Would a tutor help in this situation?

[emy72]

Hi there,
I have 4 children 5yrs and under. My DD1 in in reception and my DS1 is starting reception in September. I am finding supporting my DD1 at home in her learning quite difficult, and just about manage at the moment. Think of the scenario: DD1 trying to read her school book whilst I am holding a screaming baby, a toddler climbing over me and a demanding 3 year old....when DS1 starts next year AND I am also working, I think we will seriously struggle. I was wondering whether in this scenario it would be helpful/useful to have a tutor once a week or so who can just take DD1 to her room (away from screaming toddlers) and do a bit of homework with her whilst I do a bit with DS1. Has anybody been in this situation and has it worked/do you think it might be worth investigating, and if so how did you go about it/did it work out?
Thanks in advance!

[nighbynight]

I also have 4 children and work. Mine are a bit older than yours (6-13), and we are in germany, where the school system is very competitive and high pressure.
(Eg if you get bad marks at 11+, you get sent to a school where pupils are not allowed to do GCSEs, because they are deemed to be too thick)

I have tutors for all 3 of my children who are in the school, and will have a tutor for dd2 when she starts in September. The schools expect a ridiculously high level of parental involvement, and there is no way I can do it.
It is not right, and my primary school age children shouldn't be worrying about marks at all, imo, but there is no alternative, except that they just slip back.
I guess it depends on how many of the parents in your child's school play along with the extra work at home thing. If they all do, then your dd will look bad in comparison. If none of them do, then she may just be average.

[spitandpolish]

Could you get a local teen in a few times a week after school? That would enable you to have a few very short sessions which would probably be more appropriate for a 5yo.

[emy72]

spitandpolish, what a good idea, I am going to look into that!!

[overmydeadbody]

When I was doing my A-levels I tutored two little sisters every day after school, half an hr each, doing their homework with them, reading with them and getting them to do handwriting practice and sums practice.

Their mum had younger children too so didn't have time (or the inclination tbh) and it really helped the girls.

[overmydeadbody]

A tutor will always help, eeven if it is just a teenager.

[grumpypants]

I pay a tutor once a week for my Y2 child as I found it gives him a guaranteed hour to practise each week, altho I obviously do my bit. I have 4 as well. If you can afford it, it's a good, practical idea imo. BTW if my mum etc had been local, I'd have sent him that way - cd any family help out?

[mummyrex]

The other idea with a 'local teen' is to have the teen play with the other children while you do the tutoring.

[emy72]

Thanks, it sounds like it could work then. If any grandparents were local or willing to help it would be fab but unfortunately we have neither scenarios and we are on our own! Hence finding it hard. I feel constantly guilty that I am not "doing enough"!!!!