tutors - anyones kids have them? what do they do? have you seen a marked improvement?

[PSCMUM]

primary level, lots of kids seem to be having them at the mo. Im not sure. views please!

we've got a tutor...
she is absolutely fantastic!
we got her as ds's school is pretty rubbish, ds1 is very bright, bored and could do better, ds2, not getting anywhere, dyslexic tendencies, but extrordinarily bright to talk to. They have improved so much, I started proceedings to move schools a couple of weeks ago. they are now moving in Sept, but the tutor showed me what they could achieve in the right situation.
it costs me £40 a week for the 2 ds's to have 2 hours but it's been worth every penny and as tutor keeps buying new types of left handed pens, various books, cds etc I don't think she's making anything!

sounds amazing.
i suppose i just feel a bit of middle class guilt at yet another advantage I'm considering for me kids. but then no one else is going to are they?!

dahling, they're all the rage here in n london.....

Any particular reason you're thinking of getting a tutor Pscmum?

i know. I'm in N london!
talk about keepin up with the joneses/ it never bloody ends.

yes, a huge improvement for ds1. and i am someone who strongly disapproves of tutoring for young children. or older kids.
in dc school, i knew a recpetion age child who was tutored.

I had one for dd2 in yr 6 for her maths because she did not 'get' numbers and I was worried about her never learning anything in the bottom set at secondary school. She went under duress and I didn't get feedback from her or the tutor and didn't know if it was worth it at the time. But then about 3 months later something clicked and she has never had any problems since.

I have contacted the same tutor again for dd3 who is in yr 5 and doesn't 'get' numbers either and fingers crossed this woman can work her magic again!

I wouldn't use them long term but they can provide a different approach and well worth the money I thought.

If I had my boys at a well performing N. London school
I probably wouldn't send them to a tutor until yr 5 to prepare them for 11+ / common entrance. and then only if I thought they would be happy at an academic / high achieving school.
As it is they are opposite ends of the spectrum at a poorly performing, rural school, hence the tutor and the school move.

the thing is tho that when they are at a shcool that is well performing, you can see what they are up against at grammar school entrance exam time. and it makes one get into rather a panic!!

I know what you mean, pscmum. but is the grammar the right school for your dc's? I would only tutor really, if I thought they could easily manage the work if they got there. In our case ds2 who's in yr2, is learning to form / write basic letters with his tutor.

hmmmm, i'm just not sure. i suppose i want a tutor to assess them and tell me if its worth it! i don't want to stress out my dcs or make them feel like they have in any way failed. I am internalising all of my anxiety!

what years? and how are their sats results?

eldest got 3 level 3s in SATS at end of year 2. Now in year4.
not even considering for the other 2, they are too young and need to play more.

cannot remember if they were 3as or 3cs - whichever is the top. 3a?

sympathies op. n london is educational hell hole. have just been throuygh secondary transfer to selective independent schools with ds1 (who got his first choice, phew!) and it was the most stressful thing i think i have ever been through.....
it needs a lot of preparation and hard work (on your part and his)and rightly or wrongly majority of applicants will ahve been tutored in some shape or form.... many within an inch of their lives. dont listen to all that "if he cant get in without all that help he isnt right for that school" schtik... the horrible truth is he will be at real disadvantage if you do that. you dont need to pay a tutor but then you need to be the tutor......
what schools are you thinking of?

latymer and poss highgate. though idon't agree with private schools so highgate might be a bridge too far. but if it was that or unnameable awful local school i would go for it.

latymer and poss highgate. though idon't agree with private schools so highgate might be a bridge too far. but if it was that or unnameable awful local school i would go for it.

latymer and poss highgate. though idon't agree with private schools so highgate might be a bridge too far. but if it was that or unnameable awful local school i would go for it.

latymer and poss highgate. though idon't agree with private schools so highgate might be a bridge too far. but if it was that or unnameable awful local school i would go for it.

wow i really mean it! well done on yours getting their first choice.

did you get a sats result at the end of yr 3?
my ds1 got 100% for maths level 3 in yr 2 and now in yr 3, we think he's achieving 4a / 5, but his writing is not as good. all he wants to do is maths at the expense of everything else, so I think a tutor is working for him at the mo. If I were you, I'd wait until the end of yr 4, get the sats results and take it from there with a view to tutoring in yr 5. HTH's

well, both are super competitive.... about 2000 applicants for latymer and only 17 or so boy places in year 7 at highgate for some 400 applicants . if you are going down independent route you need a range of options imo... all your eggs in one highly competitive basket is not a good place to be come january of year 6

yup. agree beginning of year 5 is v earliest you need a tutor.... but investigate now. the good ones get v booked up in advance....
ta for the kind words. it was HELL.

If you're in N London you really do need to think about a tutor or home-tutoring (depending on your circumstances and what would work best for your child). It is competitive and not true that 'if your child is bright he/she will get in anyway'. Like controlfreaky we've also just been through this and it's worked out really well although stressful along the way. Our dd is bright but she wouldn't have made it without some tutoring. We started at beginning of Year 5.

well done carolyn! shall we form a 11+ survivors group?