DIY 11+ tutoring: the parents' guide

What do you need to tutor your own child, apart from a vast amount of patience? The main thing is determination; by that I mean being able to stick at the commitment to tutor your child at home yourself because there will be plenty of distractions, interruptions, tantrums, tears and arguments along the way.

What do you do if your child is finding a particular concept hard and you don't know the answer? This is a common scenario which happens often when a parent is tutoring their own child.

First of all, if you don't know how to work out the answer to a particular problem come clean with your child and say so. There is no shame in admitting that you don't know, especially with some of those difficult non-verbal reasoning questions! Finding out the answer together will give both you and your child a great sense of satisfaction.

If you're using a structured 11+ learning programme like TheSchoolRun's 11+ Learning Journey the answer will be provided for you, as well as lots of links to further information. Most practice materials also have worked-out answers, and it's definitely advisable to look through any resources you're planning to buy to check that the answers are provided.

Try it! The sooner you start doing 11+ practice sessions at the beginning of Year 5, the sooner your child should settle into a routine and start some serious learning. Rather than calling it a lesson, which may be off putting for your child, you could try calling it “11+ time”, “study time” or “learning time”. It is important to make it clear to your child that this is a formal, set time when they must settle down to work for an hour or so and concentrate on their learning.

You also need to find a space where you won't be disturbed by other children, pets, cooking or the TV. If you're going to be at home, you'll need a table set up for your child to do their work on and it's best to keep distractions like the radio or noisy domestic appliances turned off. Avoid using your child's bedroom as that is their space and where they relax, not study!

Alternatively, could you go to your local library at the same time every week and work there?

Aim for an hour-long session, but if your child's concentration span (and your patience!) cannot last that long, try half an hour to begin with and then build it up.

You don't have to stick to an hour religiously though; try to be aware of how your child is coping with each session. If they are starting to wilt, don't be afraid to call it a day. Or on the other hand if they seem to be working well, there is no harm going over the hour limit. You as a parent know your child best of all, so just be aware of how your child is coping. Some books have charts for you to show your child’s marks each week, which can help you see their progress and encourage you both to keep going.

A good idea is to have a calendar to show what days / times thepractice sessions are going to take place, as well as important dates in the 11+ year, such as when the application form has to be in, or when  a grammar school’s open evening is taking place.

Be prepared to compromise on the timing of practice sessions on special occasions or during holidays, but make sure you make up the practice time and treat each session as a fixed appointment, as important as if you were paying for it.

If you're DIY tutoring, be prepared for other parents to suggest that you're very brave... while implying that they would never allow their child to be prepared for the 11+ by anyone other than a brilliant tutor!

Take all descriptions of amazing tutors with a pinch of salt. Parents who are considering home tutoring their child are often put off by tales from other parents about how fantastic their child's tutor is, how brainy they are, how long their waiting list is and how many thousands of children they've helped pass the test. Hmmmm... Obviously a tutor will be a qualified teacher and be very familiar with the format and requirements of the 11+, but there's a wealth of resources available to help DIY parent-tutors and the 11+ is an exam for ten- and eleven-year-olds, not university graduates! As a parent, you have a huge advantage: you know your child inside out and understand all their strengths and weaknesses and how best to deal with them, and no one wants them to learn and succeed as much as you do.

Don't feel daunted – you're the very best tutor your child could have. Enjoy the journey!

Mark Chatterton is the author of The 11+ A Practical Guide For Parents and webmaster of the 11 Plus Website.