Does My Child Really Need a Tutor?

A tutor could help to boost your child’s confidence, motivation and grades. But how do you know if your child actually needs a tutor?

Here, we’ll cover some of the signs that you need a tutor for your child, and answer all your questions.

Does your child need a tutor?

Every child deserves the best education. But unfortunately, many schools are struggling to make this a reality, with a combination of budget cuts and growing class sizes.

Many parents are now turning to private tutoring to help give their children the boost they need and the grades they deserve.

Tutoring comes with a ton of benefits for students of all kinds – from improved confidence and self-esteem to better grades and help reaching key goals, such as university entry.

However, there are a few signs in particular that your child really does need a tutor.

1. Your child is struggling at school

The biggest reason that kids struggle at school is that they never fully mastered the basics.

Imagine if you had to learn algebra when you were still trying to get to grips with basic multiplication. It would be almost impossible!

Schools can’t work on the basics forever. They have to quickly move on to other, more advanced topics in order to get through everything on the syllabus. This is often why kids get left behind.

That’s where tutoring comes in.

A tutor can fill any gaps in your child’s knowledge, even if that means going back to square one. If your child needs to recap the basics, then they can.

This will give your child the basic understanding they need so they can catch up with the rest of their class.

“My tutors are really good. If I can’t understand something they don’t carry on, I can let them know and they go back and explain it until I get it.”

– Edward, GCSE student

2. They’re not getting enough attention in the classroom

Class sizes are growing fast. As more schools struggle to get the funding they need, it’s becoming harder and harder to cater for the sheer number of pupils.

That’s not good for your child.

The lower the pupil-to-teacher ratio, the better. In a class of 20 kids, your child gets a 20th of the teacher’s time and attention. In a class of 30, that drops to a 30th.

Even then that assumes the teacher’s time is shared equally. Generally, the highest performing students don’t need any help so the teacher can spend less time with them. The worst performing pupils often require more help, and will command the teacher’s attention.

Those in the middle, who struggle with specific topics, won’t get as much time.

A tutor, however, is able to provide the attention your child needs.

Lessons are done on a one-on-one basis, which means every single lesson is focused on the exact areas your child struggles with.

3. Your child finds it hard to focus

A lot of children simply aren’t suited to a classroom.

If they get bored and restless, they can end up disrupting their own learning – and even sometimes that of their classmates. They may also get in trouble.

On the other hand, tutoring isn’t school.

Firstly, your child will be in a one-on-one setting. This means there are no distractions – they can’t talk to their friends, they can’t fiddle with their pens. They have to focus completely on their tutor.

And secondly, your child can learn somewhere they are familiar with, at a time that suits them – especially if you opt for online tutoring.

They’ll usually be able to concentrate better in a less formal environment, like a kitchen or living room. And if they’re more productive at a specific time of the day – like in the early morning before the school day starts – they can learn then.

At school, your child’s attention can wander and their learning will suffer as a result. Meanwhile, tutoring ensures they will be fully focused on the lesson, and they’ll end up making far more progress far more quickly.

In fact, it takes just 8 hours of tutoring on average to move up one GCSE grade!

4. They’re low in confidence

Struggling at school is extremely demoralising for any child.

They’ll be embarrassed because they don’t know as much as their classmates, and they may feel stupid as a result. They’ll also be frustrated at not being able to do the work.

Their confidence will start to slump, and as their self-esteem plummets, they’ll become resigned to the fact that they aren’t clever enough for school. It can be hard to recover from that, and they may adopt that attitude for the rest of their life.

Tutoring can steer your child away from that downwards slope, and set your child on the right path.

As they progress with tutoring, their work will start to improve. Slowly but surely, they’ll achieve the grades they wanted. They’ll stop feeling embarrassed at school.

In turn they’ll grow increasingly confident. They’ll recognise that hard work and determination pays off and they’ll ultimately learn to love learning. This attitude will serve them well for the rest of their life.

5. They’re getting bored

If your child is especially talented at a certain subject, then they’re likely going to become increasingly bored with their lessons at school.

Their teacher has to go at the pace of the class, and will have to stick to the curriculum.

Tutoring is usually seen as a way of helping those who are struggling, but it can also be a good form of teaching for those who are doing really well.

Learning should really continue outside of school, stretching beyond the syllabus. If your child is genuinely passionate about a certain subject, a tutor can help them develop their passion further.

If, for example, your child is studying GCSE Physics but is already predicted a high grade, tutoring can help prepare them for A Level and provide them with a head start.

It’s important to develop your child’s love for a subject before they give up on it and their passion dies out. Tutoring can help you do that.

6. They need help reaching their goals

No matter what your child’s age or how they’re performing at school, they’ll always have goals they’re working towards.

Perhaps your child wants to pass the 11 Plus so they can get into the best secondary school possible. Maybe they’re working hard to scrape a pass in their Maths GCSE. Or perhaps they need specific A Level grades to get into their first-choice uni.

Whatever their goals, the role of a tutor is to help your child reach them.

Tutors are skilled professionals who’ll have experience teaching students of all different abilities.

They’ll be able to develop a tailored learning plan that takes into account your child’s strengths, weaknesses and learning style to help them unlock their full potential and reach their goals.

In fact, the right tutor can be a fantastic cross between a teacher and a mentor.

Not only will they cheer your child on, but they’ll also give your child the motivation and tools they need to get to the finish line.

“I supported a cohort of learners with their English literature and English language GCSE examinations.

“My students were a group of mixed ability with different long-term goals.

“Some were grappling with learning difficulties such as dyslexia and were just looking for a pass grade.

“All of my students received the grades they needed for their next steps.”

– Anna W, English tutor

7. Your child isn’t reaching their full potential

Every parent wants their child to reach their full potential.

If you feel that your child currently isn’t, a tutor can be a great resource.

So, how do you know if your child isn’t reaching their full potential or not? Well, for many parents, it’s a gut feeling.

But for others, it’ll be triggered by milestones at school – such as mocks, a parents’ evening or a surprising drop in grades in a particular subject.

Either way, a tutor can step in to identify why your child isn’t performing as expected – and to help unlock their full potential.

In fact, 90% of Tutorful students improve by a grade!

Find a tutor today

In need of a tutor for your child?

Tutoring can turn your child’s life around. It can help struggling kids get a better grasp of the basics, help them to tune in and focus, and start their love affair with learning.

But it can equally stretch high-achieving children, helping them to unlock new goals and opportunities.

Finding your perfect tutor is only a few clicks away.

FAQs

How do you know if your child needs a tutor?

There are many signs that your child may need a tutor.

Just a few include being left behind in school, a sudden drop in grades, low confidence or needing help to reach their goals.

Should you get a tutor for your child?

If you think your child needs extra support to reach their full potential, you should consider the help of a tutor.

A tutor is a skilled professional who can give your child the one-on-one attention they deserve. In this way, they can help to improve your child’s confidence, boost their grades and unlock their full potential.

What age is best to get a tutor?

It’s never too early to get a tutor for your child.

However, many parents choose to get a tutor when their children are gearing up for big milestones in their education – such as preparing for the 11 Plus, studying for their GCSEs or making the transition to A Levels.

Do I really need a tutor?

Most students could benefit from a tutor in some way.

However, one sign that you really need a tutor is that your child isn’t currently reaching their full potential – and you don’t feel you can get them there by yourself.