Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Can a tutor come to my home during lockdown?

123 replies

gruffalo28 · 01/11/2020 21:11

I know the detailed guidance is out tomorrow but thought I would ask consensus? I have a tutor come to my house for 2 hours a week to teach ds and dd. I employ her through an agency. The agency ask for payment at the beginning of the month (today). I made it clear that zoom lessons wouldn't fit the bill and it had to be in person and it was agreed that lessons would be suspended if that were the case.

Today I asked the agency if we could continue during lockdown and they are categoric we can provided the tutor and I are both comfortable (we are). She has asked for the next month's money in advance. I'm just a bit nervous as I'm not sure this is how I read the guidance and I'm worried agency will keep my money and try to move to zoom.

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether this is likely to be permitted under the lockdown from Thursday?

OP posts:

ripples101 · 01/11/2020 22:42

The zoom comments are valid comments to make. They not unhelpful. It is an option for many tutors, and for many students. So it’s worthwhile pointing this out as a possible alternative.

Itsnotagazebo · 01/11/2020 22:48

No. Online tutoring only.

Hercwasonaroll · 01/11/2020 22:48

OP not illegal.

Spud you've seen the worst of the virus. However stop scaremongering. Dying alone and gasping for breath are extremes and few other hcps are saying that.

Pixxie7 · 01/11/2020 22:51

I don’t think you can.

MacDuffsMuff · 01/11/2020 22:58

Well I think you can, according to the rules, however I'm unsure why on earth you would.

AlwaysLatte · 01/11/2020 22:58

Yes it's fine, not against guidelines.

hibbledibble · 01/11/2020 23:03

Based on current guidance, it likely is allowed, as per above. There may be a future clarification on the rules though, that may prohibit it.

Original poster

gruffalo28 · 01/11/2020 23:04

I agree zoom is a great alternative for lots of kids. My other dd has music theory and therapy via zoom. Works perfectly. But not for my ds who needs in person tuition and would be less effective (but not impossible) for my dd who is having handwriting help. It's sometimes hard to read posts from parents with clearly bright kids getting 11+ tuition, spanish, french, cello, refereeing etc which works perfectly who question why zoom couldn't work. But that's my issue, and its why I said I should have stuck to the SEN boards.

OP posts:

TicTacTwo · 01/11/2020 23:05

@ripples101

The zoom comments are valid comments to make. They not unhelpful. It is an option for many tutors, and for many students. So it’s worthwhile pointing this out as a possible alternative.

She told the agency that Zoom wasn't acceptable and they take her money based on that requirement.

Saying that they can accommodate "no zoom" and charging her then turning around and saying "zoom only" is not what op is looking for.

Lucyccfc68 · 01/11/2020 23:41

I wasn't having a go at you OP, just wanting to understand why you were adamant that tutoring could not be done via Zoom. Totally understandable as you have now explained.

I have the complete opposite. My DS would never entertain the idea of having a tutor in our house due to his anxiety, so loves Zoom. He refuses to have his camera on, so his maths tutor has no idea what he looks like.

BenchHench · 01/11/2020 23:47

Yes, as they are working.

Smileyaxolotl1 · 02/11/2020 00:30

Yanbu at all. You can though you may feel zoom is more appropriate.
Many tutors are also teachers and are far more likely to get it in a classroom of 30 than in a socially distanced living room.
Obviously if the client isn’t happy then don’t do it.

firstevernamechange · 02/11/2020 00:51

I'm a tutor working with different age groups.

Tutoring is allowed to continue. I have talked with each client. Telling the m the situation and given them individual recommendations on the way forward strongly encouraging online lessons wherever possible.
Three clients with young children or special needs will continue in person. I have spaced these lessons out over the week to minimise cross-contamination and ensure all equipment can be disinfected. The room will need to be ventilated (two opposite windows or window and door open to ensure airflow). Everyone washes hands before/after lesson. It can be done.

20mum · 02/11/2020 15:20

Anyone else doing a job. Prostitutes?

What is this tutor doing, that cannot be done remotely, even if it needs to be adapted ?

20mum · 02/11/2020 15:28

P.S. Anyone else doing a job. Burglars?

Masseurs? Make up artists? Your local friendly neighbourhood drug dealers? Flower arrangers? Door to door Hairdressers? The kind of financial advisers who suck Fergie's toes?

There are so many ways to transmit.........joy.

hamsterchump · 02/11/2020 15:42

@20mum Have you just now realised that people will still need to work for money? Even (gasp) during lockdown? How have you gone this long without realising? Of course a tutor can work in people's homes, they will need the money and it's expressly allowed to go to work if you cannot work from home. Even if it wasn't I would still expect people to carry on if they think they can because who seriously would allow themself and their family to become destitute, homeless and hungry to protect someone else? Gosh people are so naive on here!

CoralFish · 02/11/2020 15:50

Yes, working in other people's homes is allowed. Tutor should socially distance from you all, but I assume they've been doing that all along.

Wotsitsarecheesy · 02/11/2020 16:04

Agree with others. Yes tutors were allowed last time and are still allowed this time, unless things change before Thursday.

We have had zoom and in person tutoring every week since March, and I also have a child with SEN. Some lessons can be done over zoom, some can't. Our tutor wears a mask (SEN child can't) and wipes down surfaces etc before and after. We provide sanitiser right next to where they work. We are expecting that he will continue to come to ours thoughout this next lockdown as long as he remains happy to do so.

In OPs position I would carry on with in person tutoring if the agency are happy to provide it, but make sure you have it in writing that the lessons will be in person. If they want payment in advance when they have never done so before they seem like they are trying to cover themselves for something. Possibly in case you or the tutor has to isolate?

HitchikersGuide · 02/11/2020 16:24

OP, I think you can as Pp have said, and whilst it may become clearer before Thursday, I wouldn't necessarily bet on it - rushed legislation is always woeful. In situations of rushed legislation, you try to keep within the spirit where the actual rules don't dovetail.
The spirit of the legislation is to try to minimise socialising and unnecessary contact, not to lock us up until the virus no longer exists.

Orcus · 02/11/2020 16:33

@Itsnotagazebo

No. Online tutoring only.

That is not what the guidance says. I'd argue the current position is inconclusive.

vanillandhoney · 02/11/2020 16:37

It's absolutely fine. Unless you work in a sector that's been forced to close, and you cannot work from home, you can still go to work as normal. That includes working in people's homes.

Too many people think lockdown = everyone stay home. That's simply not the case and it's also not what the guidelines say. My job involves entering people's homes and I'll continue as normal. I can't work from home and am in a sector that's allowed to work as normal.

I social distance, use a mask and sanitise my hands.

somelemons · 02/11/2020 16:45

@Lucyccfc68

My son has a maths/science tutor via Zoom and it's works really well. They both use IDroo, which is a shared online board for writing on.

He also has his drum lessons via Zoom (even though he has an electronic drum set) and it's great.

He does referee development via Zoom too.

I honestly cannot think of any lessons that cannot be done via Zoom - I'm intrigued now as to what the tutoring is.

I honestly cannot think of any lessons that cannot be done via Zoom

Where people are not able to cope with the technology perhaps? Not everybody is IT literate enough.

My DH is retired and teaches an instrument to people on a one-to-one basis in their home. He would absolutely not be able to get to grips with Zoom.

Palavah · 02/11/2020 16:50

Yes, they can.

You can go out to work if you cant work from home including working in someone else's house.

If you would prefer zoom, ask for zoom

Sweetchillijam · 02/11/2020 16:55

No the tutor can WFH virtually (you just chose not to accept this option) so no need to come to your house. If I can’t see my elderly (recently widowed) mum indoors for support as she happens to have my brother living with her then why would you be allowed to meet with a tutor indoors?

vanillandhoney · 02/11/2020 17:41

@Sweetchillijam

Because that's what the guidelines say...

Not all tutoring works successfully via Zoom. If the tutor can't do a job from home, she can go to work as normal, same as all the other industries out there who go into people's homes for a living - dog walkers, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, painters, decorators, joiners, carers, nannies, babysitters...

The guidelines say "work from home if you can" - if you can't work from home and you're not in a sector forced to close, then you go to work as normal.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5