starting tutoring

[mrsmilesmatheson]

I'd like to start doing a bit of part time tutoring to supplement my p-t teaching job as I don't want to go back full time.

Where is good to advertise? Was thinking of setting up a Facebook page and spreading the word locally but was also considering joining a tutor listing website. Can anyone recommend a reputable one or tell me how they got started?

Going rate for my area seems to be £30-50 per hour. I'm wondering about offering slightly lower rates to get clients and build up my experience.

Any advice very gratefully received x

I'm not a qualified teacher so I'm in a slightly different situation (I do teach GCSEs in FE and I have a strong background in science). I have been tutoring for 3 years now - I started out using a few tutoring websites and found First Tutors and Tutor Hunt to be good. They were both easy to use and I didn't have any problems with clients/payments. I got students fairly quickly and once I had some good reviews I started getting more students than I could manage. I also advertised on Gumtree and was surprised how many students I got via that site. Someone recommended it but I was still surprised. Now I get most of my students by word of mouth and a few local teachers point their students in my directions after seeing how well students have done/getting good feedback from parents.

I started off with quite low rates as I was unqualified and didn't have a track record but the problem with that is when parents recommend you to other parents they also pass on your rates and then I felt awkward putting them up. Just something to be aware of.

Thank you backtoschool. I've registered on tutor hunt so I'll see how it goes. I think I'll advertise towards the lower end of the local scale as I'll be working from home rather than travelling to pupils houses. Dd is ten and very self sufficient so will happily do homework or grab a snack while I tutor so no disturbance but I know this won't be as convenient to everyone as me going to them.

Hi Indians I'm in the south east

I should start at mid-rate if I were you. I get tutees from Tutor Hunt and a flyer in a few local post offices. Enjoy!

I quickly got work through Tutor Hunt. I am on First Tutors but nothing came my way. Whatever you do, check going rates in your area for qualified teachers, and don't undervalue yourself (financially, I mean!)

I'm thinking of doing this. Do most tutors work cash in hand and then pay tax via self assessment or just work cash in hand and not pay tax? I'm not sure I'd bother if I had to pay tax on it tbh.

Cash in hand then self assessment tax. I am very much not looking forward to doing my tax return this week. Despite lecturing my students on starting revision early and not leaving things to the last minute I've been procrastinating since April.

I agree with not setting rates too cheap-I think people are reassured that you're worth hiring if you cost a proper amount of money.

Thanks Purple. I've done self assessment for a micro business and it was a major PITA. As someone who has needed tutors for DCs, I agree with not being too cheap.

I left classroom teaching 3 years ago and now work for county as a home tutor for children who don't have school places. It's highly rewarding, with an excellent hourly rate and a fraction of the pressure of classroom teaching. The work can be a little erratic but this year I'll earn about as much as a 0.6 FTE job. This fits in much better with my children than private tuition as I work school hours only. Wonder if this might suit you?

Super moon, that sounds very interesting. Where do you get work? And would it be possible to do this alongside a part time job, eg working with tutees on my two days off a week?

I do a similar job to SuperMoon, and private tutor.
Agree with what others have said about the tutoring and not selling yourself too cheap!
If you are interested in teaching children not in school you could contact the local authority. You could also advertise on the tutor websites and offer weekday daytimes, as some home schooled children also look for tutors!

Look forward to doing your tax returns 4 times a year once the government changes the rules!

I'm aat qualified and already do all the tax, vat and bookkeeping for DH so shouldn't be too much extra but certainly a pain. This is another reason I don't want to work full time in a school.

I advertised locally on the FB sites and soon word of mouth did the rest. I am a qualified teacher and charge £25 for a lesson (45mins) . I started off doing an hour, but realised that most kids had switched off 45 mins in, also that it left me no time to get to my next pupil. 45 mins is just right.

It's not that lucrative though. I can only squeeze in two pupils after school. I earn £50 and pay £30 for the childcare I need for the same period! But it's very enjoyable and I find it rewarding.

I'd like to do more tutoring during school hours once my children start school, so will definitely look into that.

I've registered for self assessment. This year will be the first full financial year. Really need to set up an excel spreadsheet to show my income etc but just haven't had time yet. I won't pay tax though. Doubt I've earned even £3000. Don't forget, most parents don't want you tutoring during half term etc. so you do have a lot of unpaid weeks.

A tutor I know does the tutoring at weekends. He hires a room in a church hall very cheaply and sets it up for the day with all his materials. It is good for efficiency as he only sets up and plans the day, once for 6/7 pupils and packs up once at the end of the day, far more efficient than doing it 3/4 times per week.

He does nothing weekdays whilst he's teaching in school so it doesn't encroach in family time and he can forget about his private tutoring during the school week, so he doesn't get over-worked or stressed by it. Also, he won't see pupils at home because it interferes with his home life and won't visit pupils' homes because of the extra time/cost of travel.

In some school holidays, he does more and hires the room for extra weekday days. Particularly Easter for GCSE and A level extra tuition and Summer for the 11+ tuition.

Basically, he's set it up to be professional, efficient and distanced from his home life. He's also an excellent tutor, so never short of work, in fact, he often turns people away. He charges £40 per hour.

I've PMd you, MrsMiles. And you, Mango!

Thank you super moon but nothing in my email?

Okay - I'll try again! Sorry about that.

Did you get it?

I did thank you! Have replied