Searching for good tutoring for DD

HoneyB2025 · 2025-04-08T10:33:24+00:00

My DD is in a state primary school in Y2. Approaching the last term of the academic year (summer term), I am looking for a good group tutor that could help DD prepare for the KS1 SATs. Any suggestions for good tutors in Ealing?

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LetItGoToRuin · 08/04/2025 16:27

If the title had mentioned KS1 SATs and group tutoring and Ealing, you'd have had a better chance of your post being noticed by people with relevant knowledge.

KS1 SATs are now optional. Is your DD's school definitely doing them?

Traditionally, SATs are done mid-May, which doesn't leave time for many group tutoring sessions. Is your DD's school doing them later in the term?

Is it even recommended to tutor for SATs these days?

Original poster

HoneyB2025 · 08/04/2025 19:47

@LetItGoToRuinso do you have any recommended tutors in mind? You wrote all of that without making any suggestions? Whether it’s end of term or not or whether it’s still required or not i don’t mind. Tutoring in general is good.

OP posts:

LetItGoToRuin · 09/04/2025 12:06

@HoneyB2025 Seeing as you have asked, I do have some thoughts, though I don’t have any recommended tutors, for reasons that will become clear.

I don’t agree with your view that ‘tutoring in general is good.’ A 6- or 7-year-old should be able to learn what they need to learn at school and should enjoy being a child outside school. Yes, that includes extra-curricular activities, and daily reading and following any learning interests that they develop, but there should be no need for formal tutoring at that age unless there are specific problems with the school or your child is struggling.

As for targeted tutoring for KS1 SATs, what is the aim? Your child will have had baseline testing in Reception – presumably you didn’t tutor for that? Therefore, if you tutor for KS1 SATs and your child exceeds the progress expectations set by their baseline testing, this will reflect very well on the school but it will not present an accurate picture of the school’s teaching. So it is skewing the figures.

I also repeat some of the points I raised in my first response – most critically:

Is your child’s school even doing the (optional) KS1 SATs?

If so, the recommended time to do them is during May, which is only weeks away. Are you expecting your child to achieve better results in the KS1 SATs through tutoring at this late notice?

We all want our children to do well at school. I just think asking for recommended tutors for KS1 SATs only weeks before the test (that your school might not be doing) is a bit bizarre.

Good luck anyway.

Original poster

HoneyB2025 · 09/04/2025 12:20

LetItGoToRuin · 09/04/2025 12:06

@HoneyB2025 Seeing as you have asked, I do have some thoughts, though I don’t have any recommended tutors, for reasons that will become clear.

I don’t agree with your view that ‘tutoring in general is good.’ A 6- or 7-year-old should be able to learn what they need to learn at school and should enjoy being a child outside school. Yes, that includes extra-curricular activities, and daily reading and following any learning interests that they develop, but there should be no need for formal tutoring at that age unless there are specific problems with the school or your child is struggling.

As for targeted tutoring for KS1 SATs, what is the aim? Your child will have had baseline testing in Reception – presumably you didn’t tutor for that? Therefore, if you tutor for KS1 SATs and your child exceeds the progress expectations set by their baseline testing, this will reflect very well on the school but it will not present an accurate picture of the school’s teaching. So it is skewing the figures.

I also repeat some of the points I raised in my first response – most critically:

Is your child’s school even doing the (optional) KS1 SATs?

If so, the recommended time to do them is during May, which is only weeks away. Are you expecting your child to achieve better results in the KS1 SATs through tutoring at this late notice?

We all want our children to do well at school. I just think asking for recommended tutors for KS1 SATs only weeks before the test (that your school might not be doing) is a bit bizarre.

Good luck anyway.

@LetItGoToRuin Many thanks for the comprehensive feedback. My DD struggles a bit in math, I try to tutor her at home myself but for some reason still makes a lot of mistakes on the end of term tests which the format is mainly based on the KS1 SAT test.

Is your child’s school even doing the (optional) KS1 SATs? Yes, they are although it is just for the school’s own records and won’t be published.

If so, the recommended time to do them is during May, which is only weeks away. Are you expecting your child to achieve better results in the KS1 SATs through tutoring at this late notice? I believe this will take place in June.

I am happy with just basic tutoring that will build DD’s confidence and help with general numeracy skills, which I believe then could benefit the KS1 SAT practice tests. I know DD has the potential to do well but I think just needs a boost, hence why my interest in some kind of tutoring support because obviously for someone reason it hasn’t been beneficial tutoring her on my own.

I researched and found a few tutoring companies such as Kumon, Boost Education, Kip McGrath but that’s about it. Not sure how good these are?

OP posts:

LetItGoToRuin · 09/04/2025 14:46

Kumon has been around a while, and some people are very keen on it whereas others say it focuses on rote learning so doesn't teach mathematical problem solving skills and reasoning. I would suggest you do an 'advanced search' on Mumsnet to find other posts about Kumon, which would give you a bit more insight into the style.

I have heard of Kip McGrath as well as there is a centre near me (West Midlands) but have no direct experience of that or any other tutoring company, I'm afraid.

Is it the real-life word problems that your DD is making mistakes on, more than the basic calculations? If so, it's worth spending some time going over how to understand the question - sometimes it's a comprehension thing, even if her reading seems to be on track. It's worth looking at techniques for identifying what actual maths needs to be done, and also for checking that the answer is plausible.

Maths is one of those subjects where you just have to put the time in until fluency is reached, which can just take a bit longer for some, so perhaps it is worth trying some tutoring, if you can find someone who makes it fun.

Original poster

HoneyB2025 · 09/04/2025 17:58

LetItGoToRuin · 09/04/2025 14:46

Kumon has been around a while, and some people are very keen on it whereas others say it focuses on rote learning so doesn't teach mathematical problem solving skills and reasoning. I would suggest you do an 'advanced search' on Mumsnet to find other posts about Kumon, which would give you a bit more insight into the style.

I have heard of Kip McGrath as well as there is a centre near me (West Midlands) but have no direct experience of that or any other tutoring company, I'm afraid.

Is it the real-life word problems that your DD is making mistakes on, more than the basic calculations? If so, it's worth spending some time going over how to understand the question - sometimes it's a comprehension thing, even if her reading seems to be on track. It's worth looking at techniques for identifying what actual maths needs to be done, and also for checking that the answer is plausible.

Maths is one of those subjects where you just have to put the time in until fluency is reached, which can just take a bit longer for some, so perhaps it is worth trying some tutoring, if you can find someone who makes it fun.

@LetItGoToRuin thanks for the feedback. I will do an advanced search on Kumon.

DD knows the calculations, she is able to do it at home but for some reason when she takes the tests at school, she seems to just forget everything. She brings her test papers back home, so when I go through her answers, I notice very minor mistakes and ends up getting zero marks for it when it could have been an easy 1 mark. So I’m not sure if it’s a confidence thing.

OP posts:

Mumwithbaggage · 09/04/2025 20:10

I was going to say as a teacher/tutor I really wouldn't advise preparing for KS1 SATs. I do think the right tutor can help with confidence but at Y2 it has to be a good fit and fun learning.

Original poster

HoneyB2025 · 09/04/2025 22:14

Mumwithbaggage · 09/04/2025 20:10

I was going to say as a teacher/tutor I really wouldn't advise preparing for KS1 SATs. I do think the right tutor can help with confidence but at Y2 it has to be a good fit and fun learning.

@Mumwithbaggage Thanks I agree. I would prefer for the tutor to help with DD’s confidence in maths instead. Thanks

OP posts:

OliviaBonas · 09/04/2025 22:33

Ask on local Facebook pages. You can post anonymously often too.

WHM0101 · 10/04/2025 06:53

Kumon but it's not a group session, more like a group of kids at different levels getting a tiny bit of 1:1. Most work is done at home.
Then there's Explore learning, but again it's not a group lesson but more computer-based.

Charlotte2465 · 10/04/2025 14:42

Hiya,
Would you consider online tuition? I can recommend Infinity Tuition- their website says it's Harrogate based, but they have online tutors so it doesn't matter where you're based. I've used a really great 11+ tutor from them :)

zingally · 12/04/2025 13:20

Mumwithbaggage · 09/04/2025 20:10

I was going to say as a teacher/tutor I really wouldn't advise preparing for KS1 SATs. I do think the right tutor can help with confidence but at Y2 it has to be a good fit and fun learning.

100% agree.

I'm a primary school teacher and do a bit of private tutoring on the side.
There is absolutely no need for additional tutoring for a KS1 child in maths. And if they are already significantly behind at this point in their school journey, then you've probably got more problems than a tutor an hour a week can solve.

If they are still struggling once they hit year 4 or 5 then by all means seek out a tutor, but it's pointless any younger than that.