For Parents
Questions Every Parent Should Ask Before Choosing a Tutor
8 minute read
Choosing a tutor is a bit like choosing a nursery, driving instructor or professional adviser.
Most parents do not know what questions to ask because they have never had to choose a tutor before.
Good questions help you understand not just what a tutor knows, but how they work.
Key ideas
- Good tutoring begins with good questions.
- Parents should feel confident asking about safeguarding, communication and progress.
- A professional tutor welcomes thoughtful questions.
- The right questions help you recognise professional practice.
How do you usually begin working with a new student?
This question tells you how thoughtfully the tutor begins.
Look for answers that include getting to know your child, understanding their confidence, identifying priorities and building trust.
Be cautious if the tutor only talks about starting immediately with worksheets or content.
Good tutoring begins with good questions.
How will you know whether tutoring is working?
Progress is not always visible as a test score straight away.
It might show through confidence, independence, willingness to try, stronger habits or fewer moments of panic.
A professional tutor should be able to explain what they are looking for and how they will review progress over time.
How do you communicate with parents?
Clear communication matters.
Ask how often you can expect updates, what those updates usually include and how the tutor prefers to communicate.
You do not need a long report after every lesson, but you should not feel left in the dark either.
A tutor who welcomes thoughtful questions is usually confident in their professional practice.
What happens if my child is struggling?
This question helps you understand whether the tutor adapts.
Every learner gets stuck sometimes. What matters is how the tutor responds.
Do they slow down, explain differently, ask better questions, rebuild confidence or adjust the plan?
A professional tutor should not be surprised by struggle. They should know how to work with it.
What training or professional development have you completed recently?
Great tutors never stop learning.
Ask what the tutor has done recently to develop their practice.
This might include safeguarding training, subject-specific development, SEND training, mentoring, professional reading or membership of a professional community.
What safeguarding arrangements do you have?
This question matters.
A professional tutor should be able to answer clearly and calmly.
Ask about DBS checks, safeguarding training, online safety, professional boundaries and what they would do if they had a concern about a child.
Safeguarding should never feel awkward to discuss.
Choosing the cheapest tutor before understanding the value they provide. A lower hourly rate does not always mean better value if the tutor lacks structure, professionalism or appropriate safeguards.
What happens if tutoring is not working?
This may be the most important question of all.
Good tutors are not defensive when something needs to change.
They review, adapt, discuss concerns honestly and, where appropriate, suggest a different kind of support.
A tutor who can talk openly about what happens when things are difficult is usually a tutor you can trust.
Listen to the answers carefully.
The content of the answer matters.
So does the way it is given.
Do they sound thoughtful?
Do they ask about your child?
Do they explain clearly?
Do they make you feel more confident about the next step?
After speaking to a tutor…
Did you leave understanding how they work, or simply knowing how much they charge?
The best tutors welcome good questions.
Parents should never feel embarrassed about asking questions.
Professional tutors expect them because trust is built through clarity, not guesswork.
The Qualified Tutor Quality Mark was developed to help parents recognise tutors who have demonstrated a commitment to professional standards.