How can I find tutor for my dc's?

[frascati]

Both have been flagged by primary school to have potential to at least try and sit the entrance exams for one of the local grammars.
I have also been told that they will need tutoring.
Any ideas where I can find out about a decent one? I don't have a clue where to start tbh.
Many thanks

Where are you? I can talk fairly knowledgably about the Kent Test, but all grammar areas are different.

I am in Surrey kate

oh, sorry - then I can't help specifically. But what I can say is that it's very easy to get drawn in to spending lots of money and using a huge amount of time on preparation that turns out not to have been necessary. I can't do links, but have a look at www.elevenplusexams.co.uk

There's lots of really useful information there - but there are also a lot of quite obsessive people! I suggest that you get some past papers and let your child have a go when they go into year 5. Then you can decide how much preparation is necessary. I can telly you what we did with our dd if you think it would help, but we are in a different LEA.

I agree with katelyle. Look at the school websites to find out what's being tested (Maths, English, VR, NVR) and target your preparation accordingly. If you've been told tutoring is necessary, the person who told you that probably has a sideline doing tutoring The Athey website is quite helpful, and they sell inexpensive little books telling you how to do NVR if it doesn't come naturally to you. For English, here's a useful book

DS1 got in to a grammar school without tutoring - I'm not too sure what a tutor would do that an ordinarily well educated parent couldn't.

Oh, and if you trawl this thread you can get some free practice test paper downloads

Thanks for the links and info

Could I ring the schools direct and see if they could recommend??

Nothing really to stop you, and I don't think the schools could hold it against you, but I should think the answer would be "no". After all, think through the implications of a state school stating that tutoring was necessary to get in, and recommending a specific tutor - it would look rather corrupt, wouldn't it?

What year are your dc in ? And who told you they will need tutoring?

Years 3 and 4. Both schools (they go to different as dd has some mild sn) told me about the tutoring.

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Can you talk to the school at the next parent's evening about exactly what they mean? IMHO it's FAR too early for specific 11+ tutoring and I think it's unlikely that that's what they are talking about.

katelyle, I suspect that frascati's children's schools really have suggested 11+ tutoring - she's in Surrey, after all . There was a lengthy thread on the Tiffin schools not so long ago involving 11+ tuition for the very young. Is that your neck of the woods, frascati, or are you looking at the Sutton ones? (I'd understand and not be offended if you didn't want to answer that, frascati. But if you do say, there's a better chance that someone might come along with experience of that school or area.)

Before you commit yourself to significant expense it is worth visiting the grammar schools to find out whether you and your children prefer them to your local comp.

What about asking their teachers if they can recommend someone, or would they do some tutoring themselves? All my tutees have come from younger brothers or sisters of pupils in my class, or pupils in friends classes.

Really Hallgerda? Wow - I am so naive in these matters! I'd better shut up - my idea of 11+ coaching is doing a few practice papers in the summer between years 5 and 6, then an hour or so every weekend in the first term of year 6 before the test in January.

I've spent 30 years teacing as well as tutoring, including children taking common entrance and 11+, and now work as a parent coach.

IMO you are thinking ahead too much. The best time to start is at the beginning of year 6 - Sept. There are plenty of practise papers around- even in W H Smith's.

Most children would do better on the tests if they were familiar with them- especially if they are doing verbal and non-verbal tests as well as English and maths. However, theyhave loads of time and if you wait you will see whether they need a lot of input or just a little bit of practise.

Whether you get a tutor or do it yourself is up to you and your finances! If you DO go for a tutor make sure they have qualified teacher status and can actually do what they say they can do- many people tutor who aren't qualified teachers, and who don't reallly know the score. Your best bet is personal recommendation.

hallgerada ~ sorry but i have been away. Yes I am in Sutton if that helps

Aha, frascati - DS1 applied to two of the grammar schools in LB Sutton, and is now at one of them. As I also have children in Year 3 and Year 4 I have been keeping my ear to the ground on developments - it looks as if one of the schools will be bringing its test forward next year to comply with the new admissions code so will be having an open day in the next few weeks - you might like to go along and see whether you like it. (See websites for details).

When DS1 took them, the tests covered English (comprehension and related essay format), Maths and verbal reasoning, but do look out on websites for any changes to the system.

I have no practical experience of tutors so can't give you any recommendations, but here are a few thoughts. It might be worth talking to other parents and finding out what they're doing and whether they have found anyone, and, if so, how. Do you know any parents of children in this year's Year 6 who might be able to advise? Library notice boards will probably have a few adverts for tutors - ring them up and ask about their qualifications, experience, success rate, CRB check etc. The site recommended by katelyle also has some tutors advertising on it, I think.

Hallgerda ~ thanks. Think the school you are talking about advertised in the local paper this week. Will have a look now.

My son i9s now y7 at a grammar. We got books from whsmiths to make him familiar with the questions. We did it about 3 months before. No good tutoring them to pass, then they can't do the work /keep up with the speed when they get there - it happens!

tigi ~ I know people are split as to whether or not you should tutor. I am going to get a tutor to help my son become familiar with the test. However I also know that he is very capable otherwise I wouldn't even be considering this type of school for him iykwim.

For frascati- it really depends on your child and how they are, regarding the time to start. If the tests are in December, then Sept is probably too late, but I still think half way through Year 5 is the earliest- any sooner and they are going to struggle with the work anyway, (if you are working through old test papers)as it will be testing them on things they haven't yet been taught at school. Obviously a tutor can move them on, but you have to go with the child's maturity to a certain extent.

No amount of tutoring in the world will enable a child who doesn't l aready have the ability to pass, but the actual tests do not cover much more than they already do in Year 6 anyway- apart from the non-verbal and verbal tests. I'm only saying this because I have used the materials myself and have currently been working with children taking entrance tests.

In the "old days" when I wnet to grammar school myself- and we're talking over 40 years ago! - we were not tutored or anything- the tests were just part of everyday school and you didn't know what was coming!

Soory- that part of my message is really for Christie!

How can I find a reputable tutor? I mean there are numbers in the book but do they not have a body of come description?