Hello from Robin Gibbons at Latimer Tuition!
One of the main questions I'm asked is how to find the right tutor for your child.
Of course, in running my agency, there are differences in how you and I would go about this. In my position, I use a few online tools to post and advertise tutoring roles, collect applications, consider responses in detail, interview, and vet the tutors. In your case, the approach will likely be less structured, but hopefully, with this brief article, I'll be able to give you some pointers on how to go about finding a tutor as a parent/client looking to find a tutor directly.
Questions to ask before choosing a tutor
- What is your teaching approach, and how would you find my child’s starting point?
- Which subjects, qualification, exam board and age groups have you taught?
- When are you available, and can you offer the continuity we need?
- What is the full lesson price, and what are the cancellation and rescheduling terms?
- What feedback and between-lesson practice should we expect?
- Can you share relevant references or reviews, with the referee’s privacy protected?
- What qualifications and safeguarding checks can we verify?
Use an introductory conversation to discuss a recent difficulty and how the tutor would approach it. With Latimer, the free introductory meeting is a chance to discuss fit and arrangements; it is not a full teaching lesson. Tutors set their displayed rates, and paid lessons are invoiced on a pay-as-you-go basis. Check the current process and service FAQs before agreeing lessons.
Where I would start looking
Ask other parents
Are you involved in any parent groups, online forums such as Mumsnet, or social groups with parents/guardians in a similar position to you? Ask around! Tutoring is fairly common, and likely someone within your circle has already done the hard work in finding a trustworthy tutor. Approaching a tutor through a referral may also allow you to secure favourable terms (pay rate as an example). Find out what your contact pays per hour/per month, and any additional terms of their engagement with the tutor. After contacting the tutor, you can ask more about how they work, and with the background info from your contact, you should be able to make a more informed decision on whether or not that tutor is the right fit.
Look locally
I often see flyers, leaflets, and business cards of self-employed tutors advertising their services within my local areas. Have a look around your workplace, gym, cafe, and if you're living in a slightly more "oldy-worldly" village, perhaps there is a village notice board with individuals offering their services.
Search for the subject and level
I often use detailed Google searches with strict search terms; punctuation marks such as quotation marks ("") allow you to be very specific with the search engine about what results you're interested in. Say you're based in Manchester (specifically Cadshaw as a very random example), and you're looking for a GCSE Maths tutor. I'd search: "Cadshaw" + "Manchester" + "tutoring" + "GCSE" + "Maths". Quotation marks can help narrow a search, but results still vary. Start with the subject, level and location or online preference, then check each result for the actual service you need. If no results come up, maybe lose one of the words, or try some variations, such as KS4 rather than GCSE, or Mathematics rather than Maths.
Consider an agency
If you're finding no results from the above efforts, an agency might be the ideal choice for you; let the agency do the work for you! Of course, the immediate criticism of agencies (Latimer Tuition included) is that we take a fee (commission) from the lessons our tutors conduct with you, hence pushing the price up for you as the end customer. This criticism is somewhat valid, and can be the case, but in Latimer's case, usually not... When I make a decision on tutor applications, we evaluate the tutor's price and consider if they've simply increased their price such that they earn the same as they do with their private clients where no agency is taking a cut. I try my hardest to steer away from these types of applications. My thought process here with these types of applications is explained below, please take a look!
My view on agency pricing
I look at a tutor’s proposed rate alongside their experience and the value a family will receive. My preference is for a rate that makes sense for the learner’s needs, rather than assuming an agency listing must be worth a premium.
Tutors set their own rates, so compare the actual displayed price and agreed terms. An agency fee does not establish that the teaching is better or worse. For a direct tutor, ask about invoicing, scheduling and what happens if the arrangement stops working. With an agency, ask which of those services it provides and how you can contact the tutor.
Qualifications and safeguarding checks
Qualifications: Consider the qualifications of the tutor you're speaking to. If they mention they have X, Y, or Z qualification, ask them for proof of this (usually certificates). If the tutor is being genuine, they'll likely be happy to provide this.
DBS Checks: A DBS check provides information that supports a suitability assessment; it is one part of safeguarding. Latimer accepts the required check before introducing a tutor to clients. The appropriate check depends on the role and eligibility. A certificate records information available when the check was carried out, and has no official expiry date. Organisations set their own acceptance policies.
The DBS Update Service lets legally entitled organisations check the status of an eligible certificate with the tutor’s consent. It does not issue a new certificate each year. The original certificate, identity and role suitability still need to be checked. Parents should follow the current DBS guidance for their arrangement.
Tutors we introduce to clients must meet our DBS requirements: an Enhanced DBS check with the Children’s Barred List, either registered on the DBS Update Service or issued within the last four years. A DBS check is one part of our assessment of suitability.
A final thought
In closing, I hope you found this article helpful! If you have any questions about tutoring or finding a tutor, please do let me know. You can contact me at RobinGibbons@LatimerTuition.com.
Of course, I will champion Latimer Tuition, but regardless, I'm happy to help whether you're a client or not!
Robin Gibbons
Founder & CEO