Are you considering hiring a private tutor to homeschool your children? Perhaps you’re exceptionally busy with work, undertaking long hours and travelling around the world, or maybe you’re considering homeschooling due to a lack of faith in the public school system. There are many reasons why you could be looking for a private tutor to teach your child or children. But, with so many tutors out there, you’re also probably wondering “how do I choose a private tutor?”. Here are our hints and tips on going about the process.

Why are you looking for a tutor?

One of the first things to consider is exactly why you’re looking for a private tutor, and what their role will be. Are you looking for a full time, live-in tutor to deliver a full homeschooling programme and complete curriculum, or are you simply looking for someone to provide a small amount of tuition after school, during the holidays or approaching exam periods?

Approach a private tutor agency.

One of the best ways to find a private tutor which suits your exact needs is to approach a private tutor agency such as ourselves. Here at Beacon, we specialise in providing professional tutors to clients around the world. Our experts will initially ask you a number of questions around the potential opening, including the location, the salary and benefits and what you’re looking for to name a few, however there may be additional questions which arise as a result of the conversation.

What to look for in a private tutor.

There are many aspects to consider when looking for a private tutor, not least aspects of the individual tutor themselves. Here are a few things you may wish to look for in the search for your tutor…

Qualifications: The qualifications of your tutor should be one of the top considerations in the decision making process. After all, the person responsible for educating your child or children should have a strong academic background themselves!

Experience: Experience is key when it comes to tutoring. Your ideal tutor should have a substantial background in tutoring and offering tailored educational plans to children. You may go even further with wanting to ensure your tutor has experience in dealing with children of a similar age to your own.

Specialisms: It’s possible that you would like a particular emphasis on a specific subject or combination of subjects when it comes to educating your child. If that’s the case, then it may be beneficial if the tutor you hire has a specialism in that particular area, either through academic background or their practical experience in a similar capacity.

Personality: The personality of your tutor is really important. They should have a positive, encouraging attitude, be personable, and able to keep your child or children motivated on the course of learning, particularly in relation to subjects which the tutee struggles with or finds dull and boring! A lot of the child’s success will not be as a result of what is learned, but how they learn the information, and a positive relationship with their tutor will play a huge part in that process.

Of course though, it’s also vital that you are able to communicate and build a relationship with the tutor, particularly in those cases where they will be living or travelling around the world with you!

References: One of the best things you can do when looking to hire a private tutor is to check their references. Find out what their previous employers have to say about them and their ability, and ask them as many questions as you can. All of Beacon’s tutors are thoroughly vetted and references checked, taking the hassle out of this part of the process.

What can YOU offer the tutor?

Every tutor should be asking what their prospective employer can offer them, not just in terms of financial package or benefits such as accommodation, but also relating to long term development. So consider what makes your opportunity the most attractive to tutors. The best clients want the best tutors, and it’s exactly the same the other way around.

If you would like more information about how to choose a private tutor, or how Beacon can help you find the best private tutor for your needs, then get in touch with us today, and one of our team will be happy to offer you a confidential consultation.