2nd January 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Eileen Huntingdon is the co-founder of Huntingdon Learning Centre, and in an article on Marketwatch.com’s website, she says that she thinks there are 5 important criteria that a parent must consider when searching for the best tutor for their son or daughter. Eileen says that good tutors have certain characteristics in common, and that parents should take time to assess each potential tutor’s qualifications and experience before making a choice.
The first thing that Eileen suggests parents look for is a customised tuition programme, something that will be tailored to a student’s particular needs, and not a tuition centre which follows identical programmes for every student. A second criterion, but related, is to check that your child will actually receive one-to-one help. Many organisations, which apparently offer tuition, in fact teach everything in groups, and this is not as effective.
Huntingdon also says that good tutors should have a history of success, be professional and have a passion for teaching young people. To find this out parents must ask tutors for evidence of the tutoring they have done before, preferably getting references from past students. She adds that more professional tutors will have had their teaching ability evaluated, either by a tuition agency, or another body, and will have a background (CRB) check.
Finally, Eileen says she feels that parents must consider the tutor as a person, and not just what they’re like on paper. Tutors should be patient and persistent, prepared to help a student through any difficulties long-term.