Choose a professionally qualified teacher!
When I went back to work after having my second child I began the search for the perfect childminder. I needed someone who could fit around my working hours. Most importantly I needed someone who would allow my girls to feel happy and secure. Choosing who looks after your children is a job you make every effort to get right. You would think that we should spend the same time and effort to choose a tutor for our child.
When it comes to finding a childminder the process is surprisingly easy. Childminding is a regulated industry. Childminders go through home checks and prove that they will be providing a quality service before they can register. Once I had found a few childminders, I visited their homes to get a full picture. Luckily for me I found a lovely lady who looked after my 2 girls for many years.
Unregulated Tuition
It makes sense that parents would want to have the same level of confidence and reassurance when choosing a tutor for their child. However, unlike childminders, tutors do not have to go through the same checks and balances. If you look online you can get the names and phone numbers of many people offering their services as tutors, who have no teaching qualifications . They may have passed exams in their subject area or be graduates but many are not qualified teachers. A qualified teacher knows how to get the best out of your child. Knowledge of the subject and experience in how to adapt the teaching to your child’s learning style is why it is important to make sure your child’s tutor is a qualified, experienced teacher.
So how can you make the right choice and choose a tutor for your child?
Here is a check list to help you make the right decision.
Is the tutor a qualified teacher?
Make sure you ask to see the certificates that prove the tutor is fully qualified. Teachers really do have the experience and crucially the curriculum knowledge to make sure your child is completing appropriate work for their stage. They are trained to teach and to adapt their teaching style to the needs of individual children.
Has the tutor been checked by AccessNI?
Ask to see their certificate. Insist that they go through this check before they commence tutoring. This gives you peace of mind that your child is in safe hands.
Will they assess your child?
All children are different and come to tuition with different levels of ability and therefore the starting point is never the same. Will your tutor check their level and put together an appropriate plan of action designed to meet the targets you require?
What feedback will the tutor provide me?
One of the benefits of having your child tutored should be that unlike school you receive detailed feedback after each lesson. This allows you to discuss their progress and any areas that your child is struggling in.
What resources will the tutor be providing?
Make sure the resources being used are up to date and appropriate for the curriculum.
Where will the tuition take place?
Will the tuition take place in your house/their house? Make sure that the area chosen is quiet and without distractions. Or will the tuition be provided in a professionally equipped tuition centre?
Is the tutor paying their taxes?
Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies is not always the best policy! It is easy to turn a blind eye and say this doesn’t matter, however the government has been having a crack down on tutors that do not pay their taxes in recent years and you might not want to be involved.
At On Target Tuition in Lisburn we provide parents with peace of mind.
Our tutors are:
- Fully qualified and experienced.
- AccessNI checked.
- We provide an assessment. This identifies any strengths and weaknesses and is used to develop a programme of study designed to target these areas. Assessment is ongoing and embedded in every single lesson.
- We provide detailed feedback after each lesson.
- Our tuition centre is professionally equipped. We have a wide range of resources including professionally designed worksheets, modern textbooks, computer software, multi sensory learning aids, a wide range of past papers and appropriate stationary.
- As well as being fully qualified, highly experienced and well equipped, we also pay our taxes.
Make sure you choose a tutor who is friendly and who your child likes!
If you want to find out more about the quality service we provide please give us a call on 92675071 to book an assessment. This will also allow you to have a look around our centre. Visit our website to find out more.