Information for parents/carers

When you start with Holmes at Home English Tuition, you will be given a copy of the following document and outlines how the sessions will work, including content, tailored support, payments, booking sessions, Tuition Plans and feedback: 

 

1:1 Tutoring/Group Sessions Information – what parents need to know… 

 

Agreed session:                                                        

Student name:

Agreed price:

All the information you need for a smooth start to working with Holmes at Home English Tuition:

  • Students are encouraged to bring any notebooks or schoolbooks that may be of use, plus a black pen. I will supply worksheets and lined paper.  If something specific is required (e.g. coloured worksheets for students with Dyslexia) then prior notice needs to be given.   If sessions are online, all resources will be emailed to the student at least 24 hours before and with parents copied in/ or just the parent if preferred. An outline of the session will also be given. 
  • All students will have a Tuition plan if they do 1:1 tuition. This will be a Word document and will be filled in each session – it will consist of the targets that will were agreed at the ‘meet and greet’ and how these can be achieved in the session, there will be a detailed write-up of what has happened in the session for the starter, main part of the session and the end of the session. These will be emailed to the parents weekly whether the sessions are online or in person. For group sessions, the students will get verbal feedback during/ at the end of the session. Parents will be emailed if there is any further feedback to give. Parents are always welcome to email or message me with any queries also.
  • Sessions will usually consist of a 5-10 minute SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) starter, followed by a main section of writing (either comprehension or exam skills), plus 10 minutes of reading (KS2 and 3) or analysing and marking exam questions (GCSE and A level). The work will be tailored to the individual student– any particular tasks can be requested on a weekly basis. 
  • I am happy to set short homework tasks to consolidate learning from the session and to encourage independent learning, BUT I will only do this at the parents’ request. If homework is requested, the setting of the task and going through the marking of the task, will be done during the session time. 
  • Sessions can be on a short-term (a few weeks’ booster for a particular exam or resit exam) or long-term basis (throughout primary/secondary school/for GCSEs/for the foreseeable future etc). This doesn’t have to be decided up-front.  However, please give as much notice as possible of when sessions will terminate (this can be done in person or via text or email). 
  • Payments need to be transferred 24 hours before the sessions begins. This is the same for 1:1 tuition and for group sessions. Zoom links will be sent out once the payment has been made. If you would like to pay for a block of sessions, let me know. If you need to cancel a session, please give at least 24 hours’ notice. If I need to cancel a session, I will give as much notice as possible. Naturally, a refund will be given. Account: 31597124  Sort code: 40-15-20  Ref. (Insert name) Tuition 
  • If you require sessions over half-term and school holidays, please put in an early request. I work some hours over the holidays but will need to know ASAP to arrange my diary. The day and time may vary from your usual session, but I will do my best to be flexible (especially near exam time). 
  • I will not directly contact the student's school or interfere with the work of the school/teacher in any way. However, I like to be a helpful addition to the student's education, so I may ask for liaison with the teacher via the parent e.g. for school report information, assessment/exam feedback, current working levels or for subject targets to help improve their work for class. 
  • I hold Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. I have worked as a Private tutor for ten years, worked in education (in English secondary school classes) for fourteen years, and I hold GCSEs, A levels and a 2:1 BA. Hons. degree in the subject of English. I also completed an MA.(with merit) in Creative Writing in 2020.
  • Naturally, I will do my best to ensure the student meets their target grade (whether that is an end of year exam/GCSE or A level exam) but unfortunately, I cannot take any responsibility for a student who does not get the grade their school or parent predicts. 
  • I strive on creating positive relationships with students and their families, and will give detailed, feedback at the end of each session to the students, and to the parents in the form of the tuition plan. Any disclosures or information that I think parents need to know, will also be communicated. 

By proceeding with sessions, you agree to the above. Thank you, Sam Holmes (Holmes at Home English Tuition)