Read what Mumsnet users have to say about Explore Learning’s tuition centres - £300 voucher to be won for feedback

[EllieMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the Mumsnet users to who tested the Explore Learning tuition centres and their service. This service test was open at all UK MNers who had a child aged 5-14 who were interested in maths & English tuition for their child.

Here is what the testers received:

• 4 free sessions in maths and english
• The first session was an initial chat with both the parent and child to establish the child’s levels.
• The next 3 sessions were held on a drop in basis over the the course of a 4 week period (maximum 2 per week).

Here’s what Explore Learning have to say: “Since 2001 Explore Learning has helped over 200,000 children have excelled academically, reached their potential and achieved the best possible results. Our national network of 140 maths and English tuition centres support children in progressing academically, but more than that we inspire fearless learners: children who are brave, determined and excited for their next steps. Whether it’s getting ready to start a new school, meet a new teacher or make friends - we ensure children have the confidence and self-belief to tackle anything.”

Testers please answer the following questions:

• Which centre did you attend?
• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?
• What did you like most about the service/centres?
• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?
• Is there anything you feel could be improved?
• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

All testers who leave their feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

• Which centre did you attend? Swindon
• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? It was good... the centre did seem very busy though
• What did you like most about the service/centres? The staff seemed very child oriented
• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? She said she really enjoyed it
• Is there anything you feel could be improved? Quieter sessions. Less computer work. Not so rigid re: 6 sessions a month. Lower fees.
• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? If their child was struggleling

Which centre did you attend?WOOD GREEN.

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? SATISFIED.
• What did you like most about the service/centres? OFSTED REGULATED.
• How did your child find the centres? LIKED IT VERY MUCH.

Do you think it helped them?THE FEW SESSIONS MAKE IT HARD TO JUDGE.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved?HAVE A PICK UP FROM SCHOOL SERVICE, OR HAVE IR ATTATCHED TO SCHOOL AS AN AFTER SCHOOL FACILITY.
• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?YES. IT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRIVATE TUITION ON A BUDGET.

Which centre did you attend? Sheffield

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? It was ok. The staff seemed lovely though I got the impression they were just (understandably) out for a sale.... The centre was busy too.
• What did you like most about the service/centres? Seemed like a nice, clean, modern learning environment.
• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? My DS can be quite shy so I think he might have found it a bit overwhelming at first. It did seem to be pitched at quite a high level for him too. Saying that he said he liked it, wanted to go back & loved the Lizard cards!
• Is there anything you feel could be improved? Ensure work is set at the right level. Higher staff to child ratio. Quieter / less busy sessions. Cheaper rates.
• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? I'm not sure I would, sorry!

• Which centre did you attend? Sidcup

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?Alright, considering we did not pay for the 4 sessions. The centre manager knows her stuff and the feedback I got was comparable to feedback I got from my dc’s teacher in school.

One of the areas I would like my dc to improve upon is her writing. Explore learning is not an avenue to do that as my Dc is pretty much on the computer for the whole hour.

• What did you like most about the service/centres?

I like the reward system as it helps children to look forward to attending sessions. I also like the fact that children get to play for 15 minutes. My dc has developed a love for board games and card games from attending these sessions.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? The centres can be a bit noisy when there’s lots of children. This can sometimes create distractions even when the dcs have got head phones on.
• Is there anything you feel could be improved? I didn’t like the fact that unqualified teachers (teenagers??) are the main support staff the dcs have got. I suppose you get what you pay for.
• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? Only if the parents lack time to sit with the dcs . In my opinion, I can get a similar software online that’s not as expensive and have my dcs work through it for 2 hours a week.

Which centre did you attend? My children attended the Oldham centre.

Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? EXTREMELY satisfied.

What did you like most about the service/centres? All the staff were friendly, knowledgable, approachable and they pushed my children more than school has done. The incentives work and My children aimed toward receiving 4 lizards cards. They helped my children progress academically and socially.The parents evening provided an overview of their progress and feedback after each session was fantastic. There were so many exciting things about this service. If I were to choose one, it would be that my children were happy and that is all I want. Thank you to Rachel&Rebecca and their fantastic team. x

How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?
My 5 and 7 year old LOVED the sessions. They did not want to leave after the first session and wanted to stay longer! They told me that they wanted to continue with the sessions and wanted to stay here at Oldham. Unfortunately this is not going to be feasible but this request from my children speaks volumes. My children had a thrist for learning thanks to this fantastic team. Thank you for making my children happy and letting them be part of the Oldham Explore Learning family.

Is there anything you feel could be improved? This centre is currently not open 7 days a week which is a negative. I understand that it will be opening 7 days a week which will be great.

Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? DEFINITELY!! The Oldham staff are ace!!! I have already recommended Explore learning to family and friends . I cannot speak highly enough about the centre. My children will be going to the Heaton Park centre and I hope that it is just as good and staff are just as lovely. An excellent service!!

• Which centre did you attend?

Mere Green

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?

Satisfied. Everyone is very family and full of energy.

• What did you like most about the service/centres?

Near shopping area and free car park. My daughter love the ideas of collecting the cards to exchange for goodies.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?

My daughter enjoys the course. We went one session on creative writing and two session on Maths. It does help her but she was not able to show her understanding. The teacher does ask her but she dont demostrate. It is great that they encourage her to do so.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved?

Instead of 9 sessions for £130ish, why not 4 sessions for half the amount. Once a week is more than enough especially if the location is not easy to go. Also kids tends to have lot of activities after school.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

Yes.

Which centre did you attend?Tynemouth

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? I was satisfied for what we got, but I don't think I'd pay for the service.
• What did you like most about the service/centres? They are clean, open and friendly and my child enjoyed attending.
• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?They really enjoyed it but I don't think they really can be 'helped' in that short amount of time.
• Is there anything you feel could be improved?Flexibility, I don't think we'd ever hit the three sessions (3.45 hours!) a week. Also the cost is too much, the activities are very much screen based and I think a 50/50 split would make me think it was worth more of our time and money.
• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?Yes, those with kids who are really struggling could benefit.

• Which centre did you attend? Shirley

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? 9/10 - there's always room for improvement. 😁

• What did you like most about the service/centres? Staff came across very well, there was always something to keep children occupied while waiting. They gave DS work directly related to what he's currently studying.

• How did your child find the centres? In DS's own words - It's alright, bit noisy at times. (He's 14 so I class that as praise.)

• Do you think it helped them? Impossible to tell after 3 sessions to be honest.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved? A bit more feedback at the end of each session would be better. I realise they're busy, but I think it's an important part of tuition. To be fair though, the Parent Meeting was very good.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centre? Difficult to say after 3 sessions, I think it probably depends on the individual child. It will suit some and not others.

DS will be carrying on, at least for a while, (much to his horror but there's a PS4 game he wants and I'm not above bribery) as I think it could help him in the long run.

Which centre did you attend? Manchester - Ashton

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? Really satisfied- the staff were friendly and helpful.

What did you like most about the service/centres?
The drop in sessions and not having to worry about what time we had to be there by when stuck in traffic.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? She loved it and enjoyed earning her lizard cards. I think it helped her confidence and has encouraged her with her handwriting.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved?

Yes it would be easier for us if there was a membership fee and then a pay as you go system. Unfortunately with the traffic and other activities it wouldn’t be feasible for us to get there 2 times a week.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

Definitely I think they offer a valuable service. Currently unsure whether we will continue as we don’t have much free time currently but would definitely make the time if we felt she needed it.

Due to timings we've only done our initial chat and 2x sessions with DD. Therefore I can't give feedback at this time on our final parent feedback session as we're not booked in for that until the 16th November.

• Which centre did you attend? Coventry

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? The manager and deputy who did our initial session were lovely. Staff seemed friendly to me and DD without being overbearing. The centre itself was clean and tidy. The staff looked uni age (we went on a week night and a weekend) which is hardly surprising given our location. The staff on the desk at the front said hi to the kids by first name and asked them about things they had obviously previously talked about. That personal touch was nice.

• What did you like most about the service/centres? The location (within a shopping complex) was great as I could wait without being bored. Easy and free parking was useful too. DD enjoyed earning the lizard cards but she said the work was too easy for her despite doing the placement test in our first session. If we were continuing the service, I would definitely chat about that with the team. DD was put at ease quickly though and the staff remembered her name from our initial visit.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? DD enjoyed going and seemed to enjoy the work. I'm sure it would help DD over a longer period and she certainly seemed keen to go along.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved? I feel that the pricing is very expensive for what is basically online resources done with a uni aged adult to help if needed. We already do this at home with paid for online resources. The pricing structure meant that DD wasn't able to experience the creative maths and creative writing sessions as these were in the higher price band, however it would have been good to see if these were also done on computer on with discussion in small groups.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? Only if I thought they might be interested because their child was struggling. I can do at home what DD was doing at Explore Learning so am much more likely to recommend that because it's significantly cheaper. The only difference is the dedicated time and actually going to the Explore location to do it (which was a benefit).

Overall it was good to experience, DD enjoyed it and extra maths and English is never going to be a bad thing. Our centre looked busy so the model must be attractive but it's not for us due to the cost.

Oh yes, the drop-in nature of the sessions is great. Very helpful not to be tied in although it might be useful to know when their usual busy/quiet times are.

- Which centre did you attend?
Coventry

- Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?
The centre was good and the staff were really enthusiastic. They seemed to be genuinely interested in the development of the children.

- What did you like most about the service/centres?
The best thing about the service was that my 6yo DS loved it. The best thing about the centre was its proximity to a Costa!

- How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?
They liked the centre but the big thing was getting ‘lizard cards’ for completing objectives and playing in the Discovery Zone once finished.
I can’t say progress was made after so few sessions.

- Is there anything you feel could be improved?
I know it was early days and the software is supposed to automatically check levels (after answering a certain number of questions) but I felt the initial level was set too low and didn’t stretch my DS.

- Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?
Under the right circumstances, yes I would.

Which centre did you attend? Edmonton

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? Very disappointed, after the initial chat (which was no where near our closest centre) nobody ever contacted us again. It was a complete waste of time.

• What did you like most about the service/centres? The staff member we met was very friendly and had a nice rapport with my son.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? Never got to find out as after the assessment they didnt contact us again.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved? Communication between centres would have made the world of difference for us. We also found it very noisy.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? In short no, I dont have anything positive I could pass on

• Which centre did you attend? Harrow

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? I was impressed with the service. I liked the tailored work plan and the comprehensive session feedback. The lizard cards gave my children something to work towards.

• What did you like most about the service/centres? Staff were enthusiastic and welcoming. I liked the drop in arrangement rather than fixed times.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? My kids really enjoyed going and I think the sessions were helpful for them.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved? Maybe a different fee system. We would struggle to go twice a week, so the monthly fee is to high for us. Also it was quite busy.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? Maybe, if they could find the time to attend regularly and the centre was easy to get to.

Which centre did you attend?

We attended the Hampton branch of Explore Learning.

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?

Both myself and DD were very satisfied with the service at the Hampton centre. From the initial consultation Laura the weekend manager that welcomed us was amazing. She was friendly and professional and explained how the tuition worked. DD couldn’t wait to get started! Which surprised me somewhat.

• What did you like most about the service/centres?

I would have to say the atmosphere in the centre. It was calm and welcoming and all the children seemed happy. DD enjoyed every session and the reward system (cards and prize cabinet) was fantastic.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?

DD loved the centre/teachers and also the maths/English programs. She has been asking to go every day. I think she was learning but hard to tell in 3 sessions.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved?

I think the £50 joining fee is too much but everything else was great.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

Yes I would definitely recommend this service and have already, I’m planning on signing DD up after Christmas.

Which centre did you attend?
Islington

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?

I was very satisfied. Staff were knowledgeable, caring, friendly and very helpful. The centre was bright and cheery. The work that my DC went through was engaging and the whole system seemed pretty well thought out. Rewards and incentives really appealed to DC. I thought it was great. There is a buzz around the centre. The chill out zone is a nice touch. The incentives were revised while we were there, from charts to certificates. We didn't get onto them. Lizard cards were gratefully received though. A nice touch.

• What did you like most about the service/centres?

Friendly place with enthusiastic tutors and a very personal touch which made me confident that the service was bespoke.The feedback at the end of each session was detailed and useful. The summary meeting, a kind of parent teacher evening was really accurate about their strengths and needs and was impressive. Whole package works well.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?

DC really enjoyed it, one a little more than the other but both felt really good after the sessions, enjoyed talking about what they had done, what was challenging, what was easy, how it relates to school work. They seemed boosted in confidence.They liked the aftertution space, the younger one more so, playing with Scratch. One is very keen to go back, especially for Success in Secondary course. I thought my older DC, 13, might be too old but she is a little behind in Maths and needs to reinforce basics, and also it was made clear to me that there is work that extends into GCSE. Was perfect for 10 year old, though we found out he is working at an advanced level, which pleased him. Younger one got frustrated by the earphone commentary apparently and was less keen to ask for help. Older one lives asking for help so really got into the system as it stands.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved?

Our centre was clearly very well used, a good sign. I guess it could be a little bigger.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

I definitely would. I think it works well and is attuned to a variety of learners and needs. I want to continue, at least with older DC who needs some extra support. As I receive CCVs it would not be too costly. The only problem is that it is 2 buses away and our week evenings are already quite full. Really need to think about this, but hope to join up again. I hear that there is access to a home learning programme for older DC. That would be useful. In any case, have tried a couple of other tuition centres and this was by far the best, most tarbetted at DCs abilities, best feedback, best tech, best tutors.

Which centre did you attend? East Kilbribe
Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? Satisfied, staff were great with the kids and managed to put my DD2 at ease when she arrived crying on the 2nd session.
What did you like most about the service/centres? The staff were great, really friendly and helpful.
How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? My 4 year old loved going though I think she felt important and loved the novelty of wearing the headphones to do "work". My older 2 DD's kept telling me that you wouldn't come home from work and then do more work for fun. So they dragged their heels a bit when attending. I do think it helped my eldest DD's confidence and it definitely helped my youngest with her writing.
Is there anything you feel could be improved? Communication between centres so we could attend various centres. Also we felt it was very expensive especially if we would have more than one child attending.
Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? Possibly, if there was something they were struggling with.

- Which centre did you attend?
Manchester - Cheadle Hulme

- Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?
Very Satisfied. I thought the centre was brilliant and the staff exceptionally enthusiastic, knowledgable and personable. There was a genuine thirst for educational development and a keen interest in my son and his abilities/background.

The staff always greeted us by name and brought up something from his last sessions that he'd mentioned or something I might have mentioned over the phone; which was a really nice thing to do. I want to send special thanks to Laura, Ruth and Amy (and team) from the Cheadle Hulme branch who have been great with my son!

- What did you like most about the service/centres?
It was bright and inviting. Easy to find and good location - close to local shops/station if you were travelling in or needed to run errands.

I also liked that the sessions were quite flexible with a drop in. This was great after school when my son wanted to grab a snack and then head over to the centre. Some times the traffic was bad - especially if the weather was bad. So it was good to know I didn't have total pressure to get there for a certain time. The centre is also open 7 days a week - (and during the school holidays) which is brilliant for parents/guardians who wish to send there children over the weekend too. On top of all this, the centre if OFSTED registered and guided by the curriculum, whilst ensuring work is offered and completed at a level that is exactly right for my son.

- How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?
My son loved it; especially the Lizard Card aspect. This is a great way to reward children on a longterm basis. The service has helped my son, as he wasn't really a 'tech-led' child (he's 6 and has zero interest in tablets/computers etc - he lives for Lego). So it was great to see him using a computer with such ease. Though, it would also be great if he could have a 1:1 session, or group sessions, away from the computer screen too. From an educational progression point of view, I'm not sure there were enough sessions to see such a strong improvement. He's also having extra help at school, so I'm not sure which has caused him the greatest impact as of yet.

- Is there anything you feel could be improved?
Though the location is brilliant, the parking is a bit of a nightmare. I had a bit of an altercation with another driver this week as I wasn't aware that there was a one-way system, this needs to be signposted properly as the floor markings weren't visible in the dark. The parking is exceptionally limited, though there is parking outside the centre - but this was busy most times I arrived.

I would love to carry on with the sessions, to see if they had impacted my son (at all). But the fee's are just too high for us at the minute - especially as we're budgeting ahead of Christmas. A membership fee and then pay-as-you-go might be a good way to join?

Also, having a communication between my son's school and the Explore Learning centre would be great too. This would ensure there was a distinct continuity of learning between the two. It would also bridge the gap between what he's already learning/learned to make sure you're getting the most out of the private sessions.

1:1 sessions/group sessions away from the computer screen too.

Access to the programmes he's using (I can see that there is access to the Maths programme) and the progress he's making digitally so it can be tracked properly. The notes at the end of each session are great, but I'm sure doing this digitally would also be quicker for the staff and a better way of tracking progress for their benefit too. (Not to mention better than using paper endlessly too!)

- Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?
I certainly would!

Which centre did you attend? Brixton

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?excellent service
• What did you like most about the service/centres? that they made my daughter feel so welcome and made her feel independent
• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? my daughter really liked them. she couldn't wait to go again after the first session. They did help her, I got a sense that they were very patient and supported my daughter when she needed it
• Is there anything you feel could be improved? maybe there could be continuity of what is learnt at the centre and the opportunity to so some of it at home. For us, it was tricky to actually get to the centre so remote access to some of the lessons could be useful.
• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? yes, would also say to take your child lead, I really believe that they need to be the ones to enjoy it.

- Which centre did you attend?

Bristol Cabot Circus

- Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?

Very, very satisfied!

- What did you like most about the service/centres?

I thought the staff were great. They were very child-oriented, clearly knew their stuff & they seemed very genuine and friendly.

We've also been given some great feedback and ideas for ways to continue to stretch and challenge my son. Some of their suggestions were for things that will help him throughout life e.g. Knowing when to ask for help.

- How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?

He really enjoyed it and looked forward to going back. He particularly liked the Lizard cards and the idea that he could trade them for pretty decent prizes. I think the staff treated him as a big kid & he was pleased with his independence.

It was helpful for him to have a different perspective on his abilities. For example, they rated his maths which is something he doesn't feel as confident as English in. That was a definite boost to him.

He's actually disappointed that we won't be taking on membership!

- Is there anything you feel could be improved?

I strongly agree with suggestions made by previous posters... Halve the number of sessions & the cost. Although my son really enjoyed his time there, our family would struggle to fit the sessions in around younger siblings, after school activities & downtime. I'd seriously consider becoming a member if we could attend one session a week (even if a prebooked time) & only pay half the monthly fee. For us the drop in option wasn't important.

- Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

Absolutely!

Which centre did you attend?
Luton Dunstable

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?

Difficult to say as we’ve not finished our sessions but I’m very satisfied with the service provided so far.

• What did you like most about the service/centres?

The centre is well located with easily accessible parking. Inside it’s well lit, clean and open plan so you can see how they’re getting on while you wait. The staff are hugely enthusiastic and very child centred. Communication is brilliant with lots of feedback after each session and regular parents meetings.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?

My 9 year old is quite shy so found it a little overwhelming at first. Like most children of his age, he’s happy with IT centred learning so quickly got to grips with their teaching style. He’s made friends already and enjoys the free time afterwards. Mostly he loves the reward system and seems really motivated by it, not only to learn but to talk about what he’s learning and show respect while there.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved?

The biggest drawback is the fees. I can understand that running costs are high and tuition is a competitive business. However given the flexibility of sessions it might be good to see some flexibility with fees eg payments per session rather than per month, more grades of membership and so on.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

Yes I definitely would and the Luton Dunstable centre in particular.

Which centre did you attend?

Bedford

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?

I was very satisfied with the service overall. the staff were all very welcoming and also remembered my son's name very quickly! The feedback after each session and cards to take home were great too, I like to know what my child did in the session. We were only contacted very late in the test period and they were so accommodating with us.

• What did you like most about the service/centres?

I liked that they didn't push for a sale, I didn't even know the price till I asked at the end of the first session. I said I would do the trial and see if we could afford it but otherwise would be later next year when childcare is cheaper. They were very helpful with information on tax credit and childcare vouchers. I loved that they made my normally shy when meeting new people son very comfortable that by the end of the first session he was loving it there, and he keeps asking for more sessions! he was begging to go back for each one!

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?

My son loved them. We attended at the weekend and after school on Fridays and it was relatively quiet. The last session as on a Friday after school and he was excited when I told him we were going again which is amazing to see1 He knew a lot of kids from school who attended and the lizard cards were the best thing at the end of his session. He has plans to go back and get enough cards for the award prizes! The staff were really great with him and talked to him on his level which was great too.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved?

My experience was great so I cannot think of anything. Drop off and pick up feedback was good. The parents meeting was very helpful for knowing how my child is doing.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

I definitely have been recommending them already and plan to register my son when our other child gets her funded nursery hours and we have more money to use towards tuition. Our son is very bright and Explore learning challenged him beyond what he gets at school so this is very useful for us.

Which centre did you attend? Stourbridge

Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service? Very satisfied, the centre was well laid out, with up to date technology and resources. The staff were enthusiastic and really took an interest in getting to know my daughter. The staff also spent lots of time talking to me about how the centre works and spent time before and after our visit checking that we were happy with the service.

What did you like most about the service/centres? Enthusiastic staff, package tailored to my daughter, great range of opening hours, additional workshops provided in school holidays, drop in sessions with no need to commit, personalised feedback at the end of each session, the fact that the lessons were aligned to the work my daughter was doing at school. The staff listened to what I was hoping my child would achieve from attending the sessions and ensured that her learning goals and work were aligned to that.

How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?
She really enjoyed the sessions and got excited about going along. She particularly bonded with one member of staff. She enjoyed getting the rewards (lizard cards) and think this would be a good motivator.

Is there anything you feel could be improved? Price and package options. Our centre only offers a monthly subscription service that costs around £125 a month. Given our busy family life we wouldn't be able to fit in more than one session per week and I feel that would make the sessions far too expensive for us. If there was a pay as you go option per session, this would be flexible and better fit in with us. The play area was quite basic with colouring sheets and some board games, this could benefit from a little investment.

Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member? Yes in terms of the quality of the sessions and learning, however, no in terms of cost aspect.

This is based on the two sessions we have attended so far (the rest are scheduled for the next week).

Which centre did you attend? Kings Heath

• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?

I am satisfied with the tuition centre so far. The centre was clean and bright.The staff were enthusiastic and friendly. We received written feedback from the session -- which highlights what was done well and where further work was needed.

• What did you like most about the service/centres?

The flexible nature of the sessions -- being able to drop in at a time convenient to you. The staff - they were young, friendly and very approachable. It is a very welcoming and fun atmosphere.

• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them?

My son loved going to the centre. I think the reward system and the 'chill out' time after the session were a big pull. I think it was fairly good for maths but I would have preferred some more working on paper. So he gets used to showing his working out for maths questions and also to practice his handwriting. I have booked him for a creative writing workshop which I hope wont be based on a computer.

• Is there anything you feel could be improved?

The majority of the learning seems to be online -- which is something that we already do a lot of via his school (reading eggs/mathletics). I feel it would be beneficial to perhaps also offer written worksheets/other activities to help develop different skills i.e. showing working out etc. Looking at the structure of the fees/sessions I feel that it is quite a big monthly commitment in terms of sessions (9/month) and pricing. With two younger children and other extracurricular activities, I would struggle to attend that frequently - so the subscription would not be good value for me.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

So far our experience has been positive so yes I would.

• Which centre did you attend? Camberley
• Overall how satisfied were you with the tuition centre and service?What did you like most about the service/centres? Overall, quite satisfied with the experience. I liked the independent aspect of children organising their own belongings and getting equipment. The tasks seemed engaging and the children enjoyed their sessions. The staff all seem young and enthusiastic.
• How did your child find the centres? Do you think it helped them? Once the children were aware that they were not expected to get more than 75/80% correct, they felt more confident. The assessments tally with what their schools tell me but they covered topics that have not yet been covered in school which worried them.
• Is there anything you feel could be improved?

The cost is simply too much. It would be great to have drop in sessions during the school holidays that we could pay for ad hoc but my children are so worn out from school that the after school sessions wouldn't work for us. At weekends the centre was so busy. I'm not sure if any peer interaction happens for development of reasoning and social skills.

• Would you recommend Explore Learning tuition centres to a friend or family member?

Yes.