Tutoring

Wizzbang

ryry91 wrote: »

Hi there,
I was a TA (1:1 like yourselves) and started out tutoring over a year ago. I started off with just one child and now tutor five children Monday-Friday evenings. As I am not a qualified teacher, I offer a reduced rate and ensure the families I meet understand that whilst I am not a qualified teacher I have experience in developing children's learning in both a supporting role and in formal teaching situations.

The best way - if your school allows - is to put the feelers out to your parents. I am very fortunate that my school doesn't have a problem with me privately tutoring the pupils in our school so long as it is not on school premises, however some schools may frown on this. Also put the feelers out there on Facebook, I am sure someone will know someone (who may know someone and so on...) who is looking for a tutor.

Also, play to your strengths; there is a small market for specialist SEN tutors, in particular parents who have children with Autism may prefer to have someone who is more experienced at working with an Autistic child on a 1:1 basis. I do SALT and Social Skills with one of my children I tutor so there is definitely a market out there.

There are also some apps for smartphones/tablets that act as a tutoring, not sure if I am allowed to put up the name of the app I used but it cost me £7.99 a month to be a gold member and I filled all my tutoring spaces in a 3 months. Again I made sure I made it clear that I was not a qualified teacher but very experienced in working with children.

I hope this helps somewhat

Advice to anyone else considering this, it is highly unprofessional and unethical to seek out tutees at the school you work at. You'd be lucky to keep your job if you were found to be doing this. You can put out adverts elsewhere and if a student happens to find you because you're local, that's one thing. But totally not on, to be advertising your services at the gate or whatever.

I would also be very careful about offering SALT and other health and social care on the side. You could find yourself being reported to the HCPC and open for prosecution. These are specialist skills that you should only be offered by healthcare professionals with the appropriate skills and training. There is a reason why there is a professional register for these things and there are protected titles etc.

Bear in mind that you will also need to advise your home insurance if you are working from home. Your local council will want to know if people are going to come to your house and may not allow this. If you are lone-working, then you want to be very clear and careful - have procedures in-place etc. I certainly would not want to work on my own, in my home with children these days. You are opening yourselves up to all sorts of things. You will need many different kinds of insurance to protect yourself, your home, equipment and the children you work with. You will also need specialist CRB checks and so on. On top of registering with HMRC, getting a UTC and filing a tax return.

Just make sure you are 100% clear what you are getting into.

fraserbooks

Have you thought of training for English as a second language? My daughter took a CELTA qualification on top of her degree and now teaches adults in small groups.

MrJones1

You should give the suggestion by @fraserbooks a big consideration. There's a big market for teaching English to people as a second language. Offer your services on Gumtree and agency websites.