To think I could be a primary school tutor?

[Rosiee29]

Hi all
I am considering tutoring a little alongside my studies to earn some extra money. I would like to hear some parents' opinions on whether or not I would be considered a viable choice as a tutor, based on my qualifications and experience. I am not sure if people only choose tutors that are fully qualified teachers.

I am 25. I hold a level 3 (A-level equivalent) qualification in Primary Education and Teacher Training. I'm also currently studying an undergraduate degree in Primary Education and work in a school as a teaching assistant in Key Stage 1 and as a 1-1 support with a student in year 6. I am hoping to offer tutoring sessions across all primary school ages.

Knowing this, would you consider having me as a tutor if you needed one?
Would you expect to pay a lower rate for a non-qualified teacher?
What would you pay per hour for 1-1 tuition in your home?

Thank you ☺️

I’ve been looking at tutoring primary school children on the side recently (Primary Teacher with QTS for 5 years) and thought competition was pretty fierce so tbh, i wouldn’t get your hopes up too much just bc there do seem to be lots of teacher with decades of experience tutoring lately. Doesn’t hurt to try tho.

No sorry, there's so many qualified abs experienced teachers offering tutoring I wouldn't use an unqualified and inexperienced person.

It's an access diploma

barkingdagenhamcollege.ac.uk/find/courses/0000011265
It exists :)

I would use you.

I know from experience that TAs and LSAs do have knowledge of the curriculum, teaching and supporting both less able (and more able) pupils.

I'm an LSA. As well as supporting the class as a whole I have my own maths group, my own English group and my own phonics group with 4-8 children per group. I do pre and post-teaching of various concepts. I am part of the curriculum team for maths, DT and history which means I contribute to planning for these subjects, observe lessons, obtain pupil voice for feedback and champion delivery of these subjects. This morning I taught maths to the entire class while the teacher was dealing with another issue then sat 1:1 with a child who was struggling to understand the concept being introduced. I have specialist knowledge of specific intervention packages to aid children in need of additional support. I'm able to deliver SALT interventions, OT activities, I recently qualified in Lego Therapy and I'm aiming to be qualified in BSL soon.

Why do people thing TAs and LSAs are somehow unqualified and/or lacking teaching skills?

Hi all,
Thank you for confirming my doubts! I didn't want to put myself out there to be rejected so wanted an opinion.
Thank you very much, I will stick to the babysitting! 😂☺️

Have you started your BSL course yet?

You may know but there are loads of dodgy ones out there that are not accredited and you need to avoid!

Hiya, this is what I do. I'm very involved and honestly lead the class half the time. I do understand others' worries though x

I'm doing it through my employer so I would hope it's genuine!

I have a child with SEND so i might consider using you if he liked you because all the qualifications in the world wont get that child to do something if he doesnt like you, I would expect to pay less though. He has a tutor who he loves and is a qualified teacher with lots of experience i pay £30 per hour so i dont think id want to pay you more than £20.

I wouldnt even consider you for my daughters though if they needed a tutor id only look for qualified/experienced teachers.

@Iam4eels that's great! What level are you at?

Would definitely use you, I pay £45 currently for a 50 minute session for primary maths. You should request similar. Would make no difference to me if you are a teacher or not.

Neither did I.

This is the course I took for anyone who didn't know it was a thing!
www.ocnlondon.org.uk/Access-to-HE/Access-to-HE-course-directory/Courses/Education-and-Teacher-Training
It's only a year and a great alternative to A-levels if you specifically want to go into teaching.

DD has a tutor at the moment and I have no idea what qualifications she has as I signed up on word-of-mouth recommendation. Also, it's 11+ tutoring and I wouldn't consider a tutor at primary otherwise.

www.ocnlondon.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/RoC/Access%20to%20HE%20Diploma%20Specification%20-%20Education%20&%20Teacher%20Training%20(2023-24).pdf

What grades do you have in English and maths?

Your qualifications in education/childcare aren’t really relevant and I wouldn’t get a tutor based on that.

I I have a degree in science.
I could have done tutoring in science but probably not geography, because I don’t have those qualifications.

If I want someone to tutor my child with their maths, I’d want them to have at least an A level in maths.

Tbh I wouldn’t pay a tutor for primary age anyway.

I think you would be a fantastic babysitter (and possibly get more business) but I’m not sure how many people would want you as a tutor if you don’t have high grades in English and maths.

I think it would depend on what the parents need the tutor for...I tutored a little boy for a year as a graduate (not in education) and mainly just assisted with homework in the same way a parent would (parents couldn't speak English very well which is why they wanted someone to be able to help with homework).

If I had the spare money I would get DS1 a tutor for my first language...they wouldn't need to be a teacher, he'd just listen better to someone who isn't boring mum!

Depending on what hours you have free you could advertise yourself as an after school nanny instead? I think parents would love an education student.

Hi, I achieved straight A* and A across 10 GCSEs but did not study A-levels as I went straight into working for my family's business.
A for English Lit and Lang
A* maths
I am perfectly comfortable with all the maths the year 6 class covers.

I've never understood the obsession with wanting a "teacher" as a tutor. The qualified teachers we've had as tutors have been awful! I would use you if you were enthusiastic and fun!

That’s fantastic!

I think you would definitely make a good tutor then.

Most primary school kids don’t have tutors unless they’re doing the 11 plus as a PP suggested or are home schooled, so maybe look down these routes to maximise your business.

Coming to the end of level one and then hopefully can unlock some funding to progress to level two, the SENCo is working on it. We have two adults in school who are fluent, one is deaf and the other was raised by deaf parents, they support our hearing impaired pupils and it gives me opportunity to practice and ask questions which has helped a lot. All of our school songs in assembly are signed to make them inclusive which has weirdly helped a lot too.

Personally I think children at primary level would get more out of being taught BSL rather than French or Spanish.

It's quite unusual for primary school
Children to have a tutor. Tutors in my area are usually for those taking the 11+. As the 11+ is a different curriculum to what's being taught in primary school the tutor would need to understand the curriculum and be able to tutor accordingly. Unless you had that experience you wouldn't get hired around here.

Nope because you need to have gone through a PVG check. Not sure what it's called on England@

I definitely would. A lot of tutors that advertise are a level or undergrads and work with year 10/11.