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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To continue working exclusively online in september

73 replies

rosesinmygarden · 05/07/2020 15:15

I'm a private tutor. Primary ages mostly. I've been continuing to tutor online since lock down started.

I don't plan to go back to face to face tuition in September and whilst most of my families are ok with this, some have acted like I'm being ridiculous.

The fact is, I tutor 25 children a week in my home office which is approx 3m squared, all one to one, but they come from 5 different schools and various year groups. I feel that for it to be safe, I'd have to wear PPE and be 2m apart which probably isn't realistic in my officd. I don't trust parents to not send their children if the have symptoms (I've had sick kids turn up many many times).

I just feel like online tuition is actually far more effective and safe for everyone involved than them coming to my office and me being 2m away with a silly visit on!

Just to be clear, I have no issue with parents withdrawing their kids, that's their prerogative anyway. I just don't like being made to feel guilty and that I'm being ridiculous by not letting them attend tuition face to face.

OP posts:
NothingIsWrong · 05/07/2020 16:00

I wouldn't pay full price for a Zoom session to be honest.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 05/07/2020 16:08

Thanks for your thoughts everyone but this is getting a little personal to be honest.

I wasn't asking for your opinions on my prices or whether online tuition is worth it.

I was asking whether I was overreacting to think working online would be the best option safety wise. Sorry if this wasn't clear! It seems most people think I'm being reasonable to my actual question.

Thanks again.

OP posts:
IsletsOfLangerhans · 05/07/2020 16:13

I’d like to understand why people think charging the same for online tuition (as face to face) is cheeky? All music teachers I know are charging the same, regardless. I am spending probably more time preparing for online lessons ( adapting resources etc), providing the same amount of my time and the students get exactly the same standard of teaching. Why is it worth less?

1Morewineplease · 05/07/2020 16:23

Staying safe, as much as you can, is paramount now.
When schools go back in September, measures will still be in place to keep the mixing of classes and year groups to a minimum.

Seeing as your client base is from different schools then it will be difficult to prevent cross contamination, as it were, and you’d be putting yourself at risk too.
You would also have to clean and disinfect your furniture, door handles and equipment too, in between each client.
Children may still not be able to use the same books and you’d need PPE if ever there was a minor injury. Surely that would increase your face to face charges?

Maybe carry on as you are and review your decision at a later date.

As another poster said, you might be able to increase your client base from further afield, too.

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 05/07/2020 16:23

I guess parents will think of a school full of teachers can return face to face in september why cant their tutor.

Id certainly prefer face to face so I can see why they'd be frustrated of the assumption was to return to f2f.

Mistressiggi · 05/07/2020 16:23

One of the reasons we stopped going to our tutor was the travel, so I'd be keen for online sessions personally.
I suspect they should be cheaper though in the same way that take away is cheaper than eating out, though I'm not sure I can justify why!

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 05/07/2020 16:24

Half of mumsnet seems to ridicule anyone worried about contamination from touching etc.

However I'm not planning to go near anyone I dont have to!

user187428496 · 05/07/2020 16:26

Especially when lockdown is over

Why do so many people lack the basic intelligence to distinguish between lockdown ending and the pandemic ending?

shufflestep · 05/07/2020 16:29

I'm a piano teacher, and I've also had issues with one or two families - the ones that won't even try online lessons. I am going to offer a 'mixed' service come September, where people coming for face to face lessons will have to sanitise their hands when they arrive, and wear a mask (as will I). Effectively their lesson will have to be slightly shortened to allow for cleaning the piano keyboard between students. I am also going to continue offering online lessons for those who prefer it, or a mixture of the two.

For those who say they wouldn't pay the same for online teaching, well it takes me the same amount of planning, and often more preparation - for example I have to scan and email sight reading over before the lesson. I've also had to buy a new webcam so that I can move it around to focus on my face, the keyboard, the music or the pedal as the lesson demands. Many of my students have actually improved more than expected, especially with sight reading, since they have to mark their music up themselves, meaning they think about it more than if I pencil things in for them, and they are more willing to try reading a piece of music since I'm not right beside them.

LaurieMarlow · 05/07/2020 16:29

It’s entirely up to you to set your conditions. Just as it’s entirely up to your clients to decide whether your service is worth the ticket price.

I don’t think there’s anything more to say than that. If you need more info, surely you should be sounding out your clients?

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 05/07/2020 16:31

If you have a waiting list and prefer to offer online only, do it.
Probably a more efficient business model - no travel costs or time. Do it for a while, if you don't get the number of clients you can always revert to face2face, or reevaluate pricing & market based on reduced time and costs - and as a PP has suggested, you have a wider catchment area online.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 05/07/2020 16:33

& University fees are going to be the same regardless of whether online or face2face.

LaurieMarlow · 05/07/2020 16:37

University fees are going to be the same regardless of whether online or face2face.

No fucking way would I pay 9 grand for online tuition from a second rate university. I suspect I’m not alone in that.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 05/07/2020 16:47

My planning time has increased since going online. Everything has to be planned in detail in advance so it can be interactive on the screen rather than just grabbing my resources off the shelf.

I've also had to invest in new equipment and subscriptions to services such as Zoom and bit paper to ensure I can provide the best possible service.

I also find that I'm contacting paremts far more and providing far more detailed feedback.

All my students have made progress. I have two who have concentration level issues and I personally think they'd fare better with a face to face tutor.

I think my biggest concern is that infection rates will rise with the return to school and some parents lie about their child being ill so that they can still bring them to tuition.

Teachers in schools are being advised (from September) to remain at the front of the class in a 2 metre zone and to avoid spending more than 15 minutes in close proximity to a child when the 2 metres isn't possible. Children will be in restricted bubbles and will possibly not be allowed to use public transport to travel to school.
So, my personal opinion is why would it be a good idea for those same children to be attending in person tuition?

I'm really hoping things change by September as I would love to welcome everyone back, but feel it wouldn't be responsible to do so right now.

OP posts:
Dinosauratemydaffodils · 05/07/2020 16:49

I’d like to understand why people think charging the same for online tuition (as face to face) is cheeky?

I hadn't really thought about it but all the activities my children do that are currently offered online lowered the price. One at least didn't need to hire a hall so factored that in, not sure the motivations of the others.

For me, it would depend on who you are tutoring. I dislike online meetings etc, chairing a meeting on zoom tonight and dreading it because despite having a relatively big house, there are constant distractions but I don't think my ability to learn is compromised. Ds (5) has been doing French via zoom over lockdown and it's been a nightmare. He has zero interest despite loving it in person. It's staying online til October at the earliest and we'll keep trying but I think he'll do much better when it goes back to in-person. I'd expect an older child to engage better though.

Cheeseislife2020 · 05/07/2020 16:50

I wouldn’t pay the same because my daughter won’t engage as much online, sound can be iffy unless both parties has live impeccable WiFi etc

BackforGood · 05/07/2020 16:52

YANBU at all.
I mean, I've never used a tutor for my dc, but it sounds like a bouns to me, to not have to get the younger ones bundled up and take things to keep them occupied and drive to your place and wait, or drive home then drive back again.

If you can do a good job of tutoring on line, that would be a positive, not a negative to many busy parents.

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 05/07/2020 16:57

@rosesinmygarden - the demand for tutors will be high.

I reckon most will now stay online as will save on travelling time, we are all more tech savvy etc.

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 05/07/2020 16:59

on-line tutoring will be great for GCSE and A level students

Popjam · 05/07/2020 17:12

I don't think UABU, however in the long term you are changing your offering from face-to-face to online, so some will prefer face-to-face and some will prefer online. You may lose pupils and gain pupils.

Before dc's tutoring, parents have to confirm the dc has no symptoms before the tutoring can go ahead. There are 4 questions to answer and digitally sign around this. Obviously this is not fool proof either but might reduce some risk. Or a flexible cancellation/reschedule policy.

But if you only want to do online, UANBU.

yomellamoHelly · 05/07/2020 17:12

Ds has two sessions a week online (maths and music). I've been surprised how well it's worked and it saves alot of effort on ferrying him around. So as a client, I'd be quite open to it.

LinManWellWellWell · 05/07/2020 17:22

I don’t think you are being at all unreasonable. Essentially you have to do your own risk assessment and given all the government guidelines about children staying in bubbles etc it’s perfectly reasonable to come to the decision you’ve come to. Just stand your ground and be professional. I also think online tutoring can be just as valuable as face to face. In fact my son much prefers to learn this way.

1Morewineplease · 05/07/2020 17:26

@StaffAssociationRepresentative

on-line tutoring will be great for GCSE and A level students
Oh I agree! These students have a fair bit of study leave and I know, from when my children were that age, that a quick half hour with an online tutor to clear up any misconceptions or difficulties would have made a huge difference to their understanding.

Their school staff , despite saying ‘ pop in any time’ would invariably not be available after my children had walked a couple of miles to see them.

I really think that online tutoring is going to be an additional benefit to many students.

jeramiahbonbon · 05/07/2020 17:28

My DCs do music lessons over Skype. The music school has now reopened so are offering face to face again, but we're sticking with Skype for now. I'm not yet comfortable with them being inside in a pretty small room.
I think you're being sensible, and if those parents don't like it they can pull their kids out.