How to find a tutor

Need a summer tutor? Look no further—our guide will show you how to find the best tutors for you this year.

Learner problems could vary from person to person. They may struggle to keep learning pace with their peers, lack confidence, or may need assistance to complete specific exams. If any of this sounds familiar, it may be time to hire a private tutor. 

Having access to a tutor can help students gain an edge in their studies. A weak high school student will have the firepower and confidence to face GCSE exams. Furthermore, it assists students in developing specialized study skills such as goal setting and time management.

Finding a Tutor in the UK

The tutoring industry in the UK is highly unregulated. Thus, there is no formal exam or qualification that certifies tutors. Anyone can claim to be a tutor legally– no governing body regulates the industry. 

Hence, getting suitable tutors could be tricky sometimes. However, you can always go to Google, type “find a local tutor,” and randomly pick who you think is a good fit. 

But that process could be detrimental to students’ academic performance. If you are unsure how to get tutoring, there are several actionable steps that can help you.

Know Your Needs

It is not advisable to pick a random tutor and hope it fits. You must identify the source of your problem. Poor performance in Physics, for example, could be due to an inability to process calculations. Without getting the reason for such a problem, your efforts could fail before you start. 

So, get answers from yourself, your teachers, or the counselor.

• Which subject do you need to improve?
• What kind of tutoring do you think would be most beneficial? Thorough classes, homework help, or study groups?
• What profile of teacher best fits you?
• Do you have a distinct learning style?

To start with, you’d have to answer these questions. Then, know where to find a tutor? Here are a few suggestions!

Get a Tutoring Agency Online

Teachers may not always be able to help you. Or it would be better if you had additional assistance. Then, online tutoring agencies might be the answer. However, it’s essential to contact the best tutoring services. Otherwise, you’d only have a pool of below-par tutors.

Websites like Tutors-4you, for example, have a strict vetting process for tutors. We have a large base of experts with vast knowledge and teaching experience from anywhere in the UK and beyond. You can find adequate help with the arts, pure sciences, math, and reading from anywhere and anytime. 

Online tutoring also saves you stress. The site automatically matches you up with the right tutor. Or allow you to interview and choose. Plus, payment is fair, secure, and accessible. On getting inadequate services, you can always order another teacher right away.

Peer Tutoring

Several studies have found that peer-to-peer tutoring can be a great way to learn. It can create more confidence and a deeper understanding of subjects and improve your grades.

It’s as easy as asking your child’s classmates to set up a virtual class. Peer tutoring can come in any way. It doesn’t have to be rigid. The baseline is getting someone within the same age group to teach.

Sometimes, you can find a slightly older college student as a tutor for your child. Being in the same age group makes such a tutor understand your child better. Thus, they can easily connect and become friends. Which only complements their learning.

Personal Recommendations

Social groups are reservoirs of great information. You can always find a local tutor from recommendations amongst peers, fellow parents, your mates, or anywhere.

It’s possible that the ideal tutor is unavailable when you need them. To that end, it is crucial to anticipate their availability and plan accordingly. 

Sometimes, even though good, recommended tutors may not be the right fit for you. Thus, it’s essential to do thorough interviewing even after hiring.

Virtual Learning Pods

Pandemic pods came up after the outbreak of coronavirus. Several families came together to open virtual learning platforms for their kids. As such, they hired teachers or interchanged the teaching duty amongst themselves.

Learning pods can help learners that need studying groups. They can juxtapose ideas, ask questions and offer suggestions on this virtual platform. Parents can also provide the school curriculum and web resources to enhance learning.

How To Find a Good Tutor — The Vetting Process

The best tutoring sites make your interviewing easy. Since tutors are all carefully chosen, your only task is picking the right fit from a talented pool of tutors.

So, if you’re wondering how to find a private tutor? Look into the following qualities.  

Level Of Knowledge in The Subject

Such a teacher must have enough knowledge of the subject. For instance, an elementary math school teacher may not be well-versed in advanced mathematics. Hence, he won’t be the right tutor for high-school students. 

Teaching Experience and Qualifications

Qualifications and experience also determine whether your tutor can teach a subject. Although a PGCE or BSc isn’t a must-have to be a tutor, you must demand specific minimum qualifications. 

When valuing their experience, you can ask the following questions:

• What years of active teaching experience do they have?
• Have they taught students in a similar age group or with comparable challenges as you?
• What is their style of teaching with previous students?

An experienced tutor can provide customized teaching. After determining the student’s weaknesses, the teacher can suggest solutions. 

The method could include educational games to make learning more enjoyable, recording lesson videos so that students can review them to reinforce retention, and so on.

Style of Teaching

Every student’s learning style is different. Discovering your own preferred method of study is essential. Then, marry such a style with the tutor’s way of teaching.

For instance, some students learn better with explanatory charts, diagrams, and visuals. Some prefer reading, while others learn by listening. You may assimilate better with online learning or face-to-face teaching. 

Teaching style also relates to the age of students. Elementary school students may need playful and friendly tutors. In contrast, high-school students may require an iron fist to learn. An affable tutor may be of assistance to those who lack confidence.

Price

Tutoring prices in the UK can vary. It could be as low as £15/ per hour or as high as £90/ per hour. However, prices can change based on your needs, location, subject, availability, and experience.

Meanwhile, price shouldn’t be the leading factor when choosing a tutor. Examine their value, experience, and fit. Only then can you check out the price. So, never rule out a tutor because the prices are too high. Or dismiss tutors as incompetent because of low prices. 

It’s also essential to examine the payment policies. Ask the following:

• How easy is their payment? Do they have varieties of payment channel
• What is their payment policy? Some tutors get payment after each session. Some want it upfront.
• Others may require payment weekly or monthly.

Tutors-4you, for instance, makes the payment process hitch-free.  Our discounted services ensure parents can get a tutor at £17 per hour. Although, the price can change based on certain conditions.

Feedbacks

Feedback helps you track your improvement. Therefore, before engaging a teacher, it is essential to establish a feedback approach.

10 Questions To Ask When Finding Tutors

1. What is your educational background in this field?
2. For how long have you been tutoring?
3. What are your teaching methods?
4. How do you structure your lessons?
5. Which format would you prefer for the tutoring classes: online or in-person?
6. How do you assess and track progress?
7. How will you give updates on my progress?
8. What are your strategies for motivating students?
9. When will you be available?
10. How will you make up for canceled lessons?