How to choose a tutor for your child
TutorAura guide · Updated
The right tutor depends on what your child needs: catching up on a topic, preparing for a specific exam, or rebuilding confidence. Start there, then look for a tutor whose experience matches, who gets your child doing the thinking, and who can show progress. Evidence reviewed by the Education Endowment Foundation suggests tuition is most effective when it's targeted at specific needs and linked to classroom learning, so look for a tutor who will work with what's happening at school.
Key takeaways
- Be clear on the goal before you search.
- Check relevant experience and safety checks.
- A good tutor gets your child doing most of the work.
- Book a trial session and review progress after about six weeks.
1. Be clear on the goal
Ask your child's teacher what would help most. Then write down the goal: "secure fractions and percentages before year 9", "prepare for GCSE Maths Higher", or "rebuild confidence in reading". A clear goal makes it easier to choose and to judge progress.
2. Check experience and safety
- Relevant experience: the subject, the age group and, for exams, the exam board or test.
- Safety: in the UK, ask about an enhanced DBS check for in-person tutoring; elsewhere, background checks. For online sessions, keep them in a shared room.
- References or reviews from other families.
3. Ask how they teach
Good tutors diagnose first, plan sessions around gaps, get the student doing problems and explaining, and set short practice between sessions. Be wary of tutors who mainly lecture or complete homework with the child. See questions to ask a tutor for a full list.
4. Book a trial session
Watch, or ask your child afterwards: did they do most of the talking and thinking? Did the tutor check understanding, and adjust when something didn't land? Did your child leave feeling more capable? The relationship matters, especially for students who've lost confidence.
5. Review after about six weeks
Look for less stress about the subject, better explanations in your child's own words, and improving class results. If nothing has changed, talk to the tutor about the plan or consider a different approach. See is a tutor worth it?
Considering cost
Prices vary widely; see how much a tutor costs and the tutoring cost calculator. An AI tutor can cover everyday homework help and practice for a monthly price, alongside or instead of a human tutor, depending on what your child needs.
Where to find a tutor
- Your child's school: teachers sometimes recommend local tutors.
- Other parents: word of mouth is often the most reliable.
- Tutoring marketplaces: a wide choice with reviews, but check fees and how tutors are vetted.
- Tutoring agencies: more vetting and matching, usually at a higher price.
Whichever route you use, check experience, references and safety for yourself.
Red flags
- Guaranteed grades or scores. No honest tutor can promise a result.
- No plan or diagnosis, just "we'll do homework together".
- Doing the work for your child, including homework or coursework.
- Pressure to buy large packages before a trial.
- Reluctance to share experience, references or safety checks.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a tutor or just more practice?
If your child understands the topic but makes mistakes under time, more practice may be enough. If they're stuck on the ideas or have lost confidence, a tutor's explanations can help more.
How much should I pay for a tutor?
It depends on the subject, level and location. In the UK, Tutorful reports averages of about £34 an hour for GCSE Maths and about £42 for A level Maths. Use our tutoring cost calculator to see the monthly total for any rate.
What if my child doesn't get on with the tutor?
Give it a few sessions, then talk to the tutor about what isn't working. If the relationship doesn't improve, it's fine to try someone else; trust matters a lot.
How often should tutoring sessions be?
Once a week is common. Fortnightly sessions can work for steady support when there's practice in between; more frequent sessions may help in the weeks before an important exam.
Should I choose a qualified teacher as a tutor?
Qualified teachers bring classroom and exam experience, but many excellent tutors aren't teachers. Look for subject knowledge, experience with the age group and exam, and a teaching approach that gets your child working.
Sources
- One to one tuition (Teaching and Learning Toolkit). Education Endowment Foundation.
- Small group tuition (Teaching and Learning Toolkit). Education Endowment Foundation.
Keep reading
Questions to ask a tutor before you hire them
A checklist of questions about experience, safety, teaching, progress, practical details and fit.
Signs your child might need a tutor, and what kind of help to look for
Common signs your child could use extra help, what to try first, and how to choose the right kind of tutoring.
Is a tutor worth it? When tutoring helps, and when it doesn't
What the evidence says, when tutoring is most likely to help, and how to judge if it's working.
AI tutor vs human tutor: an honest comparison
What each does best, what the research shows, what they cost, and when to choose one, the other or both.