Choosing a private tutor: the checklist most parents wish they'd had

Hiring a private tutor for your child is one of those decisions where it's hard to know what good looks like. There are no industry-wide standards, anyone can call themselves a tutor, and the quality range is enormous — from highly qualified subject specialists to well-meaning sixth formers and everything in between.

Here's the checklist we wish more parents had. Use it whether you're hiring through a tutoring agency, a marketplace, or a personal recommendation — and don't be shy about asking these questions.

1. Enhanced DBS check (current, on the Update Service)

Every tutor working with children should hold a current enhanced DBS check. 'Enhanced' is important — it goes further than basic and standard DBS. Even better is one held on the DBS Update Service, which means it's checked monthly. If a tutor doesn't have one, walk away or insist on home tuition with a parent always present.

Reputable agencies (including ours) verify enhanced DBS at source before any placement. Independent tutors should be able to show you their certificate.

2. Subject and stage specialism

A great Year 4 tutor isn't necessarily a great GCSE Chemistry tutor. Ask about the specific subject and stage your child needs — not 'experience tutoring'. For exam-bearing subjects, ask which exam board the tutor is most familiar with. Spec knowledge is the single biggest predictor of grade movement. For SEND learners, our SEND-specific tutor checklist covers the additional questions to ask.

• Which year group / stage do they tutor most often?
• What's their subject background — degree, teaching qualification, recent graduate?
• Which exam board do they know best?
• Have they taught your specific specification (e.g. AQA GCSE Combined Science 8464)?

3. A clear teaching plan, not just lessons

Good tutors don't just turn up. They run a baseline assessment, propose a structured plan, and report progress. If a tutor wants to 'see how it goes' for the first few weeks, that's a yellow flag. Plans should be written down, agreed with parents and student, and reviewed regularly.

4. Transparent terms, written down

Hourly rate, cancellation policy, payment terms, what happens if you change tutors, how you end the engagement — all of this should be in writing before the first lesson. Avoid arrangements where the cancellation rules or fees aren't crystal clear. (For a current view of typical rates by stage, see our West Midlands tutoring cost guide.)

5. References (or an agency that's already done them)

If you're hiring directly, ask for two references from recent families and follow them up. If you're using a tutoring agency, the agency should have done this — ask them to confirm.

6. Red flags

Be cautious of: pressure to commit to a long contract, vague or shifting pricing, lessons that take place in closed rooms (especially with younger children), tutors who want to communicate with your child via personal social media, and anyone who promises specific exam results. None of those are good signs.

Why we recommend agencies for most families

We're an agency, so we're biased. But the practical reality is that an agency does a lot of due diligence work for you — DBS verification, qualification checks, references, complaint handling, and a route to switch tutors if it's not working. For most families, that's worth the small premium over hiring directly.

If you'd like to talk to us about hiring a tutor, drop us a line — we'll be straight about whether we're the right fit, and tell you what to look for elsewhere if we're not.