How can Tutoring Help Children Find their Way Back into Education?

ONE IN 10 CHILDREN in the UK who are absent are classified as 'persistently absent', according to the Department of Education, with some of the most common reasons including medical conditions, injuries, and mental health issues (including depression). If your child has just returned to school, or is CURRENTLY COMPLETING A HOME SCHOOLING COURSE after a long hiatus, you may wonder what additional help is available. From around GCSE level onwards, subjects can be highly specialised and you might find that a subject like Advanced Maths or Physics lies a little outside your scope. Of course, tutors can help in additional ways, bridging the gap between where your child left off and where they are aiming to be.

Getting the Results they Seek

Students who have been away for weeks, months, or even years, may be goal-oriented people who strive to obtain good results. This is harder to do, of course, if they are behind with their coursework - especially in subjects such as Maths, which builds upon prior knowledge. As noted in a review published in the Asia Pacific Education Review (APER), "studies on the effectiveness of private tutoring mostly link private tutoring to student academic achievement and sometimes to students' learning strategies." This comment points to the important role that tutors can play, not only in shedding light on specific subjects, but also in helping students create a sound study plan. Strategies that tutors adopt include dividing subjects into smaller chunks, helping students set a series of goals that lead up to their ultimate aims, and showing students the value of consistency and commitment.

Boosting a Child's Self-Confidence after Bullying

The APER review stated that children reported tutoring as effective at improving not only their results, but also their self-confidence. This is particularly true for STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN BULLIED ONLINE or in person. As stated in a study published in the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, children often "view themselves from the perspective of others and integrate these perceptions into their existing self-concept." When they are bullied, they can believe in the baseless insults and taunts, seeing themselves as their bullies define them. Students report one-on-one tutoring as being particularly helpful when it comes to building themselves back up. This does not necessarily mean achieving A* grades; rather, it begins when a student starts noticing improvements in their revision skills, time management, and learning strategies.

How Students See their Tutors

A child's chance of catching up with their peers increases when they believe in the strategies they are taking. Children who receive tutoring just because their parents wish it, tend to have more negative perceptions of this study method than those who actively choose it. It is therefore important for parents to include children in their 'back to school or study' strategies. Children who embrace tutoring because they can appreciate that some barriers cannot be overcome without a more solid basis, will often themselves suggest a tutor as a way to answer specific questions. Parents can also get kids encouraged to enlist the help of a private tutor by leaving material for them to read - including material on tutoring and its value. Watching a video or film about the life-changing potential of a tutor or educational mentor will also help children UNDERSTAND THE GREAT POTENTIAL that this mode of learning can have. These methods encourage children to bring up the subject of tutorials and to feel like they have a say in their educational journey.

Tutors can do so much more than simply explain a tricky mathematical equation. They can inspire children to learn new subjects, help them devise a sound study technique, and even shed light on new interests or talents your child may not have known they had. Studies have shown that tutoring can aid in academic achievement and self-esteem - something from which many kids who have been absent from school can certainly benefit.