Science tutoring?

[benetint]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice? I home educated my daughter until she was 8 but we have since relocated and she's back in school so I'm a bit out of touch!

At the moment I'm at home in the day as my daughter still really needs me before and after school but I tutor every evening when she's in bed. I absolutely love tutoring but unfortunately I'm having to turn lots of students down as there just aren't enough evenings in the week! What I'd really love to do is tutor other homeschooled children while my dd is still at school (and maybe alongside if I need to take her out again?) but most of my tuition requests are for evenings/weekends. So I wondered where do people look for homeschool tuition? I tutor chemistry to A level, biology to GCSE and science to key stage 3. Thanks so much for any help.

[streakybacon]

I use university students who are studying the science subject my son is working on. I also have one for English and History. It keeps costs down because they don't charge qualified teacher rates and are keen to work to my spec rather than their own. Home educators are often working to a tight budget so you might have to consider reducing your charges to tap into that market.

[bochead]

How about approaching the online schools & tutoring services?

First College
Interhigh
Briteschool

are the UK ones I've come across.

Or check out the educationotherwise.org website and approach local groups? I know the one in bridgend runs GCSE courses in subjects as diverse as Welsh and astronomy for the economy's of scale and ease of having an exam centre to hand. The only thing is they rotate the subjects offered each year as there's no restriction on when homeschoolers do their GCSE's so they tend to spread them out from age 13 - 18. Doing this means each child eventually gets a crack at a wide range of subjects. I suspect others around the country will do the same.

Or approach the correspondance services like Little Arthur.

[dominiqueHamilton]

Where abouts are you located?

[wordsmithsforever]

There's a company around my neck of the woods (far away from the UK) which runs science mornings for groups of children. Not sure if that might interest you? So they'll spend a morning with 10 or so children doing physics or chemistry experiments - from what I gather it's aimed at primary school so they tend to use safe acids (lemon juice), etc. My DC haven't done them but it seems like one of the home ed parents "hosts" the group and the company travels to them - their link is www.experilab.co.za/index.html - although I suppose you'd need all the equipment which could be expensive?

[benetint]

Thank you all so much for your messages.

Streakybacon, thanks for letting me know what you do - can I ask where you find the university students? (it might give me an idea where to advertise). That's a good point about rates, at the moment I charge £30 for evening/weekend lessons but I'd be happy to charge much less for lessons during the day.

[benetint]

Bochead, your post has been so useful thank you so much! I'd not considered online schools but that's a great idea, thanks for all the information.

[benetint]

Hi Dominique, I'm based just south of Birmingham.

[benetint]

Wordsmithsforever, that sounds lovely! There's so much exciting chemistry you can do using simple kitchen equipment isn't there! It would be such a dream to set up something like that!

[streakybacon]

I have had tutors from University Tutor and UK Tutors

It is probably worth having a look through the profiles listed there to get an idea of how to sell your services and to make your listing more competitive.

[bobbysgirlfirst]

Benetint i have sent you a pm.

[benetint]

Thanks streakybacon, I really appreciate your help. I advertise currently on uk tutors - I've been really pleased with them as they've find students for me daily. Unfortunately though none of these have been homeschoolers. It must be a rates thing - maybe I could include a discount in my profile for 'off peak' tuition?

[benetint]

Thank you so much for your pm Bobby'sgirl, I'll email you all the details this week. Take care