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.

[beeelaine]

So, have you ever tried tutoring with your child?
No, he is way past my skills, embarrassingly enough at the age of 12! he has always exceeded my expectations and these days i feel kids are pushed to the limit instead of enjoying childhood!

If so, why did you decide to get a tutor?
We never got him extra tutition but at his primary school he did get extra lessons after school to get a higher grade in the SATS but i didnt like this as i thought it was all a bit of pressure at the end of the year (all in last 3 weeks) instead of doing it gradually though the year (which i thought would have been better for both the kids and teacher)

Did it help? If not, is it something you'd ever consider?
I would consider it, and if i could rewind time i would have done it i think, as I was not happy he was under pressure from school to do well in the last 3 weeks, they gave him y8 papers when he was in y6! I think if we could have had online tutoring which let him go at his own pace i would have been happier as it would be gradual through the year than it all being literally plonked on him just to up the SATS results for the school, resulting in him being under pressure, when he came home one night he cried and said he couldnt do anymore so i took all the papers off him and shoved them back into his book bag and told him he had done enough!

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!
The answer to that is it depends, it depends on the school, the kid, and the parents. Ive never been pushy with our son and his happiness is the most important to me, but sometimes i felt with his primary school that they did not put his happiness before the SATS results, and that all tutoring should have a long term plan - there is no point in doing anything for a few weeks or days - kids need to be doing this long term if they are going to do it, whether your kid is above or below so called 'average' grades what matters is that you dont put them under any pressure and they learn at their own pace and improve no matter what their grades are. I really do feel that this should all be done at school - they say maths and english are important but they are crammed into lessons that dont last long and a lot of homework is set! I dont mean to be negative about our education system but I would consider extra tutoring whatever level your kid is at, but only if your kid thinks it would be of benefit to them. It doesnt matter what level your kid is at and there will always be kids at a higher or lower level than yours, what matters is that whatever level they are at they can get a little bit better by the end of the year - sadly this is what our Education system should provide but in reality it does not.

I would say no its not like sports lessons or music lessons, our son has a music lesson once a week because he enjoys it! I dont think he would actually 'enjoy' having extra tution in maths as well!

As for putting other kids at a disadvantage - I can tell you that i have spoken to other parents who already have extra tuition for their kids to 'keep up' with the rest of the class, I feel that our education system has then failed these children as every child should feel confident whatever their ability and the education system should cater for all, at all levels, and not the few. In my opinion the reason for this is the size of a class - if you have 30 children in one class how can you possibly ensure that you cater for each level they are reaching? and its hard to monitor at what level they are at if they are changing as they learn. I feel teachers have too many training courses and paperwork to fill in to have time for what matters these days.

So in my opinion if you think your kid would benefit from it, and they dont mind putting in the extra effort and would enjoy it, and you can afford it, then go for it. Really the education department should have their own online extra tutor system to help kids but that would be common sense wouldnt it?

[iwantavuvezela]

So, have you ever tried tutoring with your child?

My child is 6, so I have not done tutoring. However we live in London, and there is the thought that should we want to try for indpendent schools at secondary, that we might need to offer tutoring.


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?

I think that tutoring would help. One thing that I miss for my child is that in a big class there is little one to one teaching. For this reason I would like her to be in a smaller group, or have one to one lessons, as I think it would be beneficial to have this type of support. I think that if everyone takes the same test, and some children have been tutoried, and otehrs not, then yes, it does give them an advantage. How could it not? For me, I do not have maths as a strenght, and i know that should my child need help I would probably have to seek out help with a tutor, or an online resource as I do not feel able to do this myself. I wish that I would have had extra tutoring around this when I was at school, rather than now, just feeling like it is something I cannot do!

What do you think about Maths Doctor's approach with online tutoring? Whatever it is, we'd love to hear your thoughts!


I would have to watch my child do an online tutoring session to really be able to say whether it would work. I am sure that it would suit some children, but my concern for a younger child (mine is 6) would be holding there interest, and them not getting distracted. However if an online resource, allows more children to get extra support, and perhaps it is cheaper, then yes, i think this is a good idea.

[Procrastreation]

I wouldn't bother with a f-t-f tutor for several reasons. I'm pretty confident on maths myself; I find the logistics of having another lesson to get to stressful with younger DC and IME you often pay for someone to nag you into doing homework with your DC!

However - we are big fans of online things like MathsWhizz & Mathletics - I like how the children can be self-directed. The kids revise the subject without causing family conflict.

My issue would be whether the tutor could keep the DC attention without the benefits of being f-t-f or having a jazzy graphical interface. Recalls all the times I frog-marched DC back into their piano lesson by the ear . Maths is heavily to do with repetition - practising techniques. Any child can get a few hours 1:1 just by asking their class teacher - but they need t do lots of practice to make it stick. Hence - I think it will come back round to being a way to dress up requiring parents to make heir children do extra homework.

[Belo]

So, have you ever tried tutoring with your child?
-Yes
If so, why did you decide to get a tutor?
-Daughter got behind at school and was getting upset by it
Did it help?
-Yes, to start with. But now she sees it as a punishment
If not, is it something you'd ever consider?
-N/A
Do you think tutoring is the same as giving your child music or sports lessons, or does it put other children at a disadvantage?
-All parents seem to do it, so by not doing it your putting your own child at a disadvantage. I would say over half the chilldren in my daughters class (year 6) have a tutor
What do you think about Maths Doctor's approach with online tutoring? --Like the idea that you don't need to take your child anywhere. I work full time so something in the house is good!

[Entmoot]

Currently using maths doctor for my son's GCSE. Achieved secure C grade in foundation mock exam (previous D) and is now being entered for Higher maths exam and hoping for an A or B. Always struggled with maths but interested in doing A level science at 6th form. My son has Asperger's and struggles in social situations. Maths doctor has been ideal for my son, gets on really well with his tutor and now has the confidence to support other students in his (new, 'higher grade') maths group.

[Bonzodoodah]

My children are a bit young to consider tutoring yet. But I would consider it if they were struggling in a subject I or a family member couldn't help them with. As my lot are quite technical that would mean we probably wouldn't tutor in maths. But other subjects (history, languages etc) would be considered.

[pickledsiblings]

My children have individual music and drama lessons and part of what I love for them is the relationship that they develop with their tutor and the other incidental things they learn along the way due to this relationship. I would worry that an online tutoring environment would hinder this.

[flamingtoaster]

Both my DS and DD loved counting etc. from a very young age so I taught them both until their maths outstripped me. By that stage they were both at the upper end of grammar school so we didn't need to consider maths tutoring. I'm not sure we would have even then as there is so much maths help free online.

[sybilwibble]

I'd love to try this. My kids use Skype and facetime for speaking to grandparents and friends and family abroad all the time so I'm not worried about them not having a "personal connection" to the other person, iyfswim. I'd much rather 1-2-1 online tutoring, no hanging about in the rain or in the car with other dc across town.

I was reading a very interesting article about on line tutoring in the US and Australia and think it's inevitable it will be the way forward. I just wish my kids didn't have to be tutored at all, but the fact is that the competition they face from 11 onwards is worlds away from my own school experience. Tutoring is the norm and if this is the latest way to access it, it seems like a good compromise. Looks cheaper than regular tutoring, and no long term commitment to one person at a set time of the week? The last time I used a tutor, we had to commit to a whole term and then found dc didn't really gel with the woman we'd committed to using. Could you swap to other tutors with this service if you felt it would be beneficial?

[supermariossister]

mine are still quite young for this but I like the idea of it, i think sometimes children can be afraid to speak up or be interested in front of peers and this would eliminate the need to be embarrassed when asking for extra help or to have things explained one to one. I would pay for this kind of service if perhaps there were a trial where I could see if it directly benefitted the dc. I don't think i would say it puts other children at a disadvantage as it is like everything else some people will have other learning opportunities to ourselves, such is life as my mother would of said. I'd be interested to see how this turns out.

[Snapespeare]

I havent read all of the responses, but felt inclined to respond. DS1 (15) is a school-refuser, under the care of CAHMS and now medically unfit for school. I have battled for 15 months to get to the stage where we are being considered for home tutoring. I think internet based solutions are particularly helpful where children have helath conditions that make it dofficult for them to leave the home ... and the LA providing a tutor means that an adult has to be present... as I work full time this is not an ideal solution but as he has missed so much school already, it just has to happen. I think it shouldnt solely be there as an 'extra' for children whose parents can afford additional support - but also as an alternative provision. (i hvent read entire thread, so please be kind if this has alreday been suggested..)

[majjsu]

If required, tutoring is good and finding a style thar works for your child, I think is definitely the way to go. Online does sound interesting. My LO is too young at the moment.

[Jux]

I got someone to teach dd when she was in Y2 and 3 as she had missed nearly a year of school, had fallen behind in maths, was losing confidence. He came to the house once a week and helped a lot. In Y5 she lost confidence again, so he came again for about 3 months and got her up and running again.

She's in Y10 now, and she'll never be happy with maths (even though she's in top set - bottom of top set, mind) which makes me sad for her. If anyone can get her confident and believing in her ability I'll give them anything I can!

She enjoyed Timez Attack when she was young, but is resistant to Kahn Academy, when she gets confused now. Luckily, I have been doing a maths and stats degree so can help her when she lets me.

I shall check out your site now.

[Glitterfairys]

I have tried a taster session with my son as I hope for him to take part in extra tutoring in the next year or so as he is quite keen on taking the 11+ exam. He really enjoyed it as it was at a study centre and it was focused on learning through the computer programmes which appealed to him .It picked up his specific strengths and weaknesses and set questions suitable for him. I'm going to look more into it this year and see the options available.

[Oblomov]

About to start home tutoring. Don't think this specific type if tutoring, or kumon was suitable for ds1(10), yr5.
He is bright and school insists he's doing well. But there was a few topics he lost confidence in, so have hired maths tutor. Hopefully for a short time, to deal with these 4 or 5 specific things, which will hopefully give him back his confidence.

[MmeLindor]

We tried TheMathsFactor while we lived abroad but I found they were teaching different methods than the local school so stopped.

I might reconsider for DD now we are in UK as she struggles a bit with maths.

I would be interested in online tutoring, because we could fit it in better - less driving around town in the evening!

[MmeLindor]

I have just looked at the site, and can I say that it is not at all clear that you offer online tutoring.

I had to search the site to find the section on online tutoring. The fact that you had no teachers in Scotland at all would have had me closing the browser window. Only the fact that I read on this site that you offered online tutoring kept me searching.

[unadulterateddad]

DS is a little young for online tutoring, but would consider in the future if I thought if was necessary. He does enjoying doing on line maths games, so I think online tuition would be a logical step if required.

As DS goes to a fee paying school already, I'd be disappointed if I felt the need to add additional tuition

[camtt]

I have been considering tutoring in maths for DD (8) who struggles with maths and lacks confidence in that subject. I am wondering whether some tutoring would help secure the basic mathematical concepts so that she has a better chance of keeping up with her peers and because in the end she needs a maths GCSE and if tutoring to help make it less of a struggle I would consider it worthwhile.

If the cost of online tutoring was the same as or more than face to face tutoring, I would not choose it because I think with a face to face session the parent has time to put the child's needs in context and it would feel more personal - I would be concerned that online tutoring could have a 'conveyor belt' feel to it, might feel as if the tutor was not really interested in my child's progress.

[starlight1234]

I did take my Ds (6) for tutoring for Writting...not so he could be top of the class but he has a lot of self doubt in his own belief..He had tutoring for one term and has made the world of difference...

I have found lots of fun games online to play connected with maths

[Nerfmother]

We used online 'tutoring' for ds when he took the 11 plus. It wasn't interactive tutoring with someone at the other end but it was fantastic for him. It was easy for me, sat him in the kitchen with juice and a snack and the practice tests were marked and then explained so he learnt as he went.
All of them are signed up to mathletics, but spend a lot of time changing their avatars rather than maths! It is easy for me though and means I can get on with something and think they are actually doing something worthwhile. It definitely helps ds (6) but I think that's because he likes learning . For the struggling ds (8) it's not really helping.

[CheeryCherry]

I used a recommended, experienced tutor for my dcs for the 11+ entrance exam. This was mainly to give them chance to practice and gain speed, but also because every child I've ever known at the grammar school has been tutored beforehand. Therefore it is not a level playing field. Sating that my youngest didn't take to tutoring, was confident enough and chose to use practice tests herself. I found that for my other dcs, the tutoring gave them more self confidence at school and with SATs tests.
I looked at online tests and we tried them out, it was great as an additional medium and for revision purposes. I'm not sure I could trust an online tutor if we had not actually met, I do prefer recommendations
However I can see huge advantages with such a set up

[mindgone]

We have never used on line tutoring, but have used maths tutors a lot over the years. In the beginning for confidence, but now for the love of maths, and DS (Y12) really enjoys the lessons, and being a step ahead at school!

[lainiekazan]

Yes, ds (yr 11) has a maths tutor. He is in the top set at school but some of the others were racing ahead and ds felt he was being left behind. The teacher teaches to the top of the class (usually something I am thrilled about!). The tutor has been a real find.

Dd is 10 (year 6) and like ds is good at maths, but not a natural. She has been on ConquerMaths, which explained things well. I would seriously look at an on-line tutor, the advantages being you don't have to move very far, and much cheaper than a one-to-one real life person.

Is it fair? impossible to answer. What if your child attends a bad school/has a bad teacher? What if you can help them in a certain subject yourself - is that tutoring and therefore unfair? Tutoring can become an arms race, but in my experience most of those being tutored are just seeking to catch up rather than streak ahead. Swimming/piano are different: they are hobbies. No one asks to see you swim 100 metres in order to get into university.

[manfalou]

I sort of like the idea of online tutoring for the convenience and perhaps kids might get into it for the more 'fun' side of it but tbh I think i prefer the face to face approach. I know if an actual person was waiting for me to arrive id be more likely to turn up and concentrate more where as you can easily get distracted when in front of a screen and the tutor may not be able to keep their attention as much.