Experienced tutors

Use a profile to identify relevant experience, then follow up on what it leaves unclear. A useful comparison includes the tutor’s own teaching role and examples of their approach.

Imagine a learner who finishes a task with hints but cannot start a similar task independently. One prospective tutor describes a long teaching career. Another explains having worked with this difficulty and asks to see an earlier attempt before suggesting a plan.

The second response gives you more relevant information at this stage. The first tutor may also be suitable: ask both how they would find out where the learner gets stuck, and what they would change after seeing an attempt. Listen for a reasoned response to that difficulty. Simply promising more practice leaves the choice of practice unexplained.

For a school-age learner, one approach worth discussing is a demonstration followed by a supported attempt and then an independent attempt, with prompts reduced as the learner becomes ready. This follows the EEF’s guidance on explicit instruction and temporary support. The useful question is how the tutor would judge when to reduce help for this learner.

For school-age learners, the EEF recommends targeting identified gaps and reviewing progress to adjust tuition. Its feedback guidance also emphasises giving pupils the chance to act on feedback. These provide useful starting points for a review conversation; agree checks that suit the particular learning goal.

Keep an early example of the learner’s work and compare it with a later attempt at a similar task. Ask what has changed, what help is still needed and what the tutor proposes next.

Each Latimer tutor sets their own hourly rate, shown on their profile. Check the current rate and discuss the likely lesson pattern before comparing the total commitment. A higher price alone does not tell you whether the tutor’s experience fits the learner.

Latimer tuition is online first and one-to-one, with pay-as-you-go billing after lessons. Lessons are arranged directly with the tutor. Use the proposed plan and review point to decide whether the cost and workload are sustainable.