Would a tutor help in this situation?

[Selfishmaryann]

Hello
DD just started year 2. She is quite a shy child and lacks confidence in herself generally.
Her school report at the end of year 1 shows her working towards in every core subject.
I don’t think she is particularly incapable, but her confidence really effects her trying and failing, and therefore learning.
Would getting a tutor for her build up her confidence and help her? Or would it put her under more pressure and potentially knock her confidence further?
Thanks

I think I'd start by chatting to her teacher.

I have spoken to the teachers at previous parents evenings etc, and they don’t really talk too much about academics, more about how she works and needs to build her confidence.

We have talked about getting her a tutor to help her bring up to the expected levels which would help her confidence, but I have never used a tutor before and am curious if it could have the opposite effect.

I think it really depends both on the tutor and on the child.

I am a tutor and 9 times out of 10 it has been really beneficial, I take a very individual approach, and have gotten on well with the children and we have worked together to do activities and learning that meets their interests as far as possible. They enjoyed the sessions, it helped to build on what they had done in class and just a general confidence boost.
I did tutor a boy in year 2, and it just didn't work for him. He wasn't enjoying the sessions, he never looked forward to them and I just felt as thought it put more of a burden on the whole situation which was unnecessary for him especially in year 2 so we stopped the sessions.

You can do a bit at home.

Look at the ks1 sats papers as that is end of year !evel. And aiming for free reading so chapter books.

Thank you @glitterr thats useful, 90% success is good! And the insight into when it doesn’t work is helpful too. Is there a point that you would particularly recommend tutoring? I don’t want her to feel she isn’t very good and it becomes self-fulfilling, so would like to find a good point to intervene if it is necessary.

Thanks @Busornobus67 I do quite a bit at home with her already but her learning style is different to mine and I’m not always convinced I am helping her! I’m not trained in education in any way and have always found learning quite easy myself so find it hard to know how to help her. We do reading together every day and her confidence in reading has definitely improved, but I’m not sure she is at the expected level.

If your daughter is working towards then the school should have offered intervention classes .. I think the most important being reading because if they cannot read fluently to the expected level then that could have a knock on effect with reading questions for other subjects.

I would ask your daughter if she wanted tutoring as she may not want it.

I would do a little with her at home to boost her confidence. Spellings are on the national curriculum and the maths requirements. For English you could Google writing mats for the year she is in and work on those with her and repeating it all. It is all about learning thought repetition so the more practice she does the better. It will boost her confidence.

Ask your teacher firstly whether the school provides intervention classes for children working towards. If they do then that's great use them.

My sons are shy, they are loud in every other situation other than school but they are working at greater depth for reading but still shy to talk to teachers.

I was shy and I think confidence can come with age for some children. Yes helping them learn helps boost their confidence too. It is tricky because hard to know why they are shy in certain circumstances.

In terms of helping her at home I find Year related CGP books are good for reading and one for spelling punctuation and grammar are good as well as maths.

Also Schofield & Sims first mental arithmetic exercise books are great and are for KS1. She will probably need to start on 'First Mental Arithmetic 3 and 4 and carry on until 5 before moving to Mental Arithmetic introduction and from 1 to 6 which are for KS2.

So if she has started year two also use KS1 SATS papers for:
• arthmetic
• reasoning
• reading
• spelling
• grammar and punctuation

They are all available online for free. Luckily she will not have to do the sats exam this year because last May was the last KS1 SATS papers and they are no longer compulsory.

I have used all of the above on my eldest son and he is doing well scoring greater depth at the exams. I think by helping them at home it helps with their confidence during classes and makes them less shy to speak up in class, obviously that may come within time but the have improved over the years since reception. They are now in year 2 and year 3 and have become more confident but still more help required to boost their confidence.

I hope the above helps and your daughter gets to expected. You do worry for them. She will be fine.

Also I forgot to mention that due to Covid-19 we are fortunate to have access to so many you tube videos where teachers have taught during COVID.

I Google the year and subject and sometimes ask my kids to watch them if they are struggling with a certain topic.

one to one tuition really boosts their confidence - DS1 came into his own when we matched him with the right tutor. Speak to a company that works on mentoring and confidence not just academic skills. We used Tayberry.org.uk and they personalise everything for your child. Good luck!