Tuition centres
What are tuition centres?
These private educational institutions first kicked off in Singapore, Malaysia, India and the Middle East and they have since grown like wildfire over here.
Significantly cheaper than a one-to-one tutor, these centres involve children either learning in small classes or working through academic tasks individually and under supervision. Some also offer extras such as mock exam practice.
Parents say the group environment can feel more like a club than tuition, especially if the learning involves games, quizzes, songs and prizes.
Where can I find one?
Any Google search of ‘tuition centres near me’ is likely to give you heaps of choice. Our independent reviews of tutor agencies also include some tuition centres – written in our usual candid style, these in-depth reviews give you the low down on all the finer detail and what customers really think of them.
Some examples are:
Kumon is among the best known. The 70,000+ students learn at 650 study centres across the UK and Ireland. They are given daily worksheets in English and/or maths tailored to the student’s ability, then they attend the tuition centre once a week where they are assessed and sometimes tested, moving up the levels. The business is franchised.
Explore Learning has 95 centres around the country, mainly located in shopping centres so parents can shop while their children learn. They offer support in maths and English and 11-plus. More recently, they’ve started covering GCSE maths either in-centre or online.
Teachitrightoffers mainly 11-plus tuition for groups of up to 10 children. These classes take place in 16 centres (schools, community centres and libraries) across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey – and there’s a franchise in Birmingham.
What to look out for
Trying it out - Is there an opportunity for a trial run? And once you’re signed up, how long are you tied in?
Assessment – How do they assess your child and tailor the work they set to their specific needs?
Class size – If the work is done in classes, what is the maximum size? Some sense of camaraderie, and bouncing ideas off each other, can make the learning more fun – but what you don’t want is your child getting lost in the mix and learning nothing.
The tutors – Don’t assume tutors are trained teachers. With Explore Learning, for example, tutors are rarely qualified teachers and more likely students or mothers returning to the workplace, although all are trained in the teaching materials and behaviour management.
Teaching resources – Some tuition centres are workbook based, while others get children learning on computers or in tutor-led classes. Work out which will be most beneficial to the way your child learns.
Teaching style - How do the tutors interact with the children? Do they motivate them? Do they try to make the learning fun?
Reviews and recommendations – A fancy brochure or website shouldn’t be enough to win you over. Read reviews (including ours) and testimonials and talk to other parents whose children have tried it.
