Thoughts and help needed about a maths tutoring idea

[mathsgeek]

I've been thinking about an idea with regards to maths tutoring for a while now but would appreciate more thoughts on it before I go any further.

I'm considering setting up maths help groups, so similar to one to one tutoring but with different advantages. The groups would be aimed at children from year 5- year 11. I would have up to 4 children in each group, based on similar abilities (so a Year 5/6 group for example, year 7/8 etc). The cost to parents would be cheaper as opposed to using a 1:1 tutor, and the advantages for children would be focused support and help but in a less intimdating situation, as well as the opportunity to work through things with people, discuss ways of thinking etc.

I don't think there is a huge demand for 1:1 tutors where I live as there's no secondary selection but what I hope to be offering is something slightly different to that, and would appeal to those parents who feel their children need a little bit more encouragement. I would be looking to charge £7.50-£10/hour for each child, I would probably have to hire a suitable place too so income would need to cover these costs, plus other costs such as small equipment. The amount also takes into account time needed to prepare and assess work for the actual group too.

What do you think, and be honest please! Is this something you would consider or think might be useful. Do I need to tweak to rethink, or is the whole attraction for tutoring the fact it is 1:1?

There is no secondary selection where I live but there us still a huge demand for maths tutoring. I think parents often want the one to one tuition to be sure that any gaps in their child's knowledge are identified especially for Maths GCSE help.

I think what you are proposing would be more suitable for younger children and would pick up some of the Kumon crowd but I'm not sure what the demand would be because I think the one to one aspect is the main attraction of maths tutoring.

I've done this with groups of 3/4 pretty successfully over summer holidays for 11 plus tuition. A bit of competition spurred the children on, and I will probably be encouraged by parents to do the same again this summer.

I do find however that individual tuition targets specific areas better, and with many children confidence is a big part of the problem. Of course, I live in 11 plus land...

I charge £20ph (quite cheap for round here I think) and teach at my home. For groups of 2/3 the price is very slightly higher to cover my printing/materials cost. I know people who charge £35 plus, and really don't provide a very good service.

I've always thought that it is the parents that are the untapped market. So many people on here post questions about their dc's homework and loads get confused because they can't explain the sums in the way that children are taught now.

Loads of people were taught maths almost by rote and as it is socially acceptable for bright people to say "really don't get numbers" in a way that it is not to say "can't understand books" they never refresh their knowledge

Someone already does this in our area. He moves around the area doing a different centre on each night of the week. It's a franchise and you can probably find it by Google. It's not Kumon but I've forgotten the name, even though my own children attended for about twelve months.

"The groups would be aimed at children from year 5- year 11. I would have up to 4 children in each group, based on similar abilities (so a Year 5/6 group for example, year 7/8 etc)."

The problem with even 3 chn in a group, is that they will have difficulties in different areas, even if they appear to have 'similar abilities' as judged by an overall test mark.

Such children often have such fragile self-esteem when it comes to Maths that a 'competitive' group is the last thing they need. And of course, many of them have parents who cannot support with homework because they themselves had difficulties with Maths when young.

Parents do seem more willing to pay for extra support with Maths than with literacy.

I'd advise you to go with one-to-one.

Should you ever get a long waiting list you could possibly try your group idea out. As a parent that would NOT be ideal for my struggling child, even at a bargain price.