The Growing Demand for Tutors
School is not enough. In 2023, the Sutton Trust found that 30% of students had worked with a tutor — a number that rises every year. Emotionally based school absence (EBSA), special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and growth in home education are all driving this trend. More families than ever are turning to tutors to bridge gaps and personalise learning. As parents seek personalised support for increasingly complex learning needs, the demand for tutoring continues to grow.
Parents today face many challenges. Class sizes are large, and teachers are under increasing pressure to deliver a full curriculum. Not every child thrives in this environment, which is why tutoring has become essential. Tutors provide personalised, flexible support tailored to the learner’s pace and needs.
Yet tutoring remains unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a tutor. To become trusted partners in a student’s journey, tutors must do more than simply show up. They must demonstrate professional integrity by upholding safeguarding standards, staying informed, and developing their skills.
Why CPD, Safeguarding and Certification Build Trust with Families
Tutoring works better when there’s trust. Families want more than subject knowledge — they need confidence that their tutor is professional, ethical and committed to doing their best work for each and every student. In an unregulated sector, professional integrity is key. CPD, safeguarding and certification are the clearest hallmarks of trust and professionalism.
CPD ensures tutors remain at the forefront of education. From understanding neurodiversity to using the latest digital tools, continuous learning allows tutors to meet each student’s unique and evolving needs with confidence. As Julia Silver, author of Love Tutoring: Be the Tutor Your Student Needs, reminds us, tutors who see themselves as professionals and commit to ongoing learning can make the greatest impact.
Being a Trusted Adult
The role of the ‘Trusted Adult’ is at the heart of what it means to be a tutor. In today’s educational landscape, where more students are experiencing gaps in learning and emotional wellbeing, tutors are more than educators — they are supporters, mentors and anchors of stability.
Imagine a student struggling with emotionally based school absence. A trusted tutor can provide consistency, encouragement and a safe space to rebuild confidence. Over time, this support can transform not just academic outcomes, but emotional wellbeing too.
For students with SEND, EBSA or those who are home educated, having a trusted adult who understands safeguarding, adapts to their needs and models professionalism is transformative. This is why CPD and certification are not optional — they are vital tools that help tutors step confidently and safely into this important role.
Final Thought: Join a Movement for Professional, Ethical and Impactful Tutoring
Tutoring is essential — but in a largely unregulated sector, it’s up to tutors to raise the bar. By embracing CPD, safeguarding and certification, and by joining a professional community, tutors do more than improve their own practice. They help shape the future of tutoring.
Joining Qualified Tutor means more than earning certification. It means joining a like-minded community of tutors who believe in raising standards together. Through peer support, shared resources and collective efficacy, members not only improve their own practice but also contribute to the professionalisation of tutoring as a whole.
Qualified Tutor exists to support this mission. Join today and access the resources, training and network you need to thrive — and to lead with confidence as a trusted tutor.