East Dulwich Tutors

Useful info and FAQs - at April 25

 

What will we teach?

 

We all work together as a team to build your child’s confidence and fill any gaps. We will also prepare for exams and tests. Sometimes we will work on topics linked to current school work, sometimes we might complete tricky school homework but mostly we will be working on the subjects/ topics agreed at the outset phone discussion and identified as a result of our assessments during the initial block (half term) . How will the sessions work? Home sessions: We will require a quiet space with a cleared adult size table or desk and chair to work with your child in live sessions. This table should be in a family room such as the kitchen, living room or study. It is best if your child has a snack on the way home from school or before the lesson starts.

 

Please make sure they have also been to the toilet before the lesson starts. This also applies to online and library sessions which are increasingly used in place of home sessions. We cannot work in a child’s bedroom. When sessions are taking place you will need to be nearby: in the next room with the door open. There must always be an adult over 18 in the house when sessions take place.

 

The parent should only be in the room/session if the child needs significant help and this must be agreed in advance.This applies to online sessions also. Resources Books - we will ask you to buy some text books once we have assessed your child - please don’t buy any books for sessions without talking to us first as we have particular books we like to use.

 

Once we have told you which books to purchase please have all the books ready for the sessions. Other resources *writing pencils (sharpened!) or writing pens *ruler *eraser *paper or a workbook. *colouring pencils are very useful for younger children Please also have a box or folder for the books and keep them all together ready for the session time. Train your child to have this all organised.

 

For online Lessons only - Working Ipad or similar touch screen device or Desktop Computer with a writing tablet and pen. Wifi Code During live sessions we often use our ipads to enable us to present information and explain concepts so we may ask for access to your wifi to enable us to do this. Online Sessions (via Classin) You should be in the waiting room five minutes before your session is due to start. The session will finish at the end time - follow up is on Classin chat, If you need to contact us please use email. For online students we will use Classin chat (sometimes in sessions) to post session reports/issues as well as the homework.

 

iPads work better for writing on the whiteboard. The login stays the same for every session. Please note the login code as you can use this to log in even if you can’t find the link. Please use your name or your child’s name as the sign in. Furthermore, please keep the Classin information near where the sessions will take place - on the fridge/wall.

 

How long is a session?

 

Session times will be agreed before the start of a block. It is quite common to start with 30 or 45 minutes a week and build up to 60 minutes when ready. The first block is a trial block for both sides - meaning that timings/prices etc could be reviewed after the first block. The charge is for the time in the house/library/online so please ensure that your child is ready for the arrival/start time. The session will finish at the stated end time even if your child is late as we usually have another lesson starting straight after. Feedback Verbal Feedback will be included in the time of a live visit (55 minute session/5 minutes feedback etc) or factored into the cost if you want longer feedback. We charge for the actual time in the house. On the Standard Package: What you are actually paying for is: session preparation as well as delivery plus homework and concise weekly feedback. Charges are reviewed at the end of the block as service beyond the above (More detailed contact/more emails/messages etc) could lead to a higher charge moving forward - see packages on the final page. Our terms and Conditions Key Points to note: *Parents are not in sessions but nearby - this applies to all sessions (IA/Library/home/Online). If in a house then there must be an adult over 18 in the building. *Session times are also not set in stone and can be changed if they don’t work for us around other students. For example: a Friday at a particular library could change to another library or move online around other students. We will give you notice before any changes.

 

*Cancellations - there is no carry over of missed sessions. We will try to make up in term time, but this can be difficult as it would need another parent to swap. For this reason we set aside one day each holiday to do make up sessions for missed sessions (usually online). If you can’t do the make-up session day then the session is lost. *On the standard package there is session feedback immediately after the session but then no contact between sessions outside of arranging/rearranging sessions. Other packages (from £100 a month extra) allow for more contact between sessions.

 

For example if a parent is regularly contacting us between sessions then they would be moved to a higher-charged package. See the attachment for more details. We are not using WhatsApp for tutoring but you can text if you are running late for a session. *Moving to two sessions a week - as with all exam students we will look to move to two sessions a week if possible. The second session could be online or a group session depending on the agreed day and time.

 

In the Summer Term we will do guided practice (working at exam speed) as well as practice tests. Mock exams (additional charge) will be offered in July and/or August as well as October and/or November. Interview preparation sessions (additional charge) will also be offered from November. 1. Price rises are subject to review annually (usually in April) We will let you know any price rises four weeks in advance.

 

2. All lessons must be paid for at least 24 hours before the block ( half term) commences; the same applies to the first payment for a one off trial lesson. 3. New students will be assessed over a number of initial sessions (usually equating to two hours) and there is a registration fee of £70 for new students.

 

3. We will not teach the lesson unless it is prepaid 24 hours before the start time. We would rather spend our time planning engaging, useful sessions than chasing payments. We recommend paying monthly by direct debit. Late fee/a chasing charge of £30 may apply and/or the lesson will be delayed until the next week.

 

4. Cancellation - Please give us as much notice as possible and at least 24 hours of a known need to cancel we will then roll over the lesson to the next block. The maximum roll-over is one session a block and we will try and arrange the make-up session to be in the holiday. If more than two lessons in a block are cancelled we may have to review our contract with you.

 

5. We will always try to give you 24 hours notice if we are unable to attend and try to fit you in on an alternative day or in half-term as above. If your child is suddenly sick or off school please let us know - especially if the lesson is face to face (F2F) we would prefer not to catch an illness that puts us out of action - in these emergency cases we will always try to be reasonable and provide an online lesson/make-up session during the holiday. We cannot make up or carry over more than one session in a half-term.

 

 

6. Exam students are expected to do at least one weekly session during the holidays (whilst we are around) - via Classin if you/we are away.

 

7. Notice period - once you have had your first block and wish to continue you must give 4 weeks notice (6 weeks for January/September) if you are planning to stop tutoring. This enables us to find another student to fill your spot. When you start you will pay a four week deposit which will be refunded when you finish by giving the required notice of four weeks.

 

8. Contact Times - because of other time commitments we are unable to have lengthy correspondence between sessions. Phone conversations tend to be very occasional. For people on the Standard Package (see packages) the normal contact is on the day or the day after the session only. For a longer chat please book a call as below. Our Office Hours are weekdays 10am to 3pm (excluding Wednesdays) and our teaching hours are Weekdays 3:30-7:30 and Saturdays 9am to 3pm. Texts are used on the day of a session only.

 

9. Non-exam students don't need to do holiday sessions but will make up any missed sessions in the holiday (if possible/online offered if F2F not possible), We usually offer a set weekday day or two for these half-term make up of missed sessions. If you can't do them for whatever reason the session is not carried over. If the child attends every week then there will be no need for a half-term session unless you are an exam student.

 

 

WE ARE NO LONGER SENDING OUT SESSION REMINDERS. PLEASE PUT ALERTS ON YOUR CALENDARS. IF SESSIONS ARE UNPAID 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE SESSION THEN THEY WILL BE OPENED UP TO OTHER FAMILIES. Make up session dates in 2025 start with Tuesday 18th February. Other holiday dates as below - we will let you know in advance if we need to change these times offered.

 

*Thursday 17th/Friday 18th and Saturday 19th April *Wednesday 28th May (limited hours offered - usually 10am - 2pm) PROVISIONAL DATES: *Tuesday 29th July *Tuesday 28th October East Dulwich Tutors - Price List (please read alongside packages on the final page)

 

 

The first call is a free no-obligation consultation of up to thirty minutes. Beyond that first call charges will apply as below. For example a second call (beyond a free, quick five minute chat) would be a booked call as below:

 

 

Our base rate for all work is £70 per hour - this is based on our hourly tutoring rate and we will charge a minimum of this for all work One Off Lesson Charges: (SEE PACKAGES on final pages for add ons) Initial Assessment Sessions are £85 per session with verbal feedback. A follow up written report is £70. Live/Face to Face (F2F) - Time in house (or library) includes feedback (for eg 55 mins lesson/ 5 mins feedback) *£105 for 1 hour and 30 mins - one student. *£70 for 1 hour including feeding back to the parent/carer. *£45 each per student for a closed session of two students. *£55 for 45 mins 1:1 F2F *£45 for 30 mins 1:1 F2F. Online *£55 for 60 mins non-exam students/£70 per hour for exam student *£45 for 45 mins non exam students/£55 for exam students. We use Classin but if Zoom is used then it will be for 40 minutes priced at £45 *£35 for 30 mins for all students. Please note for twins and siblings prices are per child In terms of how we work - like all businesses we charge for our time (at a base rate of £70 per hour). Other Charges: *meetings (for example a meeting with the school) = £70 per hour (part hours charged at hourly rate) *meeting preparation - £70 per hour *booked calls - £25 for 20 minutes *travel beyond SE22/SE15/SE5/SE24 - charged at the hourly rate above *writing reports and course programmes - £70 per hour *other miscellaneous work charged at £70 per hour *an admin/registration charge of £70 is chargeable to new students to reflect the additional admin work starting off a new student. *refundable deposits (two weeks) are used to book January/September sessions as required, these will come off the next block payment. If your child does not start as planned then the deposit is lost. *INITIAL ASSESSMENT sessions are £85 per one hour session (up to 45 minutes with the child and 15 mins with the parent. Two sessions minimum with verbal feedback - a written follow-up report is £70 extra.

 

Should a parent require more than the usual contact around sessions then this can be discussed and additional charges agreed - see packages below. PACKAGES We offer a range of packages as detailed below: ***Subject to reasonable use. We reserve the right to move you onto a different package to match the time spent between sessions. We will discuss it with you first. Standard Tailored for Non-exam students but available for exam students who are happy with the features below in comparison to other packages. Gold Tailored for Exam-students (entrance tests to GCSEs) Add £100 a month to the standard fee (£150 per half-term if paying half-termly) Platinum/Bespoke Highly tailored for Exam-students (entrance tests to GCSEs) Tailored to your needs (Minimum £200 extra per month/£300 a half-term) *Weekly Sessions as agreed inc. lesson preparation/resourc es *Homework set *Optional holiday sessions/make up missed sessions in holidays *maximum one missed session per term to be made up by the Tuesday of the holiday. ***Availability via email/classin - during Office Hours weekdays 10am-3pm (Office closed on Weds). *Late payment/chasing fee £30 added to next block. Add ons: Booked calls - charged *Weekly Sessions inc holidays inc. lesson preparation/resources *Homework set and marked where needed *Practice papers *Support for parents to work with their child *Missed sessions made up in the holiday - NO carry over to the new block. *Maximum one missed session per half-term *Late payment/chasing fee £30 added to next block. One free booked call a month if required. ***Availability via email/classin - extended office hours 10-7 weekdays (Office closed on Weds) Add ons: Mock Exams/Interview Preparation/Masterclasses *Weekly Sessions inc holidays inc. lesson preparation/resources *Homework set and marked *Practice papers *Support for parents to work with their child *One missed session CAN be carried over to the new block One Free booked call a week if required. ***Availability via email/classin - extended office hours 10-7 weekdays PLUS 10-2 Saturdays - Office closed on Weds.

 

Add ons: Mock Exams/Interview Preparation/

Masterclasses

 

 

YOUR LOCAL EXPERTS SINCE 2014