Private tutors, is this the norm now?

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Our dd was getting a bit behind at school and another mum recommended a private tutor for extra help. One hour a week. Our dd enjoys her coming and dd is improving at school so we’re happy to keep the tutor on for a bit. I’ve since found out a few other parents I know also pay for a private tutor and wondered if they’re becoming more popular, or am I behind with the times? It wasn’t really a thing a few years ago so I’m guessing it’s the new way. Dd is year 4 if that makes any difference.

It’s common but I wouldn’t say the norm. Private school has become unaffordable for most. So a lot of parents do state school + tutor + music lessons + sports clubs etc.

Naice middle class village primary here.
We are 70% invested pushy parents. We don't academically tutor as my husband is a maths whizz and can help out / extend / support.
50% do. And not for 11+ entry either, just to keep up and / or with a view to being in top set when they get to secondary so the classes are focussed / more disciplined and they avoid the more "difficult kids" in the lower sets who are likely to mess around and be disruptive. I was quite amazed how many parents are. And even those who aren't paying for tutors have bought books etc. for extra work outside school.

Obviously music / sport lessons paid for extra for most.

Yes. Normal. 2 hours a week (plus clubs). I'd like 3 but can't afford it. DC is glad I can't afford 3. 😂

This is very normal with secondary aged students.

Maths is the main one in my experience.

I’d say about 20-25% of the class in the local primary have a tutor (that I’m aware of, obviously could be more). That’s just outside an 11+ area but some children go to the grammar in the next county 2.5 miles up the road.

Older DC is at the grammar, and is now 6th form. He hasn’t had a tutor since 11+. I didn’t realise it was still a thing so was pretty shocked when it came up in conversation in the middle of GCSE revision that the majority of his friends had at least one tutor, if not several. Maths was the most common, a few for English or sciences. I felt dreadful when I found out, like we’d let him down by not knowing everyone else was getting extra help and therefore not doing the same.

It's quite common, yes, I know a lot of primary tutors who are busy as bees, so I know a lot of children get tutors from a young age.
The question always should be whether this is what your child needs.
Are you aiming for entry exams and want to have the peace of mind that a specialist tutor might help with the chances of getting in?
Do you feel like your child is behind in general (in one or more subjects) and want to give them a learning boost (and confidence - that can carry a lot of weight)?
Is your child ahead, and you want them to get the right challenge and not get bored in school?
All of the above and many others are perfectly acceptable reasons to get a tutor, and if that suits your family situation and also budget, then that's great.

I've been tutoring for 20 years, so this is a normal thing for me, that people look for extra tuition. But, say, when I was a student myself, I didn't get any tutors, and neither did many of my friends (I can think of one or two - and one of them became my own first student, as I started tutoring while still at school). So, maybe it's become a bit more popular since...?

After I retired early I was a private tutor for a few years. I taught A level and all the calls came when the results of the mocks came out in year 12. I was snowed under with requests and was able to pick and choose people so that I didn't have to travel far. I was surprised at the demand as when my own were at school, nobody they knew had private tutors. It seems to have really taken off in the last 10-15 years.