Guest Blog – Becky Nicholson (First Class Learning)
As an experienced primary school teacher and private tutor I see many parents who wonder whether their child might benefit from a little extra help in maths or English. Perhaps their youngster struggles with their schoolwork, or maybe, they have a bright child who needs a little extra push to fulfil their potential? A large number of parents I speak to, have a child who is not quite keeping up with their class and as a result, have low confidence in their abilities. A lack of confidence can result in underperformance and poor concentration.A good private tutor or tuition centre will make sure that the specific learning needs of each child is met, as well as developing confidence, self-esteem and independent study skills. Motivating a child to want to succeed is key. Indeed, if a child feels they can succeed, they invariably will.
If you are thinking of getting extra tuition for your child but wondering where to start looking, here are some important factors to consider:
§ Only buy tuition from a provider who has undertaken a thorough diagnostic assessment and interview with your child to identify their academic learning needs and attitude to learning. This way, they can personalise a programme of work and adapt their teaching style to suit your child.
§ Look for a system of reward and encouragement. If the tutor just gives your poor youngster input and worksheets, that is unlikely to be much fun! A good tutor will have a solid system of praise and reward to motivate and encourage their students.
§ Following on from that, ask the tutor how their programme of work develops confidence and self-esteem. Crucial to a child’s success is their feeling of being good at something. If they think they can do it – they will!
§ Ask for proof of success. Can the tutor give evidence of students who have improved in maths and English? Are there any testimonials available to read? Do other parents and students speak positively about their experiences?
§ Does the tuition match the work done in schools? Buying tuition that is aligned with the National Curriculum has obvious benefits. Children are delighted to score top marks in their school spellings or their times-tables tests because they have already covered them with their tutor. Others children can breeze through school writing tasks because they have already practised sample answers beforehand.
§ Does the tuition have ‘hidden’ benefits too, such as fostering your child’s sense of pride in their work, or discipline in getting homework done regularly and on time. How about developing good study habits and independent learning skills? Everything here is crucial for today’s young learners.
With the new school year just about to start, now is a really good time to enrol with a tutor or into a tuition centre. Good tutors soon get booked up so don’t leave it too late!
A
bout Becky and First Class Learning (FCL): This article was written by Becky Nicholson, manager of the FCL centre in York. Becky is a fully qualified primary school teacher and worked in schools for 14 years before moving to FCL. Becky is passionate about helping children succeed by building on their abilities and boosting their confidence.
To find out more, call Becky on 07932751003 or visit www.firstclasslearning.co.uk/york-south
