Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the questions we’ve been asked by parents and students about tutoring.
If what you want to know isn’t here then drop us a line and we’d be pleased to answer that for you.
How does online tutoring work?
We can connect with you via Zoom as this provides the best combination of images and the ability to type input. Technology permits both tutor and student to ‘see’ the same documentation and it’s easy for any written work to be scanned or photographed and sent to and fro. There are many ways we can work together, try us and see how you find it.
How long is each session?
Tutoring sessions are sixty minutes duration, but can be longer depending on a student’s requirements. Sessions can be held weekdays after their schooling, or weekend mornings. The exact time will depend upon the age of each student and where they are in their studies.
Why do you tutor online?
There are many advantages to online tutoring including providing less disturbance to families and being able to fit more easily into timeslots that would be otherwise unavailable. In addition, where additional sessions might be required, those can be arranged on a mutually agreed, ad-hoc basis too. During the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdowns, online tutoring meant our tutees were able to progress with their studies or have support with their teacher-led classwork, without breaking any social distancing rules.
Do you tutor at clients’ homes too?
All tutoring is carried out at your home, it’s just that we’ll be there in ‘virtual’ person rather than sitting next to your child at their desk. This provides significantly more flexibility than with face-to-face tutoring since we can provide sessions at a wider range of times for you than would otherwise be possible. We usually tutor via zoom, however, we can work via other methods if there are connectivity issues.
What equipment do I need for my child?
You’ve quite probably already got everything you need for us to get started. We usually work over Skype or Zoom, which are free to install. Some students prefer to listen to us through headphones or earbuds or the speakers on their laptop, PC or Mac.
To speak it’s possible to use an inbuilt mic or the one in their headphones or earbuds. If your PC, laptop, tablet or Mac doesn’t have a video camera it’s possible to purchase and install an inexpensive one. Depending upon the subject tutored and its level it can be useful to have a graphical tablet to allow quick and easy interaction.
It’s not essential, however. If required we can suggest some inexpensive items which will be quite suitable. If any event, we’ll help you to check your setup during an introductory call.
What subjects do you tutor?
We tutor across the breadth of subjects set within school entrance exams. This includes: Maths, English, Comprehension, Verbal reasoning, Creative Writing and Non-verbal reasoning. Depending upon your target school’s requirements we will focus on the multiple-choice question paper formats or the open-format question paper format.
Do you tutor during school holidays?
Yes. There have been many research articles produced which have shown that students, of all ages, suffer a learning loss during extended breaks. With this in mind, we will always aim to continue tutoring during the school holidays. Where families are taking holidays during holidays we will do our best to adjust your child’s tutoring sessions accordingly.
What ages do you tutor?
Depending upon the nature of the tutoring required, we usually tutor from age 5-6 KS1 through age 11-12 KS2.
How much does tutoring cost?
If you complete our contact form we’ll send you details of our current fee rates.
How and when do I pay?
Tutoring sessions are invoiced monthly in advance.
Are there any other fees?
No. We don’t charge any additional signing-up or pre-preparation fees. Other than any books we might suggest your child has to augment their tutoring sessions with us you will only have to cover our tutoring fee.
Can you help with selecting a school for our child?
Yes, we can. We can assist you in reviewing your options regarding state schools, Grammar schools and private (fee-paying) schools. For private schools, we can help you to identify possible scholarships or bursaries that might be appropriate for your child’s specific abilities and your family’s financial circumstances.
Contact us
To find out more about how we could support you and your child’s aims for their education please complete our enquiry form and we’ll reply as soon as possible.