How to make online tutoring work for your child

Although you might assume that online tutoring is ‘inferior’ to tutoring in person, there are actually many benefits to this way of working.
 
‘One benefit is that you have a huge choice of excellent tutors from across the country, rather than being limited to tutors who live nearby,’ says Nicola Anderson, chief marketing officer of MyTutor.

As with all things, online tutoring has its pros and cons.
 
One potential drawback is that it can be difficult to tell whether a particular tutor will have a rapport with your child without meeting them in person, so you should be prepared to put some groundwork into making sure you find the right person.
 
‘The best way to find a tutor who’s the right match for your child is to book some free meetings,’ advises Nicola. ‘Here, you can meet the tutor, talk about what you’d like to go over in lessons, and see how your child gets on with them before making any bookings.’
 
Although online tutoring is often cheaper than face-to-face tutoring, it’s not guaranteed.
 
‘Online tutoring won’t necessarily be the cheapest option, as some of the most experienced and in-demand tutors now only operate online,’ Jenny explains.
 
While some children thrive on the online format, others prefer to work face-to-face with their tutor.
 
‘My nine-year-old was seeing a tutor at home, but has now switched to online lessons,’ says mum Michelle Jackson. ‘She preferred lessons in person as they got through more work, and there are small inconveniences, like when her tutor is showing her how to work something out, she has to keep holding her notebook up to the screen.’
 
Technical glitches can also get in the way at times. ‘A strong internet connection is vital, so it’s important to check your internet speed, and if you’re worried it might be too slow, your internet provider should be able to help,’ Jenny says.

In some ways, online tutoring isn’t that different from tutoring in person: your child can cover the same work, get the same level of input, and have their work marked and feedback given by their own tutor.
 
‘The personalised nature of one-to-one tuition means that tutors progress at the student’s pace and explain things in a way that suits their learning style,’ says Nicola.
 
Technology is well set up for online tutoring, using programmes such as Zoom and Skype, and features like sharing screens. ‘Tutors and students talk using the live video chat, and the interactive whiteboard means they can share images, pieces of work and practice questions,’ Nicola adds.
 
Work is set in the same way as with a home tutor, according to your child’s needs and learning goals.
 
‘Tutors will email or upload work for the student to complete,’ Jenny explains. ‘The student can then either complete the work digitally or print it out, complete it by hand and scan it to return.
 
‘Tutors will then either mark the work digitally or print, mark and scan it to return to your child.’

As with hiring a face-to-face tutor, it’s important to make sure the person you choose is a good match for your child.
 
‘When you’re choosing, look at the tutor’s profile and see if they’re familiar with the exam board and have the right sort of experience that you’re looking for,’ Nicola advises.
 
‘You can then message the tutor to explain what your child needs, and they’ll let you know if they can help.’
 
Consider the type of person that would suit your child. For example, would they (and you) prefer an experienced tutor, or a competent A level or university student who could be a role model? Do they work better with male or female teachers?
 
Keep your child’s age and learning style in mind: ‘For primary-age kids, tutors can plan lessons around fun learning games and exercises to keep them engaged,’ says Nicola.
 
Jenny suggests setting up a 20-minute phone call with the prospective tutor before you make any decisions.
 
‘You can learn a lot about someone in a short space of time, and should quickly get a sense of whether they’ll suit your child,’ she says.
 
‘Use the opportunity to discuss their experience, teaching style and approach to online tuition. Do they seem organised? Do they send resources in good time ahead of each session? Do they understand your child’s goals? These are all important things to think about.’
 
Keep in mind that you want someone who has experience in online tutoring to help your child get the most from their sessions.
 
‘Online tuition can seem intimidating, technical and overly complex if you’re new to it, but a good online tutor will be skilled enough to make parents and students totally at ease with the online element,’ says Jenny.
 
If you’re not confident about choosing the right tutor, you may want to use a tuition service than can help you match your child with the best person.
 
‘We have a team of Tutor Experts who can match you up with the perfect tutor, whether you need someone to boost your child’s confidence or to support them with a particular need like dyslexia,’ says Nicola.