Tutors for primary school

[2much2do2littletime]

I'm just curious how many people on here have a tutor for their primary school kids? I ask as I've recently realised (as no one ever says off their own back) that the majority of my eldest's peers have a tutor for some subject or other (mostly maths). These are all middle class kids in comprehensive schools that are in no way behind, but maybe that's why. Im curious what the norm is or if I just happen to be in an area where it's a thing. Thanks

I have 3 kids. 13,13 and 16. No tutors, not in primary or secondary.

Why?
They spend enough time sat in classrooms and there are other ways to learn. Let kids be kids.

@InTheLabyrinth I'm not sure why. I guess I'm asking as I'm wondering if I'm letting my child down by not having one. She'd hate it though and she's doing totally fine, but would she be excelling if we were more 'on it'? Who knows.
I think I feel a bit sad about it - I feel it shouldn't be necessary in primary school, but I don't know if I'm being hopelessly naive!

We had a maths tutor in primary for my DD in year 6, she struggled to keep up and was anxious about telling her teacher in front of the whole class when she didn't understand. It really boosted her confidence.
We have one now she is at secondary for the same reason. The tutor is a uni student so helps her out with some money too.
In both cases, DD asked for extra help.

@bringbacksummernow I think that's fair enough if she asked for one, and was struggling, I'm not judging parents for doing all they can to support their kids.

In answer to your question, I don't think it's the norm. And also my main priority is that the kids are happy generally and happy to go into school.
Extra curricular stuff is also so much effort!

I don't, but I do have the time to support their learning at home.
I can't speak for my entire child's class, but the handful of mums I knew/ are friends with from baby groups etc have a tutor or do home learning.
Quite a few pay for reading eggs, maths seeds or IXL and they have learning time on that 3+ times a week. I use TGTB free PDF for maths and English/ language arts, it is a homeschool curriculum, American and Christain which we aren't, but no issues with either so far. It's pretty, lots of games and they enjoy doing it. I discovered it during lockdown and decided to carry on with it home since they enjoyed it so much.

I myself had a tutor in year 3 for English and maths, I probably would have benefited from year 1. I was really behind and needed the individual support. I remember feeling very confused, maybe as soon as I started to grasp something we were onto the next. I went from the bottom table to top.
I don't see any reason why a child should struggle / not be supported with tutors or whatever else just because that's what school is for. I used to see other children I knew from school at the tutoring centre too. Very deprived area. So i'd say fairly common and even more so now with the option of online (cheaper) tutors, educational apps and free curriculums available.
My mother was a single mother working part time at Asda, so not very well off and very far from middle class.

i know several people who have tutors for 4/5 year olds- i think they are insane. I dont however see any issue with older children if there is a particular subject they are struggling with. You though are talking about middle class competitive parents trying to get their kids into a grammar school- very different

One of my DDs friends has a tutor. I'd like DD (year 4) to have a tutor, but she won't agree to it. She has after school club three nights a week as I work part-time, then another night swimming. It only leaves Friday night for a tutor, and she's often tired by Friday night. Weekends are taken by hobbies.

She manages fine, and a very happy child. It's just me wanting her to achieve her best. I don't think it's worth the angst in trying to persuade her into private tutors though!

We do, but it's because he's struggling in a couple of areas. This got worse during the lockdowns despite our best efforts at homeschooling. I wouldn't if he was on track though.

It's only 1 hour a week plus maybe 30 minutes max of homework and he really enjoys it. The difference it has made has been noticeable.

Hi OP,
While I do not pay for a physical tutor, I do spend £7.99 a month on Atom Learning to get my DD (8) up to speed in Maths, English and Science. This is largely because she got so behind with lockdown as their school did not handle it as they should have. I've also been putting her in front of their free live lessons in the evenings which she enjoys.

If you add this code at checkout: 9jZyyrcv you can get 10% off still I think.

My DD had a maths tutor from Y4-Y5 She was really really struggling and I couldn't help her as the methods used now are nothing like how I was taught maths.

We got an ex-teacher neighbour for an hour a week (during term time) to go at a slower pace with her. It worked wonders and gave her the confidence boost she needed to grasp maths.

Now in secondary school she's absolutely fine and I'm glad I got her the support she needed when she needed it.

Although we don't, there are quite a few kids in DDs class that do. It seems to be a mix of people who want to get their kids to pass 11+ exams, and those worried about the effect of the lockdowns. We're not in an 11+ area but I gather there are some (state) schools which have some places for kids who do well in a test, so they prep them for that.

It's a very diverse area and it does feel like the gap between the middle class and working class kids is increasing, both due to the lockdowns and the tutoring

@OnlyFoolsnMothers we aren't in a grammar school area. I think it is (as others have said) partly down to worries about effect of lockdown and partly no one wanting their kid to be 'bottom of the class' - but I was just surprised how common it was and got me thinking about if this is the way now... But DD is doing ok, she's on track or ahead of target in everything so i hadnt really thought about a tutor... I found out about others having tutors as I recently realised while discussing homework there are some gaps in DD knowledge and mentioned to another mum about it and she then asked me if I had a tutor for DD as their tutor was good... and it all sort of came out after that that half the class have a tutor and I had no idea!
I don't know how they fit it in alongside everything else or how they convince their children to do the tutoring mind you..