Change is hard. Especially when it is unexpected and affects your child’s learning environment, like an unexpected change of tutor.
At times, a tutoring centre may need to change your child’s tutor for a variety of reasons. We ALWAYS will try to ensure that there is minimal disruption to your child’s learning. This is why we try to ensure that your child has a new tutor to work with by their next session.
Don’t worry! We never place your child with just anyone. We will always try our hardest to match your child with a tutor that they will feel comfortable working with.
Below are 5 things to remember if your child’s tutor does change mid-term.
- The owner of the centre will always notify you in writing of the proposed changes ASAP. We will work around the clock to ensure that all current students receive a new tutor. Depending on availability, sometimes it may take more than 1 week to find a suitable tutor, but we will always keep you informed of what is happening. Spare a thought for the owner who in some cases can be blindsided by a tutor leaving with minimal or no notice! Placing 9 new students at the beginning of the year is a difficult balancing task and placing 9 students mid-term is a whole other ball game!
- Spare a thought for the new tutor! It is often nerve wracking meeting a new student and family for the first time …… it is even more nerve wracking when the student has already built a rapport with another tutor and the new tutor is trying to fill the steps of the old tutor. We understand that your child will become attached to their original tutor, but be gentle with the new tutor, as they would love the opportunity to get to know your child and build a similar rapport with them! Come in and introduce yourself. Tell the tutor about your child. Bring in any past assessments again so that the new tutor can have a look at what your child has been working towards at school.
- Your child’s new tutor WILL NOT be the same as the old tutor. They have different ways of teaching, different methods of getting to know your child, different personalities and different tips and tricks to help your child along the way. They may conduct some of their own testing in the first session to double check where your child is at as well. Please be assured that ALL of the tutors that work with us are wonderful individuals and extremely talented in their fields of work.
- Give your new tutor at least 4 weeks to build a rapport with your child. The first session is usually a time to get to know your child and assess where they are at. To REALLY get to know your child, and for your child to grow comfortable with the tutor it usually takes at least 2 sessions. Please give them a chance.
- New tutor not working out? TELL US! I don’t know about you, but my mind reading skills are pretty non-existent! We can’t help fix the problem if we have not been made aware that there is a problem. We would love the opportunity to save the day for you! We would also love to be able to provide our tutors with additional training if necessary to help empower them and their tutoring skills.
Still not working out? Need to try someone else? Need a new day and time? Child and tutor not bonding? A quick email and a phone chat will help us to ensure that both the child and tutor are comfortable and given the best opportunity for success.
Next time you are faced with a tutor change, give the 5 tips above a try to help ensure a smooth transition for your child, the new tutor, and the centre owner too!
Written by Alysha Griffiths, owner of Breakaway Education, Mittagong.
Who is Alysha Griffiths?
Alysha Griffiths is a passionate educator, owner of Breakaway Education and a mum to baby June. With teaching experience in schools, Alysha’s passion lies in education and helping kids and parents to connect the puzzle pieces of education! With a Masters in Teaching (Secondary) and a Bachelor of Arts (History, English) Alysha continually works to gain more insight and knowledge across many areas of education.