How to choose a home tutor: a guide for parents

4 minute read · By the Tuitionly team

1. Be clear about what you need

Before you start looking, write down the answers to four questions. They make it much easier to compare tutors, and tutors can tell quickly whether they are a good fit.

• Which subjects? One difficult subject, or general help across several?
• What is the goal? Better marks, exam preparation, homework help or rebuilding confidence?
• When? Before school, in the daytime or in the evening, and on how many days a week?
• What is your monthly budget?

2. Check their knowledge of your child’s course

A strong degree is useful, but it is not the whole picture. Ask which classes the tutor has taught and whether they know the textbook your child uses. A tutor who has recently taught the same class will already know where students usually get stuck.

3. Look for someone who can explain

Knowing a subject and being able to teach it are different skills. In your first conversation, ask the tutor how they would explain a topic your child finds hard. Do they ask questions, or just talk? Good tutors check understanding and try a different approach when the first one does not work.

4. See what other families say

Ratings and reviews from other students tell you what a tutor is like week after week, including things an interview cannot show, like punctuality. On Tuitionly, only students who have started a tuition with a tutor can rate them. If a tutor is new and has no reviews, ask for a trial period.

5. Put safety first

Someone will be coming into your home and spending time with your child, so take this step seriously.

• Ask to see the tutor’s citizenship and certificates, or check whether they have been reviewed on the platform you are using.
• Meet the tutor yourself before classes begin.
• Have an adult at home for the first few sessions, and teach in a shared room where possible.
• Check in with your child regularly about how the sessions are going.

6. Agree the details up front

Most disagreements come from things nobody discussed. Agree the monthly fee and when it is paid, the number of sessions and how long each lasts, what happens if someone misses a session, and how much notice either side should give before ending the tuition.

7. Start with a trial

Give it two to four weeks, then ask your child: Do you understand the subject better? Do you feel comfortable asking questions? If the answer is no, it is fine to look for someone else. The right match matters more than the first match.