Whether you are engaging a tutor to address specific subject challenges, boost your child’s confidence in the lead up to exams or simply enhance their overall learning, there are a number of things to take into consideration when approaching the first tutoring session.
How to identify the right tutor
First and foremost, it’s important to find the right tutor as this can make a significant difference in a student’s academic journey. Every child is unique and has an individual learning style that works best for them so it’s important to find someone who can deliver tailored content in an engaging way and help your child on the road to success.
We cover this in more depth in ‘Identify the Right Tutor’ but some important things to look for in a tutor include:
Qualifications and Experience
Look for tutors with relevant qualifications and experience in the subject area your child requires assistance with. Review their credentials and ask more about their teaching methods.
Compatibility
Seek a tutor who can establish a positive rapport with your child. Compatibility and mutual respect can greatly enhance the learning experience.
Recommendations and Reviews
Read reviews and testimonials to gauge the tutor’s effectiveness or ask for recommendations from trusted sources such as friends, teachers or specialists like us to help find the right tutor.
At Hampstead and Frognal Tutors we will have an initial consultation with you to begin the process of assigning a tutor for your child. This helps us to better understand your child’s needs as well as your tutoring objectives to ensure we can connect you with the right tutor. All you have to do is get in touch or make a tutoring request and we’ll sort the rest.
What to do before the first tutoring session
Tutors will be ready to hit the ground running (and we are sure you and your children will also be eager to get started) but once you have identified the right person for the job, there are a few important things to prepare and address ahead of the first tutoring session.
- Align on session formats
Will sessions be online, in-person or a combination of both? Face-to-face tuition is of course indisputably effective. However, many people opt for virtual learning as it provides a degree of flexibility if plans change and can feel more relaxed or less intrusive for some.
There is also the option to have a combination of both in-person and virtual tutoring depending on what best suits your child’s needs but it’s important to align on this and doing so before sessions are underway is best.
- Set Clear Goals
Before the first session, it is important to identify the specific goals you want your child to achieve with the tutor. Are you looking to improve grades, prepare for an upcoming exam or enhance overall understanding over the summer holidays? Whatever your reason, it is important to clearly articulate these goals to the tutor as it will help them tailor their approach and ensure both you and your child are on the same page.
- Outline any specific timelines
If your child is working to specific timelines such as an exam date, coursework deadline or specific university application it is important to notify the tutor of this upfront. In doing so, a tutor will be able to adapt their programme to best work towards these timings and be realistic with you about any challenges or other considerations in advance.
- Share Relevant Academic Information
Before the first tutoring session, aim to provide the tutor with any relevant information about your child’s strengths, weaknesses, learning style and current academic performance. This will enable the tutor to customise their teaching approach accordingly so they can dive right in from day one.
- Gather Study Materials
Children should gather their textbooks, notebooks, homework assignments and any other relevant study materials that they have been working on. Sharing these materials in advance or bringing them to the first tutoring session will help the tutor gain insight into your child’s current academic focuses and their level of understanding so the sessions are as valuable as possible.
- Give an indication of your schedule and tutoring availability
How many days a week can your child commit to tutoring sessions and how long do you want them to have a tutor for? These questions are important as they will impact the programme a tutor designs for your child – there is no value in a tutor designing a programme that works to two weekly sessions over a 6-month period if your child can only do a single session for 8 weeks.
Similarly, if you know your family is travelling during school holidays or that there may be periods during which your child will not be able to attend sessions, notify the tutor in advance. This allows them to adapt their programme or explore the option of virtual tutoring and additional online resources (such as those outlined at the end of this post) to support your child’s progression during any intermediary periods.
- Set Up a Suitable Study Environment
Before and after sessions (and during if the tutor is coming to your home), you should create a quiet and comfortable study environment for your child that is conducive to learning. Minimise distractions, ensure a reliable internet connection if sessions are taking place online and make sure they have the necessary stationery and resources available.
What are the benefits of doing this prior to the first tutoring session?
If approached correctly, a tutor can offer numerous benefits to students and parents alike.
Personalised Attention
Tutors provide one-on-one attention that they might not receive in a classroom environment. If everyone comes to the first tutoring session prepared, students will receive support tailored to their specific needs which can address gaps in understanding and boost their academic performance.
Suitable Pacing
Armed with context about your child’s current academic performance and your availability, tutors can also adjust the pace of learning. The programme designed will reflect your child’s individual needs and ensure a child thoroughly understands concepts before moving on to new ones, reducing the risk of falling behind.
Filling Knowledge Gaps
Similarly, the more tutors know in advance about your child’s education to date, the simpler it is for them to identify and address knowledge gaps that may have accumulated over time. By ensuring a solid foundation, tutors can help students grasp complex concepts more easily and progress academically.
Boosting Confidence
With an understanding of your child’s academic weaknesses, a skilled tutor can help your child build their confidence by reinforcing their strengths, providing constructive feedback and guiding them through challenging concepts. Increased confidence can lead to improved motivation and a positive attitude towards learning.
Beyond focusing on specific subject areas, tutors can also help students develop effective study skills, time management techniques and organisation strategies. These invaluable skills transcend individual subjects and contribute to long-term academic success.
Approaching the first tutoring session can be a transformative step in your child’s educational journey and a tutor is a partner in your child’s academic growth. By carefully selecting the right tutor, setting clear goals and making necessary preparations, you can maximise the benefits of tutoring and equip your child with the support they need to unlock their full academic potential.
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Useful resources:
- Education.com – An online platform with a range of educational resources for students and articles for parents to support outside of tutoring sessions.
- Khan Academy – An online non-profit organisation that provides free educational resources, including instructional videos and practice exercises to support students beyond tutoring sessions. It is worth noting that Khan Academy reflects the US grades / year groups but there is still a lot of common ground with the UK in terms of learning material and subject matter.