How do you find a good tutor for a year 4 child?

[whataboutbob]

Hello, i have decided to find a tutor (I know I know) for DS2 who is academically able and wants to try for a grammar school. I asked the only other mum I know whose son has a tutor, but she lives too far from us. DH has put a post on the local neighbourhood forum.
Any suggestions on how to find a good tutor? And if you are considering someone, what are some good questions to ask?How do you check credentials, am i right in assuming this is all unregulated? What are the pitfalls to be aware of? Many thanks.

I would suggest that they will all have been booked by now- I know my friend had a shock when her DS was in Year 4 and she realised that everyone else was having their DC tutored. She then discovered that they had all been booked ages before she realised that she needed to think about it!

What type of grammar school is it? Super selective or county wide entry (top 20%)

The ones in my area you find out about by word of mouth and usually they have long waiting lists and high prices (£40 ph for the best ones).

Eleven plus forum website is excellent for advice. It's broken down into regions so you can look at your local test/schools etc.

I would say though that out of the twenty children I know who sat the test last September, 19 of them had some paid for tuition. The one that didn't is the one that got in.

If it's the Essex test I can help with general advice.

I'm in NW. I had a google search. I also know via DD the name of the tutor 2 of her friends go to.

I spoke to two (one was the one her friend used) for a decent time on the phone and picked the one I liked sound of. She is crb checked. I also asked her results (how many of her students passed 11+ last year)

I stayed for first session and got a feel for things. DD likes her and is happy. I booked her spring year 3 to start after oct half term yr 4. School say DD doesn't need tutoring. But it is hard not to when I know the other ones trying for the grammar are. We pay £25 hour.

11 plus forum is dead for our area.

Thanks for the advice, we are in London and so more at the £40ph end.
I have arranged to ring a tutor tomorrow, here are some of my ideas for questions to ask:
How many children have you tutored?
How long have you been tutoring for
Have you tutored children for (school DS wants to go to)
Do you have access to past papers for said school (altho looking at the 11 plus website there seems to be a taboo on trying to access past papers)
How many hours per week are usually necessary?

Anything else I should ask?
Many thanks.

Just re read mine sorry should say booked spring yr 4 started after october half term yr 5.

How much homework do you set?
What is the structure of the teaching?
What do you look for in a good potential candidate for grammar school?
Do you do a mock test?
Do you do group or individual sessions?

Where are you? I am a Year 4 teacher. Are you sure you can't support your DC yourself, it is really quite easy.

Sling a question mark in there if it bothers you!

Thanks everyone. Not been very fruitful so far, the one person we contacted turned out to specialise in the private sector schools, which we would never be able to afford.
Doowrah you have a point, however i work, and also have just come out of 5 years of supporting an elderly father with dementia (he's now in a care home) and frankly I feel a little shaky and just in need of regrouping my strength at the moment. Hence I 'd rather just pay someone to do it. I also suspect my son would be more deferential and motivated with a stranger.
I will continue to put the word out among school mums and contacts .