Some parents choose to employ a private tutor directly because it gives them greater control over the whole process and is generally more affordable, since you don’t have to pay an agency commission fee on top of the tutor fees.

If you are among the growing number of parents who choose to recruit a tutor directly to teach your child in your home or elsewhere, safety will be at the top of your list. You will find the following pointers very useful when looking to employ a tutor’s services.

Among the first things to ask a prospective tutor for your child is whether or not he/she has had a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. If yes is the answer then demand to see the CRB certificate. Unlike school teachers, tutors don’t have to have a CRB check done, neither do they need a degree, but it is acceptable to say that any reputable or professional tutor expecting to teach children or vulnerable adults should be able to present a CRB certificate when asked for it.

The Criminal Records Bureau describes itself as a ‘one-stop shop for organisations checking police records and in relevant cases information held by the Department for Children, Schools and Families’, for any evidence that shows the person concerned should not be working with children or vulnerable adults. In short then the bureau provides a service for organisations in the private, public or voluntary sectors to help them screen individuals wishing to work with young children or vulnerable adults, therefore helping companies make safer recruitment decisions by potentially identifying people who may have a criminal track record.

The CRB provides two types of checks: Standard Disclosures and Enhanced Disclosures. Any work with children or vulnerable adults qualifies for the most detailed check, the Enhanced Disclosure check. These checks can reveal if a certain individual has appeared on List 99, a list that contains all the names of convicted sex offenders and other individuals who have been excluded from working with children.

Can parents apply for a CRB check?

It is important to note that the law does not permit parents to apply for CRB checks on nannies, au pairs, or tutors they directly employ. So here are some tips on how to recruit a tutor safely for your child.

1.    Always ask your prospective tutor for at least two references from people who have employed him or her in the past. More importantly, always follow these references up with a phone call.

2.    Is he or she a qualified tutor? For certain subjects, particularly academic subjects such as maths, science and English, tutors should have a degree in the subject they teach and/or hold a teaching certificate, in order to be at the standard required to teach with proficiency. Other subjects, such as business management, basket weaving or dog handling, may require little more than practical experience with or without a teaching qualification of some sort. You should also look out for any previous tutoring experience they have, i.e. one-to-one teaching, group teaching, etc.

3.    If your child will be going to the tutor’s home to be taught, it’s best to put in a request to see the environment your child will be learning in. Ask yourself whether your child will be happy in that environment.

4.    Once you’ve decided to employ a tutor, make sure a ‘settling-in period’ is put into place, perhaps for the first few weeks once the tutoring has commenced. Sitting in on lessons and observing the tutor’s teaching methods as well as your child’s progress will give you a good insight into their interaction.

5.    If you are still unsure about which tutor to employ, some local authorities can provide you with a list of tutors that have been appropriately checked and who may have been previously employed by your local authority.

6.    Local authorities may also offer Parent Advice Centres for parents seeking advice.

It is important to resist unnecessary paranoia. Finding a suitable tutor can be relatively easy providing you do the research and have your needs and wants listed beforehand. Employing a tutor can be the best investment for your child’s study; it can also empower a child by giving him or her more confidence in a learning environment. Remember, you know your child best, and only you can decide what type of tutoring service will work best for them.