Primary Times West London Feb 17

To tutor or not to tutor?
Tutoring has long been the go-to choice of anxious parents
trying to ensure a coveted grammar school place or for
children who are struggling to keep up at school.
Tuition can help children with their
self-confidence; provide an extra
challenge in their strongest areas;
help prepare for exams; catch
up after absence; help grasp key
concepts in maths or literacy.
Whatever the reason, tutoring
has been shown to help improve
school performance, confidence
and self-esteem, as well as help
children develop independent
study skills and learn at their
own pace.
How to choose the right
tuition for your child
In the past, choosing a tutor
was largely based on personal
recommendation, but nowadays
there are many different tutoring
services to choose from:
One-to-one tutoring at home
These lessons usually take place
in the home. One-to-one attention
may be required if a child is really
struggling in a subject or if they
have a complicated learning style.
One-to-one and small group
tutoring at a study centre
A tutor will be responsible for
no more than six children at a
time. The tutor works with each
child on their own individualised
learning programme and also
encourage independent learning.
When children study alongside
other children in a small group, the
pressure of one-on-one attention
is taken away. Tutoring as part
of a small group is more cost
effective than individual learning.
Online tutoring
Online tuition uses programmes
such as Skype or Google+.
Private online tutors are cheaper
as they will not be required to
travel and may tutor more than
one student at once.
very quickly be able to gauge their
level of understanding and identify
any misconceptions and deal with
them effectively.
2. Engagement
Engaging a child’s interest is
paramount. If the student is
interested, they understand, and
once they understand they gain
confidence and improve much
more quickly.
3. Flexibility
Tutors should create an
individualised learning
programme, according to each
specific child’s needs and learning
style, to help them reach their
‘eureka’ moment or see difficult
subjects in a new light.
4. Variety
The more resources a tutor
can use during the session, the
better. Some study centres, have
developed their own resources
using teams of maths and English
specialists which are designed to
meet the outcomes of the National
Curriculum - this makes the work
directly relevant to pupils.
5. Independence
Guidance and assistance
should be given by the tutor,
but one of the main aims is
to give children the ability to
tackle and consolidate learning
independently. Often small pieces
of homework will be given to
encourage this. It really makes a
difference!
Contributed by Becky Nicholson,
Centre Manager,
First Class Learning
www.firstclasslearning.co.uk
Fine motor skills are essential
for performing everyday skills
like cutting, self care tasks (e.g.
managing clothing fastenings,
opening lunch boxes, cleaning
teeth) and pencil skills.
“You can race to see who
does everything up first.
It can really be a lot of fun!”
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What to expect
from your tutor
Whatever learning style you
choose, the tutor should provide:
1. Understanding
A tutor should be familiar with
specific aspects of the curriculum
your child needs to cover and will
To advertise in Primary Times call 01491 411848
Primary Times, West London • February Half Term 2017
9