Talk to Maths Doctor about (online) tutoring - £200 John Lewis voucher prize draw NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Maths Doctor have asked us to find out what Mumsnetters think about (online) tutoring for children.

Here's what they have to say, "Maths Doctor is the UK's award-winning maths tutoring company with an inspirational approach to teaching. Our one-to-one, private tutorials for students aged 7-18 are delivered live over the Internet using a shared virtual whiteboard and live video feed, so that our 500+ tutors can teach anyone, anytime, anywhere. We're the UK's largest provider of this innovative digital education method that helps boost students' grades."

So, have you ever tried tutoring with your child? If so, why did you decide to get a tutor? Did it help? If not, is it something you'd ever consider? Do you think tutoring is the same as giving your child music or sports lessons, or does it put other children at a disadvantage? What do you think about Maths Doctor's approach with online tutoring? Whatever it is, we'd love to hear your thoughts!

Maths Doctor also want to give six Mumsnetters the chance to trial the Maths Doctor service and share their thoughts on this thread. The Mumsnetters who are selected will receive two free lessons for their child, which will need to be taken before 3rd February. To apply for the free trial please PM me with the age of your DCs and why you would like to trial Maths Doctor before Friday 17th January. We'll then select six Mumsnetters at random.

Maths Doctor may use posts on this thread for further marketing purposes (anonymously, of course), so please only post if you're happy with that.

Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

PS: For those Mumsnetters who miss out on the free trial, Maths Doctor will also be offering a 20% discount for all subscriptions purchased in January (lessons can be taken at a later date but need to be booked by 31st January). Simply mention the promo code MUMSNET to receive the discount.

[gazzalw]

We used Bond Online for DS for some preliminary 11+ practice......It was very useful for NVR/VR when he signed up but they really only started doing Maths/English tuition online as he was coming to the end of his prep....

We did some tuturing in the 4-6 months before his 11+ exams but only really to get him up to speed with prep school boys given that there are 14 boys applying for every place at his school!

Yes, we would consider it for our DD too.....particularly now DW has gone back to work and there's not enough hours in the day to do everything!

Not sure...At DS's superselective half of the boys are already on their trajectories to be Drs/Lawyers and a lot of them are being tutored to get top marks...DS is doing okay but I think is suffering for not being tutored... As a lot of the others are way ahead in terms of what they know.....

Think it looks good.... Would love to give it a go...

[KnitActually]

my DS (5) uses Mathletics a few times a week with a degree of supervision from me or DH. I can definitely see the value in having an online tutor to do this with him as he gets older and becomes more articulate about where he is struggling. in the future this would free up DH and I to help DS2. I am assuming that the price is quite a lot lower than an actual come to your house tutor or than kumon etc.

[mrscumberbatch]

I really struggled with Maths and either of my parents really understood algebra etc seeing as they hasn't used it in 20 years!

An online tutor service is a great idea, less invasive than having to make sure your house is tidy for having a stranger round. Also, I guess there would be a good range of turors who can connect via their own personal teaching styles.

I think it's a great idea. I hope I don't have to use it when Dd is older but I wouldn't hesitate to use it so long as it was tried and tested and with proven levels of efficacy.

[3rdnparty]

am thinking about it for ds as a way of boosting his confidence and he seems to have some gaps in his knowledge and I'd like him to go to high school confidently ....not sure about online like the idea of the flexibility and he would like the computer use but not sure how rapport would be established....

[nlondondad]

The school I am a governor of actually used online maths tutoring for several years, and got good results, but then the firm offering the service stoped doing so for some reason.

[Full disclosure:because the School (Ashmount Primary, Islington) was prepared to act as a pilot the service was provided initially at low cost]

[nlondondad]

Here is a link to a video about the Ashmount experience

[jelliebelly]

I think the quality of the tutor is paramount whether face to face or online. I haven't ever used a tutor for mine but only because I haven't felt the need not because of any particular aversion to it. Online is much more convenient if you live remotely and potentially you have access to a wider range of tutors do definitely a good thing in my book.

[addictedtosugar]

Were too young at the moment, but have been given access to mathletics from school, which is OK, and have bought access to reading eggs, which my reception child is loving, and is also giving me the background to help him out.
The thing that would concern me is, as mentioned above, is the effect of random clicking to get to the answer. This needs to be monitored for, and somehow the system registering that there is an issue.
By 1-1, do you mean skype or similar?
Not sure we'd ever pay for maths or science tutoring, considering DH and I are both uni qualified in science with a heavy maths component.
Might need assistance in some of the softer subjects - at which point it might be me that needs the help to assist - like I needed a crash course in phonics, as I have no idea if ow should be low or cow sounds.
So, what about help for parents to let them help the kids?

[Theimpossiblegirl]

I like the idea of tutoring. As my children move up through school I'm finding the maths harder to help them with. It would have to be relevant and pacy as well as tailored to their individual needs. Workshops for parents are also a great idea.

[innoparticularorder]

I have 4dc. DD struggled with GCSE Maths and Science so she had a tutor for Yr11 and it was a great help and she got her Grade C in both of those subjects, I'm not sure she would have got them without the tutoring, so very worthwhile ime.

DS2 (6) also struggles at Maths so I have subscribed to online maths 10ticks and it is a great resource, he has really benefitted and it has filled a lot of gaps which his teacher has commented on recently.

[allyfe]

My DC's too young at the moment, but my reception DC is really keen for me to get her a maths subscription so she can 'play' maths games. Not quite sure how tutoring would work, but fun looking maths games online for younger children (possibly to help them before it becomes a problem) I'd be really interested in. I haven't researched it extensively, but one website I saw was quite dry looking. I would imagine that online tutoring would be best if it was done in a game-type of a way.

[HamletsSister]

We have two DCs, aged 13 and 11 and live in a very remote part of Scotland. This means that anything we want has to come via the internet. The Maths dept at the School is weak and, in any case, with a low number of pupils, they are all lumped into single classes with no real note taken of their level or ability. My son (13) is miles ahead and is studying Higher (A/S equivalent) via Skype. It is, sort of, working although we have to pay for something I think the school should be able to supply. My DD has just started High School and is similarly frustrated - she wants to be a Physicist but is stuck with the others doing basic Maths. We are hoping to make a similar arrangement for her although, at the moment, we use Times Online. Thus, we already have experience of this type of tuition and are very open to using it - in fact, we have no other choice.

[rupert23]

i would like to try the online tutoring for my son age 11 as i think it would help him and he sometimes has good ideas but needs a little encouragement.

[queenoftheschoolrun]

I'd consider tutoring for the 11+ nearer the time, my eldest is only 5 now. An online option would be definitely be of interest then.

[saintlyjimjams]

Oh sorry I forgot to fully answer before. I haven't used tutoring with my children - but I have tutored them myself (11 plus practice). I prefer doing it myself as I know where their problems are then and can go over problematic areas in short 10 minute sessions. I could help with most subjects up to GCSE and some at A level. But maths post GCSE (and possibly at GCSE) is something I would consider bringing in a tutor for as a good maths grade at GCSE is a big help and maths problems are something that children often need individual help with (rather than being able to work it out themselves eg if they needed to up a history grade for example).

[3bunnies]

I am starting to tutor dd1 for the 11+. We are going to try to do it ourselves due to cost and can fit it in around other things. I think my children are clever (doesn't everyone), I don't want to over tutor them as I want them to cope in a grammar school, however the questions in the 11+ are unusual (not so much for maths), and I don't want her to panic on the day. She wants to sit the exam and go to a grammar school - I am not yet convinced that it will be the best school for her (not academically but socially/self esteem etc) but I don't want her feeling that we didn't support her.

I think that tutoring can put others at a disadvantage but I know that many of her peers are being tutored so should I set aside my child's ambitions for the sake of fairness to others when I know that about half her class will be tutored, that would make it unfair to my child.

[sharond101]

My DS is only little but when the time comes if tutoring i needed then online sounds a great avenue to explore.

[missorinoco]

Would I consider tutoring?
Yes. Definitely.

Does it put other children at a disadvantage? Probably, if they need it and can't afford it. I am not that altruistic. Will it give my children an advantage if they need it? Yes. Two sides of the same coin. Should I do the best for my children? Yes.

But I do not like that website. You state above it is online tutoring, and I kept looking for a mention of online tutoring on the website; they mainly mention one on one tuition. Presuming that is on line, it could be one on twenty for all I know.

Also I couldn't find a tutor in my not-so-very-small city.

I would consider tutoring, but would need a harder and better sell than that for on line tutoring.

[plus3]

I have such mixed feelings about tutoring.... DS is struggling with maths - he hugely lacks confidence in maths and is a perfectionist so fears getting it wrong. We have tackled this by having a 1:1 tutor for maths as school seemed happy to let him bob along near the bottom, and we wanted to build his self-esteem.

Many children at our school seem to go to Kumon and explore - not keen on these at all. In no way do they compare to sporting or music lessons in terms of benefits to the child.

I still rather naively believe that primary school should instill a love of learning that prepares children for life. It shouldn't be a chore. Tutoring nowadays is so competitive, so secretive and cutthroat ( can you tell I live in an 11+ area!!)

[AndiPandi]

My daughter, aged 12 in first year at a Scottish secondary school, has a maths tutor for half an hour a week. She lacks confidence in maths and has realised it takes her a little longer to grasp concepts. I have a maths degree myself and have successfully trained many people during my career but we both found it difficult when I tried to help her. DD takes it too personally if I tell her, even as nicely as I can, that she has got something wrong, then tries to insist that's how the teacher told her to do it. I feared I was doing more harm than good. DD is now slowly gaining confidence and if that means she needs half an hour a week for the rest of her school life,with extra around exam time then that's what we'll do. I feel maths us too important a subject not to try your best to get the basics and at least not fear the subject. Too many adults hate / fear maths yet it is a skill you need many times over in everyday life no matter what you do.
DD gets on well with her tutor, she is a little worried about anyone finding out but she nows sees so many children attending I think she realises it's nothing to be ashamed of. She is definitely feeling the benefits and even 'enjoys' the lessons.
I think it's important to have a good rapport with the tutor, to be able to discuss any particular point you may be struggling with at school rather than keeping to a strict schedule / curriculum. I'm not sure how this aspect would work with online tutoring but would be very interested to find out more as we live in a fairly rural area so if is a bit if a journey to get to the tutor and DS and I have to sit outside in the car for half an hour - quite cold at this time of year!! It might also get round the stigma side if things for DD and potentially be more flexible when other activities crop up eg one off drama shows requiring a couple of weeks condensed rehearsals.
I think all parents do whatever they can to give their children the best chance in life, if tutoring can boost DDs confidence and enable her to achieve her best then it is most definitely worth it.

[mercibucket]

I am not v confident about the skills and experience of some tutors so I would want to know quite a bit before I paid. otherwise, online certainly has some advantages over face to face: convenience, cost, safety,

[RubySparks]

Yes DS, 16 has a physics tutor at the moment who also helps with maths. DS has prelims this week then highers in May (we are in Scotland), it just seemed like a way to give him the best chance to do his best, previous exams were mix of 1 and 2 so hopefully with extra tuition he will pull his grades up enough for 1s or As so in turn he can have more choice of where he does further study...

Several of his friends have tutors for other subjects too. We are a little unsure about it as it does seem 'unfair' in some way as it isn't cheap so not an option for everyone. I don't think I have quite made my peace with that actually.

[WhenWhyWhere]

My youngest DC is 17 and doing maths a level. She has a busy lifestyle with homework, friends, sport and work. I imagine online tutoring would be a lot more convenient than having an actual tutor.

[MotherIsTheBestBet]

• So, have you ever tried tutoring with your child? If so, why did you decide to get a tutor? Did it help? If not, is it something you'd ever consider?

Not yet, but reluctantly considering it due to local secondary school/superselective grammar options

• Do you think tutoring is the same as giving your child music or sports lessons, or does it put other children at a disadvantage?

Not quite the same as would like to think that schools are taking care of their core education. Feel rather sad and uneasy that a state school education is being seen increasingly as something that needs to be topped up by private companies for those that can afford it. And yes, of course if the tutoring is any good it will put other children at a disadvantage, certainly when it comes to 11+ exams. That's why people do it.

• What do you think about Maths Doctor's approach with online tutoring?

If you've got to do tutoring I would rather it was face to face and in the same room as a real person, but presumably this is a lot cheaper? Don't know - would have to know more about how it works.

[crimsonwitch]

My dd is about to turn 11 and starts secondary school this September. She has always been very academically minded and enjoys school. However, last year she started to lose confidence in maths, so I organised a few sessions with a tutor. This was just what she needed, and after 3 lessons she was much more confident in her own abilities. I think the idea of online tutoring would be especially useful in this situation, when all is needed is a confidence boost.