Useful info and FAQs - May 2024
What will we teach?
We all work together as a team to build your child’s confidence and fill any gaps.
We will also prepare for exams and tests. Sometimes we will work on topics
linked to current school work, sometimes we might complete tricky school
homework but mostly we will be working on the subjects/ topics agreed at the
outset phone discussion and identified as a result of our assessments during the
initial block (half term) .
How will the sessions work?
We will require a quiet space with a cleared adult size table or desk and chair to
work with your child in live sessions. This table should be in a family room such
as the kitchen, living room or study. It is best if your child has a snack on the way
home from school or before the lesson starts as eating during a lesson makes it
very difficult for us to hear your child pronouncing sounds correctly and reading.
Please make sure they have also been to the toilet before the lesson starts.
We cannot work in a child’s bedroom.
When sessions are taking place you will need to be nearby: in the next room with
the door open. There must always be an adult over 18 in the house when
sessions take place. The parent should only be in the room/session if the child
needs significant help and this must be agreed in advance.
This applies to zoom sessions also.
Resources
Books - we will ask you to buy some text books once we have assessed your
child - please don’t buy any books for sessions without talking to us first as we
have particular books we like to use. Once we have told you which books to
purchase please have all the books ready for the sessions.
Other resources
*writing pencils (sharpened!) or writing pens
*ruler
*eraser
*paper or a workbook.
*colouring pencils are very useful for younger children
Please also have a box or folder for the books and keep them all together ready
for the session time. Train your child to have this all organised.
For Zoom Lessons only - Working Ipad or similar touch screen device or
Desktop Computer with a writing tablet and pen.
Wifi Code
During live sessions we often use our ipads to enable us to present information
and explain concepts so we may ask for access to your wifi to enable us to do
this.
Zoom Sessions
You should be in the waiting room five minutes before your session is due to
start. The session will finish at the end time - follow up is on WhatsApp.
If you need to contact us please use WhatsApp. We will use WhatsApp
(sometimes in Zoom sessions) to post session reports/issues as well as the
homework. iPads work better for writing on the whiteboard.
The Zoom login stays the same for every session. Please note the Zoom login
code as you can use this to log in even if you can’t find the Zoom link. Please use
your name or your child’s name as the Zoom sign in. Furthermore, please keep
the Zoom information near where the sessions will take place - on the fridge/wall.
We will post the Zoom code into the WhatsApp group too.
How long is a session?
Session times will be agreed before the start of a block. It is quite common to
start with 30 or 45 minutes a week and build up to 60 minutes when ready. The
first block is a trial block for both sides - meaning that timings/prices etc could be
reviewed after the first block.
The charge is for the time in the house/library/online so please ensure that your
child is ready for the arrival/start time. The session will finish at the stated end
time even if your child is late as we often have another lesson to start straight
after.
Feedback
Feedback will be included in the time of a live visit (55 minute session/5 minutes
feedback etc) or factored into the cost if you want longer feedback.
What you are actually paying for is: session preparation as well as delivery plus
homework and concise weekly feedback as well as a brief summary termly
report. Charges are reviewed at the end of the block as service beyond the
above (More detailed contact/more emails/messages etc) could lead to a higher
charge moving forward.
Our terms and Conditions
1. Price rises subject to review annually in April - we will let you know any price
rises four weeks in advance.
2. All lessons must be paid for at least 24 hours before the block ( half term)
commences; the same applies to the first payment for a one off trial lesson.
3. We will not arrive to teach the lesson unless it is pre-paid 24 hours before the
start time.
4. Cancellation - Please give us as much notice as possible and at least 24 hours
of a known need to cancel we will then roll over the lesson to the next block.
5. If more than 2 lessons in a block are cancelled we may have to review our
contract with you.
6. We will always try to give you 24 hours notice if we are unable to attend and
roll over any lessons to the next block or try to fit you in on an alternative day - usually in the half-term holidays. With regards to sickness: if your child is suddenly sick or off school please let us know - especially if the lesson is live we would prefer not to catch an illness that puts us
out of action - in these emergency cases we will always try to be reasonable and
provide a Zoom lesson or roll over the paid lesson to the following block or do the lesson in the holiday ideally. We usually only allow one cancellation per half-term in line with other agencies.
7. Notice period - once you have had your first block and wish to continue you
must give 4 weeks notice if you are planning to stop tutoring. This enables us to
find another student to fill your spot from our waiting list.
8. Contact Times - because of other time commitments we are unable to have
lengthy correspondence between sessions. Phone conversations tend to be very
occasional and not a regular event. WhatsApp is used alongside email. The
normal contact is on the day or the day after the session only.
These Terms and Conditions are subject to change (with notice).
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