What should I choose for my child, and what type of help will lead to better results?

Private Tutor

A private tutor will usually visit your home once a week for about one hour. You may be required to visit the tutors home, or have the lesson at a ‘tutor centre’. Tuition centres are proving to be quite popular and are often converted shops or houses.

A tutor will find out exactly where your child needs help and will tailor the lesson accordingly, usually focusing on specific homework or work being covered at school.

Tutors charge around £25.00 per hour in the UK. An A’level student may charge less to tutor a child under 14.  A qualified experienced teacher may charge up to £35.00 per hour, especially if you are revising for A’levels or above. If exams are imminent, a tutor would probably offer the best solution to helping with immediate problems.

Kumon

Kumon follows a specific learning programme which is based on pure numberwork – or arithmetic, ranging from simple addition to fractions, algebra and beyond.

The students ability is assessed using a diagnostic test. The student is given personalised homework to do at home 7 days a week and can usually visit a Kumon centre for about 30 – 40 mins once or twice a week. The work is timed and marked at home using answer books, and work is set weekly for the child depending on the homework results. Although parents may not immediately notice improved results at school, Kumon is long term programme and the long term effects results are very good. Children become very competent at numberwork, their confidence improves, and they learn to focus well, which has a positive result across the board. It is not unusual in a Kumon centre to see teenagers working alongside 6 year olds who are working on the same level of work. The programme focuses on the ability of the child rather that the child’s age. The cost is £50.00 per month for one subject (maths or English) or £90.00 for both. There is also a joining fee of £25.00

Magikats

Magikats is a also a tailor-made tuition progamme and Magikats centres are springing up all around the UK. It appears to provide a combination of schoolwork help and core-skills learning, as well as exam support.  A programme is developed specifically for each child and they usually complete five short assignments per week  of about 5-10mins per day.