Is it cheeky to ask to be paid over the holidays?

[Dogswimmingcompetition]

I work as a tutor. I work for three different families.
Over the summer holidays, one family like me to keep working, one family don’t have tutoring at all over the summer, but pay me year round. The final family is the family I work with the most, I’ve taught their child for almost three years. For the first year it was year round, last year they went away last minute for summer (I didn’t realise this was the plan) and I wasn’t paid all summer. I get the majority of my income from them and found it a real struggle for a couple of months.
Their child finishes their exams in a couple of weeks and mentioned something about our last lesson being in a couple of weeks (much earlier than I expected) This will leave me without pay for 3 months, which will set me back a lot.
I’m unable to commit to other families who have asked for tutoring as they would want all the time, not just in the holidays.
Would it be cheeky to put this to the father and ask if there’s any way they can pay me over the holidays and explain the situation?
I enjoy working with this family and would rather stay with them if possible, I know that i’m valued there also as the mum has told me in the past that they’re keen to keep me/continue with me.

😂

That will put a bee in their bonnet, OP

This. I'm a self employed music teacher and 90% of my students don't have lessons in the 6 weeks summer break. So I save approx 10% of my earnings each month so I can pretty much take August off.

Very wise, I will do this from September, thank you 🙏 I should have been more organised, but I did expect we would be continuing..and definitely in July for a week or two

Just so patronising

Very grateful for people who have given helpful and positive feedback though. I will wait until the day after what has been hinted is our last day this week and see what the father says

Don't worry, this is all stuff you learn as you go along. You could, as I have done in the past, offer some sort of summer holidays coaching making it clear that it is for a limited period?

Yes, if he doesn’t agree, I will have to look around for some temporary sessions I think

Have you not been a tutor for very long. It’s totally standard to not be needed once exams begin and no, you don’t get paid over periods you don’t work. You are self employed. Presumably your hourly rate is higher than what teachers get paid because of this. .

Not formal exams, just end of year tests, she still has homework and lots of coursework

It sounds like a lack of communication. The family need to know what you are offering and how much you charge and you need to know what they require and for how long.
Could you write a contract out in specific terms so that everyone involved knows what the terms are?

Good luck @Dogswimmingcompetition you've had some great advice here from experienced tutors. They've given me a few ideas as well x

Thank you so much 🙏

You need to work out a decent contract as a self employed tutor - one which means that you can take on other students over the holiday period and that perhaps allows for a retainer if the client wants to be sure of resuming their classes after the holidays. Otherwise, they'll have to take their chances that you may not be available. Mainly, you have to get your head round the fact that you are running a usiness. Local councils often have small business development advisors, so you may be able to get some help.

Well, i guess that makes you every bit the entitled child that I feared you might be.

🙄

😂

This. It's unreasonable for them to expect you to hold their slot for months. A two week holiday but not the whole summer.

I’ve been the employer in this situation and it is an uncomfortable conversation. I live in an affluent area but we are not as well off as our neighbors. I wish I could pay tutors when not needed but we do not have the resources. I have been asked to float the summer and often it results in us parting ways. They find a wealthier family willing to accept that arrangement. In the near time you might want to look into tutoring companies for a short term hire. Many kids use the summer to increase their SAT score. Good luck.

I worked as a registered childminder,I generally only cared for children who's parents were teachers. I was always paid a retainer for the school holidays, generally 50% They also paid me two full weeks pay for when I went on holiday. I don't think you're unreasonable.

Unfortunately you need to have proof that you’ve taught in the classroom within the last 7 years for Edexcel (5 years for AQA)

Thanks for that info.

I don’t know why people are being such dicks. If they’re wealthy I would have thought they’d pay a retainer just to avoid the hassle of finding a new tutor that their children like and get on with.

Just in case it’s of any use to you… I’m sure you’re already aware but there are tutoring companies like Kip McGrath who offer summer schools for tutoring. I also use an online company called Preply and I have a monthly standing order with them for 4 sessions a month. If I don’t make it then my tutor gets paid ( although I can re schedule them ). For our holidays when we’re away I tend at accept that I’m paying for sessions I’m not using.

Hi all,

So tutoring is over now until mid September, counting the weeks, that’s 3.5 months and I just simply can’t not have income for almost a third of the year and not be able to find other work as committed to this family.
I sent the father a fair message explaining it all and he replied this morning with:

’Hi X, Ok noted…let me think…I will be back in contact with you again later in the day’

He still hasn’t come back

Any thoughts on this? Can’t cope with the stress of it

Leave it to him now. Don't pressure him. He hadn't said no x

I thought you were teaching so have income?

@Dogswimmingcompetition you had some great advice before. Maybe be proactive with some of those ideas?