According to research, students who receive private tutoring typically outperform those who don't because private tutoring (as opposed to group instruction) stimulates their cognitive ability and strengthens their academic and emotional skills.
In light of this, many parents decide to give their children the best start in life by providing them with the tools they need to succeed academically, thrive in extracurricular activities, and build a solid foundation for their future careers.
Parents would consider hiring a private tutor for their children from a very young age for a variety of reasons, but one of the primary reasons is to help improve their child’s performance on the 7 Plus exam, which typically take place in Year 2, for entry into Year 3. Most of the elite schools in and around London only offer a limited number of available places for students each year and as a result, these schools revert to the 7 Plus exam as a selection criterion.
Some parents prefer to do all they can at home to give their kids the support they need to stay on track academically, but because of the fierce competition to get into any one of London's top schools, and the difficulty of the 7 Plus exams, it can become necessary to find additional help in the form of a private tutor.
It is important to understand that while parents can try to make an effort to support their children on their own, this may not always be sufficient to help them perform well in the 7 Plus exam, and on the other hand, parents sometimes lack the time or knowledge of the educational strategies and resources required to properly teach their children at home.
Exam preparation may be the very last thing on your mind when your child first starts elementary school, but if you are transferring your child from a state primary school to an independent prep school at the beginning of Key Stage 2, their first formal exam may already be approaching, and without the necessary preparation, the changes of your child performing exceptionally well during the 7 Plus exam, and subsequently being accepted into an elite school, may not be so good.
You may want to consider hiring a private tutor if you want to provide your child with the best possible opportunity to perform well in the 7 Plus exam. A competent private tutor is typically very familiar with and experienced with every aspect of the 7 Plus process and can assist your child in better understanding the material by demystifying difficult ideas in disciplines like English and math. The objective of a competent private tutor is to equip young minds with the knowledge and understanding they need to succeed through individualised tutoring, as well as with verbal and nonverbal abilities.
Preparation is essential in Year 2, especially with the 7 Plus exam fast approaching. When considering private tutoring, parents should always enquire if the tutor has the necessary competency and expertise to teach the subject matter, which will include Mathematics, English and non-verbal reasoning.
Remember, a private tutor should always offer a safe, amiable, and DBS-checked environment where your child can comfortably participate in educational activities, read and learn. This is important because young children need a quiet and peaceful space where they can learn and complete their assignments, without distraction.
In reality, parents are not always up to date with the most recent advancements in the educational system as it relates to 7 Plus learning material and learning programs, whereas many private tutors have not only taught their own children and helped them succeed, but they also provided support to many other parents in all areas.
Through individualised tutoring, and by recommending the right learning material, private tutors can assist your child in better comprehending the challenging elements of a subject and in developing the confidence they need to perform well on the exam.