Private Tuition Guide and Advice For Private Tutors Providing Private Tuition.
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Home Tutors Directory offers a valuable platform by which tutors and prospective new students are put in contact. It is simple, straightforward, easily affordable and of the greatest benefit to both tutors and students alike. By utilising the internet, students are easily put in touch with individual tutors and agencies, with subjects categorised on a region by region basis. This medium operates to the advantage of all, and deserves everyone's support both as users and advertisers.
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Guidance, Help And Support For Private Tutors
So you want to start work as private tutor? I began tutoring in the summer of 1993 and my partner began in 1994 upon the completion of our degrees After each having a four year break to work in academic research we started a business in private tuition specialising in GCSE Science and A Level Biology and Chemistry. Our private tuition business is now in it's tenth academic year of trading and we have never looked back.
However like all small businesses we have been met with ups and downs and it has not always been plain sailing. When we began we learnt from our own experiences, our own mistakes and did not have any web sites to consult!
Because of this we would like to share some of our expertise with you to enable you to start work as a successful private tutor or if you are already a tutor to improve your private tuition business so it will go from strength to strength. This is only a guideline but we hope it will help you. This guide is primarily targeted at those wishing to be academic private tutors however most of the guide applies equally well to those of you wishing to tutor non-academic/vocational subjects such as alternative therapies etc.
As private tutors we hope that you find it beneficial, whether you are a currently a full time private tutor or part time private tutor, new to tutoring, or are considering setting up a private tuition service as a supplement to your main job i.e you are an NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher), supply teacher, retired teacher or perhaps a newly qualified graduate.We hope that you find the tutoring tips helpful
Starting Up as a Private tutor
There are several factors to consider when first starting up as a private tutor. The first of which is you have the necessary skills to make a success of private tuition. These skills include:-
- What skills does a private tutor need?
To make a good tutor you need several skills which include:-
- Personal and Social Skills
This obviously depends upon the subject you are tutoring, however the more of this criteria that you fit, the more likely you will succeed.
- An ability to work with people, especially children.
Remember that in private tuition you do not only come into contact with students under the age of eighteen you need to be able to communicate with parents / guardians, advertisers etc.
- Good communication skills and an excellent standard of literacy.
Being able to deliver private tuition so the student can interpret and grasp the subject is of paramount importance. It helps to engage the students and can also make learning fun.
- Enthusiasm & Dedication.
The catalyst to good learning is to instil confidence into the student. Enthusiasm and dedication gives this.
- Excellent Organisational Skills.
This is one of the essential skills of private tutoring. You need to devise a scheme to keep track of all your students and a plan that will allow you to cover all the topics that a student requires. You also need to keep track of any work you have given your students and any work you may have set that is outstanding. You also need good time management skills to make sure that you arrive at each appointment on time and have with you all the information you need to tutor that lesson. You need to be self motivated as you will usually be working alone unless you take work from a private tuition agency. It also pays to have information on each student, that you can find quickly, as quite often you may get parents phoning to chat with you about their child's progress, often when you least expect it. Whilst you could always ask them to phone back later it looks much better if you can instantly tell them that their child got 87% on an exam paper they did two weeks ago.
- Advice and Guidance - Qualifications & CRB Checks for private tutors
Most private tutors have a degree or equivalent. Some have PhD degrees whilst others have a degree and a Post Graduate Certificate In Education (PGCE). You do not require a PGCE to be a private tutor. This qualification is an extra certificate to qualify you to teach in schools and colleges. From our experience all individuals with the above mentioned qualifications each bring a wealth of experience to private tuition.
Criminal Record Bureau checks (CRB) have to be carried out by law by some employers and for those whose employment involves working unsupervised with children and vulnerable adults a more rigorous check called enhanced disclosure is required. It is not mandatory for a private tutor to be vetted. Understandably, some parents have concerns about CRB checks especially if their child is young. There will be a cost implication for a private tutor to gain a CRB enhanced disclosure check, but if you tutor mainly young children then we recommend that you pay for a CRB check to be carried out. You then have documentary evidence to show prospective parents and guardians and to reassure them of your suitability to work with young children. It is important to realise that as a private individual you cannot apply directly to the CRB to have yourself checked. Your application has to be endorsed by a registered body such as a school or tuition agency. However some registered bodies will endorse applications of private individuals, these organisations are called UMBRELLA BODIES and further details including addresses of umbrella bodies in your area can be found on the disclosure web site. For further information regarding CRB checks and enhanced disclosure we recommend you visit the CRB web site. Both CRB and Disclosure web addresses are on our links Page
- Advice and Information - Costs and overheads for private tutors
There are several costings to consider if you are to become a successful private tutor.
Where will you carry out private tuition?
If you just want to tutor from home, you must have a room where you are able to tutor. This needs to be free from distractions. You must take into account extra expenses such has electricity, decor any new furniture you may have to buy etc. The up side to
tutoring from home is that all your resources are at hand and you do not waste valuable tutoring time travelling between your students and you also do not incur travelling costs.
If you wish to travel to your students you may wish to purchase a car if you are able to afford one. Remember you have then to consider petrol, car insurance, MOT etc.
What times and dates will my students be available?
This depends on several factors. The more flexible you are the better. Most private tuition is carried out after 4:00pm weekdays and weekends due to the nature of schools finishing at around 3:30pm. However most post GCSE courses allow students free periods where private tuition can be carried out during the daytime. Also you must account that most students do not require private tuition during the summer holidays These factors will obviously effect your earning potential.
What age group and subjects do you wish to specialise in?
Obviously the more subjects you are prepared to tutor and the larger the age range the more your earning potential, although a word a caution on this one quantity does not necessarily mean quality.
When you have decided what levels and age groups you have decided to tutor it is advisable to invest in books, stationary and national curriculum resources.
It is essentials that you have up to date textbooks. You also have to remember that the education system in the UK is constantly changing so you must always be aware of the appropriate syllabi that you wish to tutor. You may also be required to supply past examination papers to your students.
Cancellation Fees.
When you start carrying out private tuition you always have to prepare for cancellations. When we began we found some students would call us half an hour before their booked session began to cancel. This is made even worse when you are very busy and some of your students have asked for extra bookings and you are so booked that you are unable to book them in. Often you may find that some clients do not even bother to call you and when you arrive for the lesson they are not there. A simple solution to this is to charge a cancellation fee. We ask for forty eight hours notice. We know of some tutors whom ask for payment in advance and if the student cancels that lesson then they forfeit the advanced payment. However we advise that on initial meeting you must state your terms clearly.
Business Cards
Always invest in a good set of business cards. This provides the parent/student with your contact details that they can have at hand. We have also found that if we give several business cards at the initial meeting, the cards are often passed onto prospective clientele.
Advertising as a private tutor
See advertising
Public Liability Insurance.
See legal issues.
Data Protection Act.
See legal issues.
Tax and National Insurance Contributions
See Legal issues
Business Accounts.
Most business accounts offer free banking for the first year. However after this you will have to pay bank charges. The main problem here is when payment is made by cheque. We advise that if this is the case then to explain to your client that you are paying bank charges on cheques and ask them to add this amount to their fee when writing out the cheque.
- Advertising as private tutor
The trick with placing your private tuition advertisements is to advertise in as many places and in as many types of media as possible. Some forms of tuition advertising are better than others but if you want to make a profit from private tuition you must not rely on just one form of advertising. Some of the different forms of tuition advertising that you may consider are outlined below.
- Word Of Mouth.
This is the best way of making a success of private tuition. The longer you are a tutor, the more experience you gain and the quicker your clientele will build up. As with any business personal recommendations count. The draw back with word of mouth though is that some clients are reluctant to tell anyone they have a private tutor. This can be rather frustrating, however you will always find every year that a fair few of your students got to hear about your private tuition service by word of mouth. We do not rely on this, but take it as an added bonus when past clients recommend our work.
- Tuition Agencies.
These are an excellent way of finding work. Although commission is taken, providing you fit the criteria i.e. qualifications and CRB Checks, we have found they are fair, reliable and guarantee work.
- Online Directories (such as this one)
- Local Paper/ Local Directory Advertising.
This also a good way of finding clientele. The drawback with this unless you have the resources to pay for this al year round it can prove to be very costly in the long term
- Cards In Local Shops/ Supermarkets / Post Offices.
This is cheap and often effective and can cost as little as 50p /week per advert. However do not expect a flood of phone calls, but you will always obtain some students from this.
When Should You Advertise?
The trick with advertising is not to put all of your eggs in one basket. One form of advertising will not fill your bookings. It is best to cast your net as wide as possible.
We find obtaining clientele is constant all year round. Although often the best times to ensure full bookings is from September to July. The very busy pick up times for clients is September up to December and January then March to June. However this is only a guideline and depends on the subject and age range you wish to tutor. Even after trading eight years we find that the most unpredictable happens and we are inundated with calls at certain times when we find in
years that we have not been!
- Legal Issues
This again is only a general guideline but we advise that you seek legal advice from a qualified professional first.
- The Data Protection Act 1998.
This is important because your business will be effected by the records and information you store about your students. You can obtain more information on this by visiting www.informationcommisionar.gov.uk.
Becoming a private tutor involves a degree of discretion. At all times you must make sure that you make no guarantee of the student's results and exam results that you prepare them for.
- Trading Standards.
You need to be aware of and understand the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 ( as amended 1994). You can obtain more information on this at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk.
- The Children Act
Obviously because you are working with children familiarise yourself and be aware of the Protection Of Children Act 1999 and Children Act 1989.
- Public Liability Insurance
- Tax & National Insurance Contributions.
If you are a private tutor you will be classed as self employed. With regards to this you must contact your local Inland Revenue Office for more information.
When a Student is Interested in Your Service
- Initial Contact.
We find even now, we sometimes get tongue tied on initial contact! So we have found that having a card near the telephone with the main points that you wish to get across listed on it really helps .
These tips may help when you get those phone calls
- Speak clearly
- Explain who you are
- Ask the prospective client
- Their name.
- The tuition they require (if they have not already informed you of this).
- Where they require tuition. i.e. their home or your home.
- The times they are available.
- Ask which syllabi they are studying and the areas they are finding difficult.
- Where they saw the advert. You can keep a record of this so you know which forms of advertising work best for you.
- Then explain a little about your service, your qualifications, experience and your fees etc.
If the client appears interested you may perhaps wish to arrange a convenient time for you and the parent /guardian and student where you will be tutoring them.
Always remember to have a pad and pen handy so you can write down contact details & phone number along with other details you have been given.
Do not be disillusioned if they inform you that they are only enquiring because 50% of the time this happens. However still ask for contact details because if they call back, you will then be familiar with their requirements.
- Before You Meet The Student
- Familiarise yourself with the syllabus.
- Research any of the student's area of difficulty.
- Have two copies of the student's syllabus.
- Have a pad & pen to take down details.
- Have your business cards at hand.
- Have your diary.
- Have a copy of any relevant details the parent/ guardian may wish to see i.e. qualifications, references, CRB checks etc.
- Make a list of any questions you may wish to ask.
- Dress smartly
First Impressions Count!
- Initial Meeting Of The Student.
- Introduce yourself with a handshake.
- Give a copy of the syllabus to both student and parent. Even now we find many students and parents are not fully aquatinted with their syllabus.
- Go through the syllabus & make a list of any topics the student is having difficulty. Ask the student their previous exam grades if any and what grades they need to achieve.
- Allow the parent/ guardian / student to raise any questions / queries they have i.e. showing them copies of any qualifications etc.
- Ask any further questions from your list and state your conditions i.e. cancellation fee.
We also advise that you ensure the parent/guardian that you will give them a regular update of the student's progress. This way if any problems arise you can lease this. Also most of the time the parent/ guardian is paying the fee and it is only courteous to give them an update occasionally.
- Ask the parent ? student / guardian if they have any further queries and answer them.
- Clarify times available and the number of lessons per week as well as the venue for tuition.
- Arrange a time to start tutoring.
- Further Tips for private tutors once your tuition service is established.
- Records.
We advise that you keep a record for each student of the topics covered, exam questions set etc.
This will give an indication of the work you have covered and the future work you need to cover. From this you can then tailor your tutoring time schedule to the more specific topic that the students finding difficult. Also there is nothing worse than having several students whom you are tutoring different syllabi to and confusing yourself over which topics you have and have not covered. Also this record will build a larger picture to pinpoint how the student is progressing.
- Remain professional at all times
- Remain enthusiastic.
- Remain organised.
- Prepare ahead
- Do not worry about competition.
No matter how you look at this there is always going to be private tutors in your area who tutor the same subjects as you. You always need to be aware of this. There will always be private tutors who offer a cheaper service whom you may believe are costing you business. So What? You will find that the longer you are a private tutor the more known you become. We find that price does not necessarily come into it within reason. Reputation and the fact that you deliver the goods will always outweigh a couple of pounds an hour less in fees. The fact that you are offer a first class service and are helping so many students fulfil their full potentials will always speak volumes.
Never lose sight of this.
We hope this guide has helped you. Good Luck & Happy Tutoring!
For more guidance regarding private tuition and to see another recommendation for Home Tutors Directory see Tutors Frequently Asked Questions, regarding online tuition advertising.If you are a private tutor or tutoring agency looking to place a private tuition advertisement online, Home Tutors Directory allows private tutors adverts to be seen, not only in the specific town where they tutor but also for several areas within a 25 mile radius.
For more information click on the frequently asked questions button below or click here to return to the Tutors Intro page.
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