Does everyone get a tutor for their child from year 3 ?

[redbrickhouses]

I didn't go to primary school in the UK, so I don't know exactly what to expect.

I spoke to my MIL, who said all children pretty much had a tutor from year 3 - at prep schools.

Is that normal or is that a bit excessive ?

I also met a mum who told me she didn't send her kids to prep school but paid thousands on tutoring them for the 11 plus instead, so they can get to a grammar school.

Is that another approach ?

Absolutely not the norm. My two are 12 and 15, have never had a tutor for either so far and neither do any of their friends.

I don't/haven't. DS is Y9, DD Y6 (sitting entrance exams in the next couple of months). They both go to a private school that take children from nursery through to Y13. If the Junior/prep can't teach their own children, to pass the schools own entrance exam, I'd be wanting a refund!

All children do better with some attention, motivation and familiarity with whatever they need to do.
What kind of tutoring do you have in mind?
A child who is a bit behind? Why not do some extra at home.
A child who is planning to get into a selective school? Sure, yes. They do need to be familiar with the type of possible question. You can do it at home, but it would not be a stretch to call this tutoring too.
And if you have imagine a child doing well in a good school - why would they need any tutoring? They better do whatever they want in their spare time.

Not the norm at all. Both mine are in selective grammars after attending state primaries and I went to private school. None of us have had tutors.

We're in greater London and my DC go to a non selective state primary and will go to a non selective state secondary. There are no grammar schools here but a small minority target grammars out of area, and they tend to have tutors. And then there are a few who have tutors because they're struggling academically. Even in years 5 & 6 I'd put the figure who have tutors at well under 10%.

Outside of London and Kent (which has a full grammar school system) it's pretty rare. My kids got right through education without a tutor, in Russell group unis having achieved A's and a*'s

Only a handful of tiger parent types tutored in the Midlands, even at the private schools because they are not very competitive

In my area many parents do pay for a tutor for grammar schools. I didn’t and put my son is for 11 plus at some very competitive grammars and he didn’t get in. He went to the local comp instead where he left with 9 x 9’s and 3 A* for A level. I know parents who did tutor their kid to pass the grammar test and regretted it as their son felt pressured there with every kid at a high standard and so competitive. So I’m glad I didn’t tutor my child to pass a test.

Not in Scotland.
here most kids go to their nearest school, so there is no 11+.
if you want to go private, each school has their own entrance requirements.
some kids do get tutoring for exams, but that’s not the norm either.

I was talking to a lady who runs a tutoring centre and she said they are swamped with younger children who have missed basics in lockdown and are struggling to catch up so yr 2 or 3. She was looking to recruit extra staff.

We had to get a tutor for DS1 for GCSE for maths and physics as the teaching for some subjects was awful (I did biology and french). They just hadn't covered a lot of the content and whilst he would have passed, he got much better grades.
He's at a selective state grammar, but we didn't get a tutor for 11+, but I did do some of the work with him.

DS2 and DD go to private schools and don't need a tutor as they actually teach well.

No. What for?

The VR and NVR required for 11+ is a learned skill, to some it comes it easy but it definitely required coaching be it in school or tutored. It's not a 'normal' test or exam testing knowledge.

No way here in state or private - it hasn’t hampered selective entry

It isn’t true that “every child needs a tutor.” It certainly is true that “every child can benefit from some 1:1 tuition.” Anyway. Here’s how it is…

If you are in a grammar school area, eg Kent, then most children in the State sector who want a grammar place are tutored to help them pass the 11+ exam. This is because State Primaries do not teach them about the exam format, or even some of the topics that the test contains! Non-verbal reasoning, for example.

Some children are tutored by their parents instead of by a paid tutor. I have not heard of any children who passed without any 11+ exam preparation at all. I do know several children who passed the 11+ without a paid tutor, they learned how to pass in weekend tutorials with their parents.

Whether paid tuition or parent tuition, it’s definitely not true that this tutoring is usual from Year 3, in fact many tutors recommend tutoring in year 5 only, to prevent the children becoming bored. (That said, the best tutors can have waiting lists from year 3.)

Seperately, many State Primaries are really struggling with staff and funding shortages and also pupil behaviour post-lockdowns, and so are unable to give much attention to the best behaved children, so even forgetting about whether you’re in a grammar area, a tutor is so beneficial for children at many struggling schools.

If you are not in a grammar area, and are lucky enough to have a school that isn’t struggling, then your child doesn’t need a tutor (unless you want one… 1:1 tuition is always beneficial).

At Prep schools the situation is different. Some Preps teach children how to do the 11+ content and format, others do not. Even where (as at my Prep) the school does teach children non-verbal reasoning etc, many parents who have money to spare choose to have a tutor, in the same way that they may chose to spend money on swimming/gymnastic/horseriding lessons, etc. This is often contagious, eg one parent hires a tutor because their child is a maths enthusiast who wants to do more advanced maths than the school/parent are willing to cover, and then their classmates’ parents hear of this and all panic-buy a tutor too.

If your school prepares them well for the 11 plus you do not need to. Schools like Kensington Prep and Bute House in London you should be ok. There are others but most people tutor or sit with their children’s to make sure they are well prepared.

No tutoring. Both kids passed 11+ without and only one went to a prep school due to house move for work

I got my daughter a maths tutor in year 10, she did fail her GCSE maths. I do wish I’d done it much earlier in year 7. However no it’s not standard practice.

No obviously not because only a small proportion of children in the UK go to selective schools.

Parents do (if they can afford it) tutor kids for 11+ or other selective entrance exams but year 3 seems excessive to me. But generally only kids coming from the state system. If your child is already at prep school they are very likely being hothoused for 11+/entrance exams anyway. If a child is already at prep school and needs additional tutoring I would question whether they are bright enough for selective education in the first place tbh.

The other reason people tutor their kids is if they are falling behind or need help with particular subjects. But again year 3 sounds excessive.

I think if you're trying to get your child into a grammar school, tutoring is quite normal. (I would question why someone who is already at prep school needs a tutor though...) I'm not sure how 'normal' it is for everyone else, unless their child is particularly struggling or excelling in a certain area. There are a handful of parents in my 6 year old's class who pay for weekly tutoring for their kids. They feel that their child is behind in e.g. maths and feel their child listens more/pays more attention/makes more effort when it's a stranger helping and encouraging them than a family member.

Neither of my DC had a tutor.They went from state primary school to an independent school at secondary level.The independent school is very competitive with around 4 or 5 children applying for each place available .Both DC did very well in all their exams without extra tuition.

My foster son was in a very poor school. Because he was fostered we could not move him to a better school. Instead I got him a Maths tutor for 2 hours a week, an English tutor for 1 hour a week and a Science tutor for 2 hours a week. He finally made progress.

Mine had tutors but from Yr 5. Most people I know did similar.
I just got them to do some extra at home before then. Things like bbcbitesize, timestables practice and lots of reading.

It depends on the child I guess? Most of the kids in my daughter's class have a tutor (as does she) and she is in Year 4. We are in a tough area for senior schools - it's either the local academy which has a seriously bad reputation, or one of the grammar schools. We've started her now on 11+ tuition but she really enjoys it and her confidence has grown massively as a result.
My partner's best friend is going down the 'state plus' route - his kids are at a a fairly good comprehensive school, but he wants them to have as many options to them as possible for uni etc, so they pay the same tuition company we use for 'catch up' stuff and extra stuff like EPQ tuition etc.

The company we use aren't pushy at all and my daughter loves her lessons. Let me know if you want their details - just send me a PM