CHOOSING A TUTOR – A CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS More parents than ever are seeking to provide tuition for their children to help them get the most from their time at school. As a result, tutors and tuition centres are playing a significant role in the real life and education of children. The quality of tutors varies a great deal. Because of the child-tutor relationship, parents need to make choices in selecting their child’s helper. Deciding About Tuition Clarify for yourself why you want tuition for your child. Is it necessary? Why? Consult the teachers involved about the issue. Before Meeting The Tutor Ask the tuition agency how they match a tutor’s qualifications with the child’s needs. Get precise name and details of the tutor in advance from the agency. This is to ensure that the person promised by the agency is actually the person who arrives at your door. Instruct the agency to inform the tutor that you will want to see their educational qualifications. Remember that some agencies encourage tutors to falsify educational attainments. Where possible it is preferable that individual tuition take place in your home. Check with the agency that the tutor selected is available for this. Meeting The Tutor Welcome the tutor as someone you are entrusting with a sacred task. Explain that you are doing some basic checking for the sake of your child and your own peace of mind. Ask to see tutor’s educational qualifications if necessary and check that these match the level at which the tutor is working with your child. Before specifying your child’s needs, ask the tutor about the kinds of children’s learning problems he/she has dealt with previously. Ask how he/she solved the problems. Specify the particular needs of your child and ask the tutor how he/she will remedy them. Spend time with the tutor to clarify your concerns about your child’s progress. Make clear your realistic expectation but make sure not to ask the tutor to work miracles. Get tutor’s phone numbers. Try to form a judgment about whether the personality of the tutor is right for your child. Set the tuition environment to help the tutor do his/ her work. Keep it free from the noise, distraction and interference especially from other children. Be at home for at least the first two sessions. Monitor progress by listening to your child, discussing his/her relationship with his/her tutor and by discussing progress with the tutor every 2 weeks. Be aware of your child’s behaviour once tuition has started. If there are marked changes in behaviour of a negative nature, you should discuss them with your child and the tutor.