Why now is the best time to get an English tutor!
As Year 11 and Year 13 enter into the final stages of their examinations and prepare for a really long break, Year 10 and 12 are still ramping up the pace. Many are preparing for mock examinations and with more schools running September mocks, a summer of revision beckons.
If you are worried that your Year 10 or Year 12 child is not making sufficient progress in English, this is also the ideal time to secure the services of a top quality tutor.
There are important logistical advantages to securing a tutor now. Whilst my schedule is quieter at this time of year, by September I have normally filled all available spaces and am once again turning students away. Getting in touch now means I can be more flexible in terms of available slots and we can establish a day/time that suits your child best.
Although summer holidays inevitably break up normal routines, having a few sessions now before the end of term means I can get to know your child and establish a suitable long term teaching plan for them. They can also get to know me and it means that in September, they will enter their tutoring sessions feeling confident and relaxed, knowing that their learning needs are being met.
However, there are more important pedagogical reasons to start tuition earlier rather than later. English is predominantly a skills based subject and it takes time for these skills to develop and mature. Students need repeated practice and feedback cycles in order to make progress. The top grades at GCSE and A Level require perceptive thought and a mature academic style. This takes time for students to master. As the teacher, I employ a variety of different strategies to help students improve and again it can take time to establish which approaches suit the student most. I often liken the process of English tuition to learning to drive; most people require more than a few lessons to succeed. However, over time and with regular practice, things that once required a huge amount of cognitive processing become second nature and the student moves from learning to mastery.
One to one tutoring is also about the professional relationship between tutor and tutee. I firmly believe that students cannot learn if they do not feel they are in a safe space where they can ask questions and most importantly make mistakes. Again, this relationship does not occur overnight and whilst every student is different, for many they need time to build up trust with their tutor. It is always a lovely moment when a student who has been nervous or shy asks me a question as this is a sign that their confidence is building and they recognise that the lesson is a safe space where they can direct and take responsibility for their own learning.
I have a small number of spaces available now for one to one lessons. To book in, get in touch at jo@brightskytutoring.co.uk. Set your child on their path to English mastery today!
