Mum told me on the day of tutoring that there is no more tutoring

[Thatyachtmusicsong]

Can anyone help please?

I do private tutoring and have tutored one student twice per week for three years.
She has had some health issues and we changed from tutoring at her home to online 6 or so months ago.
We tutored over summer until the last few weeks of August when she said she was taking a breaj for summer and would tutor again as always in September.
Today I messaged in the morning checking that all was okay for tutoring in the evening and the mum told me that they decided to take her out of school and have signed up to an online school.
The mum said she doesn't know about the future and how things will go and she would take a pause for our tutoring as it may be too much for her.
I feel sad for her and understand the situation, but this has come as a real shock to me as we rely on those lessons financially. I had done tje planning for September and feel shocked they only let me know on the day of tutoring, which leaves me no time to find something else.

Stupidly, I don't have a contract.

What would you do about this situation?

Would it be fair to ask for a months payment since I had no notice etc?

Feel like I've really been left in the lurch

However, for pupils that have taken a break over summer and restarting, do consider, in addition to well-written T&C, also asking for a retainer for the slot and also reconfirm the week before.

If they um and err, say that bookings are coming in and whilst you will try to fit them in, you can't guarantee it.

You have to be business-like in this job. In September enquiries usually are thick and fast, so whilst I'll always give preference to existing students, I can't afford to turn away new students if long standing ones won't commit.

Did I say it did? I’m self employed. The point is OP had left herself open to not being paid and in the circs bitching about the person who has not paid as if she was entitled to be paid for a month with no basis for saying that because it was inconvenient to her if she wasn’t was frankly a bit unpleasant.

I would have paid her for that week, the dad has paid the month so she’s fine. And will hopefully be clear in her terms in the future.

Brilliant. Well done OP for sticking your neck out and asking.

And get a contract in place at least for your other long termers. As a parent I value having the reassurance of the notice on your side too.

Thank you ❤️

But as you say yourself, you ask families to confirm in July if they want space in September. That is sensible. You can't expect them to do the work for you though.

Surprising how the dad had no input/idea on the tutoring requirements/changes for his child and just pays for it as instructed by his ex/you. Good for you that he is "kind" - you know what you need to do from here on!

Yes she's a strong lady, I don't understand either why it would be her concern what he pays for when they're not together, it is a bit odd.
He pays for education etc-previously private school. He is the calmer, kinder one from what I can see

Do you mean set up contracts?

tutors often are cash in hand no contract. So risks are there

🤑

? 😅

Well it’s true what they say ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get!’.

Join PMT Education. Online tutoring. I found a science tutor on there for my daughter. Payment is in advance of lesson.

Yes true!

Thanks x

There are LOADS of good agencies out there for tutoring. Have your rate set in stone, so you can't be talked down. The good ones will pay it. The ones that won't you know are top loading their profit, rather than your earning.

Do a Google. You'll be snowed under, so do a BCC'd mailshot email application to cut down the leg work you have to do.

Feel a bit sad. The pupil sent me a text saying she hopes I had a good summer and that she just wanted to say thank you so much for all my help and that i've been the best teacher
I'm guessing it's not a pause?
What are online schools like though? I'm really not sure she'll cope with it?

I looked at online school. The one we looked at had tiny classes. Head was also very education focussed - told me at this stage to just hire a primary teacher for 4 hours a day as better for my children’s ages and set up. Did seem very flexible.

You know it’s not a pause OP, they have said so. Wish your former pupil all the best, make a diary note to send a Christmas card (aka reminder that you exist if it’s not working) - and then move on.

Yes, wish her well and move on with your life. Have you decided what you're going to do? Are you looking for more pupils to tutor and preparing contracts, etc., or are you going to look for work as an employee somewhere?

Why are you still thinking it might be a pause?

You need to crack on, advertise and get those empty slots filled. You have a month.

I had an online interview yesterday and have advertised so should be ok, just am quite curious why they're going down this route. She doesn't like to leave the house, but when she was ill the first time, they hired me to do homeschooling with her at her house and then she went back to school and I carried on twice a week after school

It's a tribute to you and very sweet that the pupil has texted you. Now you need to draw a line and use your energy to look for new work. You've had a shock, you've been paid, the family has moved on.

Why does the pupil even have your number? Surely that's not remotely appropriate for a teacher/student relationship?

? She texted from her mum's phone to say thank you, I don't think that's inappropriate? her mum communicates via Whatsapp.

Students shouldn't be communicating with teachers/tutors like that.