Choosing a tutor isn?t something we do every day. Most of us won?t even think about tutors until we need one, and for most of us that will only be once or twice in a lifetime. So how do we go about choosing a tutor for our children? Here are a few ideas.

Make sure you meet the tutor face to face. We are teachers; we are used to selling ideas to people and that?s particularly easy over the phone. So, make sure you meet the tutor.
If the tutor works from home, go and see their workspace and take your child with you ? after all they are the ones who are stuck with our company week after week.
Ask to see the resources that are available. This will allow you to assess whether the tutor is well-equipped and it will help you understand what you child is talking about if they mention numicon, or cuisinaire. Ask what books they use and if there are any books they can recommend for you.
Be clear about your expectations and what the tutor is offering. No one can guarantee 100% success in tests or exams. If that?s what is on offer, beware. A good tutor will explain clearly what they do and what you can expect. Make sure your expectations match, or one of you will be frustrated.
Find out when the tutor will be taking holidays. Will they do sessions during the school holidays? Will they be around during test periods? Often children have a bit of wobble in the days leading up to tests and a reassuring call from their tutor, or an extra session can work wonders. They know you think they are geniuses but it can be nice to know other people do too.
Make sure you are clear how to contact the tutor and whether they are willing to help out with homework or problems in between sessions.
Enquire about things you can do to support your child?s learning. We have limited time with your child and it?s impossible to cover the whole curriculum, boost their vocabulary, learn tables and number facts, explain relaxation techniques, demonstrate and practice test-techniques and build confidence, all in those few hours (if your child has a tutor for a whole year they will spend approximately the equivalent of one school-week with that tutor). Tuition works best when it is a collaborative process ? and when it?s fun.
Ask questions. No one is born with a natural understanding of the tutoring process and most people have questions. It doesn?t matter how basic, or how specific your concerns are, we want you to feel comfortable about handing your child over into our care. It?s a big step and we want it to be a positive experience for us all.

That?s just a few thoughts from me. Please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section below ? we love feedback.