Employing a private tutor
Advice for making private education arrangements
Many parents will, at some stage, think about employing a private tutor to support their child’s learning, or to provide for their child’s education as an alternative to school.
Read the government's guidance on keeping children safe in education.
Before engaging a private tutor, we advise you to:
- always interview your chosen candidates (it's a good idea to interview your candidates at home and introduce them to your child, so you can see how they get on)
- ask for (and check) at least two professional references which are less than three years old, and qualification certificates
- ask to see a copy of the tutor’s Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and make a note of the number
- ask when they last undertook safeguarding training
If there are career gaps on the tutor’s CV, ask for (and check) their reasons why.
If the tutor is employed at a school, you can also ask for a reference from the school’s head teacher.
Remember: you are the employer and have the right to ask for this information.
Choosing a suitable place in your home
Once the tuition starts, it should take place in an area that you have easy access to, so you can see what is happening. Make sure that the area is well-organised and suitable for studying. Do not use a bedroom.
What to do if you're unhappy with the tutor
If you are unhappy with the way a tutor is treating your child, you can tell them to leave immediately and dismiss them from the position.
If you have a concern about a child or young person, please call: 0300 300 8585.
If outside of office hours, please call the Emergency Duty Team on: 0300 300 8123.