| The decision to employ a full-time live-in tutor can | | | | topics at varying depths. |
| have a monumental impact on family life. Perhaps | | | | The very best private tutors can demonstrate |
| the tutor is being hired to help remedy academic | | | | that they have passions - for learning and for |
| problems, or maintain a consistent education for | | | | interests that they have pursued beyond school |
| your child when your family travels extensively. | | | | and university. Professional qualifications are a |
| Perhaps conventional schooling has failed your child | | | | good indicator of this, but also leisure activities. |
| and the time has come to step away from the | | | | Many of the best live-in tutors have done |
| traditional school system. Having a reputable tutor | | | | extraordinary things; cycled across Europe for |
| agency find and screen candidates is essential. Not | | | | example, or enjoy things like parachuting, |
| only because of the background and reference | | | | travelling, activities that are challenging and |
| checks, but also because they know the qualities | | | | broaden the mind. Not only can this be inspirational |
| to look for in the best full-time tutors, and how to | | | | for your child, but also demonstrates that the |
| ensure a candidate genuinely has those qualities. | | | | live-in tutor has a character that is above |
| As parents, awareness of some of the core | | | | average; an individual who is adventurous and able |
| abilities and characteristics the agency will be | | | | to deal with challenges. |
| looking for can give you confidence when making | | | | Some personality types are better suited to being |
| your final selection from the shortlisted candidates. | | | | a live-in tutor than others |
| Background checks | | | | The ideal live-in tutor also has a particular type of |
| The best tutor agencies will carry out a great deal | | | | personality; whilst that person can demonstrate |
| of research on the final tutor candidates before | | | | extraordinarily high achievement, they should also |
| you meet them, to ensure that there are no | | | | have humility. Arrogance and self-absorption are |
| previous convictions. Check that the tutor agency | | | | not good qualities for a full-time live-in tutor! |
| also carries out background research that is | | | | Imagine a wonderful physics tutor who also |
| sufficiently in-depth to uncover serious accusations | | | | mountain climbs. On paper that sounds great, but |
| that may fall below the radar of a normal criminal | | | | if that person is so egocentric that they can't fit |
| record check. Not all tutor agencies do this, and as | | | | into your family, or have dinner conversations |
| the live-in tutor will become a member of your | | | | that don't center on their great Everest |
| household staff and have daily contact with your | | | | experience, they won't be a good live-in tutor. |
| children, the expertise in this area that the best | | | | A live-in tutor is also a role model |
| agencies offer cannot be underestimated. | | | | Another question to consider is whether the |
| Academic excellence | | | | candidate would make an exemplary role model - |
| Of course, any candidate under consideration | | | | after all, he or she is likely to become a major |
| must have an outstanding academic career, one | | | | influence in your child's life. Being a role model |
| which demonstrates a superlative academic track | | | | ranges from not smoking to being responsible in |
| record throughout school and an excellent degree | | | | society. It's having an unblemished professional |
| from a top university. This is critical, as the | | | | record, and demonstrating total engagement in |
| interaction between the tutor and student tends | | | | everything the tutor does, both professionally and |
| to be more intellectually challenging when the tutor | | | | in leisure time. A full-time private tutor will be |
| is the single point of call for all academic questions. | | | | spending so much time with your children that it |
| The speed at which topics can be introduced is | | | | will be hard to hide any bad habits they might |
| faster than when managing a class, therefore the | | | | have. |
| depth of tuition can exceed a standard school | | | | Ultimately, the ideal live-in tutor has to be |
| curriculum. | | | | responsible, resourceful, and someone that you |
| Ideally a private live-in tutor will be skilled in a wide | | | | know will be able to deal with any kind of problem |
| range of subjects - they may have a degree in a | | | | that may arise. After all, the tutor will be trusted |
| language but studied one or more of the sciences | | | | to care for your child, not only in a study or |
| at A-level for example. This variety of knowledge | | | | library, but also when out on visits to galleries, |
| is necessary in order to be able to deal with the | | | | museums and other events. Once the tutor |
| intensity of tutoring one or two students full time, | | | | agency has identified the best candidates; |
| not only because the tutor is responsible for | | | | individuals with all of these core qualities and more, |
| educating in multiple disciplines, but also because | | | | you can make your final selection with confidence. |
| student questions can cover a wide variety of | | | | |