How does this work for private tutors?

[Hunsgate46]

I’m just curious but do all private tutors that offer tutoring services to students work through a private company like MyTutor or is it possible for there to be private tutors who work independently?

The reason why I ask is because online, when I search for private tutors, the only things that I can find are companies like MyTutor which then have a large list of potential tutors that have signed up with that company and so essentially work for them.

But, is it possible to bypass the need to go through the company and get a private tutor in a different way?

@flawlessflipper True! I insisted on seeing the cvs of the tutors from agencies they were proposing which was apparently "irregular" Neither LA nor agency had bothered to check that they had the necessary training experience and qualifications stipulated in EHCP. One, I was told, would be "good eye candy" for dd and yet LA were happy to use them at a premium rate.

@hiredandsqueak as if “good eye candy” is ever an appropriate decision-making tool for those working with CYP.

LAs think parents should be grateful for every little scrap of provision. You are like me. DS1&3 have EOTAS/EOTIS. No-one works with DSs unless I agree. Alongside the EOTAS/EOTIS co-ordinator who we have as part of their packages I am involved in the recruitment of everyone who works with them and we don’t use any agencies.

We have one through an agency who is an absolute treasure but that agency didn't have a problem with me seeing CVs and sent me 3 to look at. She turned out to be perfect for dd. Can I dm you at some point over the weekend and ask your advice please? Nothing to do with tutors just more tripe from LA.

Of course you can @hiredandsqueak.

I work for them, I have an unusual name so sometimes parents find me on Facebook/LinkedIn, and we go through that. Works better for me and them as we don't have to pay the agency fee. It's very very difficult to take a student off the platform once you're on there as they record the meetings and close your account if you're found to be doing so (fair enough in my opinion). Otherwise it's word of mouth, referrals or I advertise a little on NextDoor and some Facebook groups.

I will say I'm more experienced and want to leave the agency but slowly building up my client list off site, referrals generally only come after I've finished working with a student as parents don't want the very limited slots nabbed in busy periods. I know for a fact that some parents lie about their children having a tutor, speak to the ones who are a few years above and have gone through the exams to get the most honest referrals

Do you have your own professional email to contact students or do you use a regular gmail?

My regular email, I don't have a website- I don't really need one. I have references and a dbs check that I provide on request but I think only one parent has ever asked. I haven't ever considered it, I'm VAT registered though.

Word of mouth. I get about 60% of my work from word of mouth. Or there are FB groups. OR you can search on LinkedIn.

Another option is sites like FirstTutors.com who are just an intro agency. After you pay to release the tutor details, you then just pay the tutor in person. I used to get a lot of work through them.

I get most of my referrals through Whatsapp although am fine with email if they prefer. I work with overseas students also so also use WeChat with my Chinese students.

Why do you think a tutor has to have a logo and a website to be any good? I have used tutors through word of mouth and that has always been the best route. Not a website or logo to be seen!

We found our son's maths tutor via seeing a business card on the wall of our local cafe. Worth having a look at shops/cafes/salons etc where they have a board with local business cards.

Yes of course. I used to do tutoring (far too busy now). I didn't have a website and I just relied on word of mouth, and put thr occasional advert on my local Facebook group. I'm a teacher so just tutored in my spare time. A few of my colleagues tutor as well, and do the same- none of us are part of a big tutoring company.