Can tutoring make up for lack of teaching?

[orangeberries]

My DD1 is about to go into Y3/Y4 where there have been quite serious staffing problems. I have namechanged not to be identified, but last year they had 9 different supply teachers and this has been going on for many many years, so I am pretty sure it won't be any different next year or the year after.

I am trying to work out the impact this will have on my DD1; I know emotionally it will be hard, but also academically I don't want her to suffer for 2 years. I am thinking of getting her a tutor for at least English, so that she at least gets some continuity with her reading and writing targets, etc...maybe do the same with maths? It is a ludicrous situation to be in, but I can't move her schools as all schools around me are oversubscribed and she is otherwise really settled at school, has lots of friends etc...

Do you think the tutors thing will work? Has anyone been in a similar situation? I would appreciate some advice...

DD4 is currently in Y5 at a tiny village primary where four year groups are taught by a single teacher in one classroom. They do a lot of tree planting and gardening and trips to the beach etc. etc. DD4 is perfectly happy there and I quite like the off-timetable stuff. But the most pragmatic approach was to sort out some straightforward old-fashioned teaching elsewhere so she goes for an hour and a half each week to her siblings' old teachers (a retired couple); without that she'd be in a mess. It suits everyone really.

45 mins english and 45 minutes maths.

Yellowtip, that's great, did you find that to be enough to keep her ticking over? If so you have greatly reassured me that it might work!!

She does seem to be ticking over orange, yes. I would be concerned had I not had the chance to get help from these two very old friends. But I didn't want confrontation at school - it would have been counter-productive in any event - and in terms of being settled etc., she's fine. The combination works well, it's the best package for us in our situation. There's a lot to be said for taking a quiet, pragmatic approach when things at school aren't ideal. I happen to be very against moving and shaking on the school front and I've seen a lot of it my time. I hopeful it will work for DD4, though I shall be quite glad when she moves on.

In the circumstances you've described, I think tutoring is a really good idea OP. It will give her continuity. And most children enjoy going to a tutor if they get one-on-one undivided attention, and teaching specifically tailored to their needs.

Yellowtip, you sound so wise and sane. Great solution. MY DC have a tutor now for 11+ prep and I've noticed that I no longer wring my hands in despair at the lack of formal teaching at their school.

Definitely. My DD is tutored to make up for the poor teaching of English at her (bilingual) school and it makes a massive difference.

thanks Bonsoir, I never imagined I would be having to tutor at such a young age....however in my situation I don't have many other options....I am glad to hear it can be effective, the search for a tutor is on!!! (funnily enough the tutor we contacted today said they have "quite a number" of children from our school....)

Nor did I! But it has many advantages, not least that you have a lot of control over what your DC learn and they can move very quickly over the things they grasp easily and concentrate on that which comes less quickly.