A tutor's question to parents!

[mrstutor]

I've been tutoring for 14 years, as an alternative to working in schools, and for most of that time I have stuck to holidays in school terms because I had my own DCs. However, after a lifetime in education- and 3 years off retirement age- my DH and I do want to have short hols not in school holiday time.

As a parent, would you prefer to be told this in advance, - if you were a new parent coming to me- or would you find it accpetable to be given say 6 weeks notice that I'd be away for a week- but would make up the lesson at another time if they wished.

I don't want to look as if I am being casual about lessons- but on the other hand the "perk" of tutoring is being able to manage my own workload.

I don't earn a lot and TBH it seems unreasonable to me to have to wait until I am 60 to be able to take hols that are not in school holidays.

I really think either would be fine. I wouldn't mind at all if you offered a make up lesson or a reduction in fees for the term.

I think the six weeks notice is enough.

I would mention to any new students when they join you, that you may occasionally take a holiday during term time as you are not bound by the restrictions of working in a school and that they will be given notice (4 weeks would seem more than enough to me).

TBH even if you saw a special deal for a cheap break next week, as a self-employed person you should be able to say "sorry I won't be here next week, but if you want a catch up we can do 2 sessions this week or the one after" etc. When the teachers were on strike we only got 1 weeks notice!

DDs music teacher does, he just ensures we get 10 lessons a term.
He retired from teaching full time to relax. No reason at all to stay tied to school holidays.
Just explain up front and be prepared to reschedule flexibly round your pupils family complexities.
I've messed said music teacher about twice with school meetings this term.

The only thing I'd say is that I'd expect you to reciprocate. Ie if you require 6 weeks notice for them to say they're away, then you need to give it. If you're happy for them to say "next week I won't be there as eg. there's a extra school play rehearsal" then they should be happy for you to say "next week I'm away" (unless they're coming up to important exams which I assume you wouldn't go away just before assuming they're usual timings)

My dc's music teachers work like that and it is a nice arrangement for me.

Yes, I do reciprocate already. I try to discourage re-arrnaging for sports matches etc because these can crop up often, and make it night impossible to re-arrange sometimes then I lose out on income. I've made a condition about no refunds for certain cancellations ( eg after school parties etc) but will offer a re-schedule.

However, I have been happy and able to accommodate parents' wishes when they have taken hols in school terms, or had appts that are unavoidable.

On balance, I have made changes for them far more than I have asked for changes for myself.

We don't tend to do last minute hols at all due to DHs job- loads of meetings months in advance- so they would be told most likely at the start of each half term.

I'd like to know when I signed up

With the tutor we had in the 11+ run up it was very flexible. A couple of weeks notice was fine either way. I'd specifically like to know if you aren't happy for ME to cancel for a birthday party or a concert or a sports match, as the sort of tutoring I wanted for my kids was very much "exam practice" not heavy coaching and i didn't intend it to completely rule out the routine things of life. I guess "well I could do wednesday if that party makes thursday no good" would be OK

Mind you when we were both around we did continue tutoring in the school holidays and we were happy to do that.I know that he had some kids more in the holidays too.

We are great users of tutors in our household and, from time to time, tutors tell us in advance that they cannot make a certain date. Fair enough, and the earlier they tell us, the easier it is to find an alternative date.

I tutor and try to give a few weeks notice if I can't work. I offer a differet day but most are happy to cancel. It works both ways though, as the students occasionally cancel for different reasons. They never seem to mind- they all accept I am a person and have other commitments occasionally.

It depends what you tutor for. If there are exams, I would want reassurance that you wouldn't be away during the four or six weeks before. Otherwise, fine.