parents to hear is that their child is struggling at school. Whether it’s falling behind in a certain subject or not meeting the age-related expectations of their year group, sometimes a little extra help might be needed to get them caught up and back on track.
There are, of course, myriad reasons why children can find learning challenging and often their confidence can take a knock if they feel like they’re not keeping up with their peers. So, looking to a tutor outside of school is often a useful way to offer gentle extra-curricular intervention in a less competitive or more customised setting.
Through private or group sessions, in-person or online, students can get extra support through highly tailored teaching sessions that can be adapted to each individual’s needs and areas of focus – returning to trouble spots to both practice and remember. This can pay dividends for improving academic performance in school, increasing confidence and motivation, and instilling more effective study habits, too. And, with the right mentor offering the right style of tutoring, it can even be fun and help students develop a true love for learning.
But the question is, where to start? How do you know when your child needs that little extra push and what should you look for when searching for some additional educational support?
Here, Lisa Davage, Assistant Head of Arcadia British School in Dubai, offers her top tips on finding, trusting and investing in the right tutor so that extra-curricular schoolwork won’t feel like a chore.
Firstly, how important is having a tutor to support in-school learning?
A tutor can be an excellent complement to in-school learning, especially when there is a clear understanding of the child’s strengths and areas for development. Teachers work incredibly hard to meet the needs of all students, but time and class size can limit the amount of individualised attention each child receives. A tutor provides that one-to-one focus, helping the child consolidate learning, revisit tricky concepts and develop confidence.
How do you know when your child might need a tutor?
Your child’s class teacher might recommend a tutor for different reasons, such as if your child seems frustrated or anxious about a certain subject or homework regularly takes far longer than expected.
What types of tutors are there and how do you know what – or who – would best suit your child?
The best first step is to speak with your child’s teacher. They can help pinpoint whether the issue is a short term hurdle or something that may benefit from extra support. Teachers can also recommend the type of tutoring most likely to help.
What are the core benefits private tutoring can offer a child?
Tutoring can improve confidence and self-belief, address learning gaps quickly and effectively through a personalised learning programme.
For parents looking into hiring a tutor/enrolling their child at a tutor club, what are some of the key considerations they should think about?
When you are looking for a tutor you need to be aware of the curriculum they are familiar with and their teaching styles. The relationship between the child and their tutor is very important, too. Tutors that are recommended by friends can provide you reassurance of their professionalism and results.
What would be your top tutoring tips for parents?
- Be clear on your goals: Is it to boost grades, improve confidence or prepare for exams?
- Work in partnership: Keep communication open between tutor, parent and school.
- Encourage, don’t pressure: The aim is to inspire a love for learning, not create more stress, and you do not want to deter children who are already struggling or adverse to certain subjects.
