Finding the right tutor is part matchmaking, part vetting. Here's how to work out what your child actually needs, find and check out candidates properly, and set things up so sessions are safe and actually help.

24 items · 7 essential reviewed 9 Aug 2026 5 sources .md .json

Before You Start Looking

Talk to your child about why tutoring is being consideredInvolving them from the start makes them more open to accepting the help.
Ask your child's teacher what specific skills or gaps to targetWhenever possible, ask your child's teacher to participate in designing the tutoring plan so that it links to school work.
Decide in-person, at-home, or onlineBased on your child's comfort and your own supervision needs.
Look specifically for a tutor trained in techniques for your child's learning disability if child has learning disabilityIt's essential that they've been trained to use appropriate techniques that can address the student's special needs.
Set a budget and rough session frequency before contacting anyoneSo cost doesn't sway the decision mid-search.

Finding and Screening Candidates

Ask your child's teacher or other parents for recommendationsConsider interviewing several tutors with your child.
Check the tutor's credentials, training, and experienceFind out whether the person has experience working with students at your child's grade level.
Confirm the tutor is a certified teacher or has real subject expertiseIt's important that the tutor is a certified teacher or has expertise in the subject being taught.
Get and actually contact references, not just names on a resumeSet up an in-person interview and ask them to bring a resume with references that you may contact, and check their references before hiring.
Run or request a background check on anyone who will be alone with your child if hiring independentlyA private tutor background check can help identify potential safety risks and empowers families to make more informed hiring decisions.
Ask whether they assess skill gaps first and how they adapt when a child is struggling
Interview at least two tutors, ideally with your child presentSo you can gauge fit as well as credentials.

Setting Up Sessions Safely

Pick a room, not a bedroom, for sessionsYou'll need a desk or table where children can work quietly and it shouldn't be in a bedroom.
Keep a line of sight or earshot to the room during sessionsMake sure the door to the room is left open, the room has windows with open curtains so that someone can see in, and that you or another adult are within earshot — you may want to sit in on the session.
Check the background is neutral and no personal documents are visible if online sessionsIs there any confidential information in the room that should be removed, such as bank statements?
Talk with the tutor about professional boundaries up frontTutors, parents, and children need to be clear about professional boundaries and appropriate behaviour to avoid any potential misunderstandings or allegations.
Clear the tutoring space of anything inappropriate before the first sessionFor example posters with bad language or nudity.

Agreeing the Practical Details

Put fees, payment schedule, and cancellation policy in writing before the first paid sessionDecide what happens if your child or your tutor is sick and whether there will be a makeup session or a fee for a missed one.
Start with a short trial before committing longer-termConsider hiring the tutor for two or three sessions on a trial basis to see how it works for everyone.
Ask the tutor for a tutoring plan or clear goals, ideally tied to classworkTry to create a partnership between you, your child's teacher, and the tutor.
Trust your gutIf you feel uneasy about the interview or any red flags come up, don't hire the tutor — it's important for you and your child to feel comfortable with the right tutor.

Ongoing Check-ins

Ask your child after each of the first few sessions how it felt, not just what they learned
Review progress against the original goals every few weeksAdjust or end the arrangement if there's no real movement.
Keep talking with your child's teacher so tutoring and classwork stay lined up

Tell us what’s going on — everyday words are perfect

Built only from the steps above — nothing new gets invented.

Sources & upkeep

readingrockets.org
- How to Choose a Tutor (Or Other Education Service Provider)
nspcc.org.uk
- Finding a tutor for your child
- NSPCC Learning, Safeguarding and child protection for tutors
checkr.com
- Guide to Tutor Background Checks
care.com
- Tutor interview questions: 23 key questions for parents to ask

All 5 sources are re-checked weekly. When one changes a fact this checklist asserts, the step is edited and the change is logged — the revision history is public.

Different situation? — it only selects from the steps above; nothing new is written.

Essential isn’t a shorter checklist — it’s the same one with the optional steps tucked away. Everything’s still a click away, and the essential marks stay put in anything you make from this, right down to the .json.

A helpful starting point, not professional advice — here’s why.