For many primary schools, tutoring funded by the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) will be their first experience of tuition not delivered by their own staff.
After several conversations with schools in my role as head of one of the 33 NTP Tuition Partners – and a former teacher myself – I understand that school leaders are keen to maximise the opportunity.
Here’s how primary schools can make the most of the tuition on offer through the NTP, support the outstanding work their teachers already do, and ensure students receive the greatest possible benefit from the programme.
Advice for first-timers
Every NTP Tuition Partner offers something different: some are using university graduates as tutors while others like ourselves, use qualified teachers. Some offer group sessions, while others deliver one-to-one tutoring. Each of these approaches are grounded in extensive evidence that shows tutoring is one of the best possible interventions to help raise attainment. As a school leader, your priority should be choosing a tuition partner that works best for your school’s circumstances and your pupils’ needs.
Almost all NTP providers offer online tuition. Certain partners - like TLC LIVE - specialise in online tuition, while others are delivering offline sessions online in this period of school closures. You could consider if you’d like tutoring to carry on being delivered online when schools do reopen to all pupils, or if you’d prefer the option of face-to-face sessions when it’s safe to do so.
Similarly, it’s important to assess the resources and delivery methods of the different tutoring options. We have found greater success drawing from a large bank of bespoke content designed for online delivery which is then adapted to each student’s needs. If you aren’t sure what type of content the provider is offering, ask to schedule a demonstration. Most providers offer these for free, and they are a great way to identify whether their approach is right for your students.
When can we get started?
After choosing a provider, school leaders often ask how quickly they can begin and what they can do to expedite the process. Each provider will have their own onboarding process, but most partners can get started within days. For example, our online set-up process enables us to begin delivering lessons within 24 hours of sign-up.
To ensure everything goes smoothly on the school’s end, it’s important to identify the specific students who stand to benefit from the programme and the areas they should focus on. Tuition Partners always work closely with the teachers and the tutoring complements classroom learning already happening.
Tuition is a partnership
The success of tutoring is based on clear, two-way communication between the Tuition Partner and the school. I would advise teachers to take any opportunities offered to communicate with their students’ tutors, especially early on, and to reach out if they ever have questions or concerns.
Mutually agreed targets – ideally, quantifiable attainment goals which are ambitious but realistic – are a time-tested way of ensuring students benefit from tutoring. Many schools choose to track student progress using their existing data capture and monitoring systems, to ensure the data doesn’t fall through the administrative cracks. Alternatively, some tutoring providers have their own systems which integrate with a school’s existing approach. In either case, it is essential to ensure both parties understand the metrics that will be recorded and where they will be stored, before the first session.
Just as schools brief the tutor at the beginning of the process, tutors should provide feedback to schools after the block of 15 NTP-subsidised sessions is over. Teachers should inquire about areas where the student still needs support, especially any new knowledge gaps that the tutor has discovered.
The right place and the right time
Consistent attendance is crucial if students are to benefit from tutoring, but understandably, some students might be resistant to additional academic work. Fortunately, tutors can offer greater flexibility than schools when it comes to scheduling. Tuition Partners are willing to arrange different times and dates to suit student needs, and even change tutors if necessary, to ensure that the student feels as comfortable as possible.
At TLC LIVE, we have found that students engage best with tutors during the school day, especially before lunch. Given that schools are already moving to remote learning, it should be possible for students to switch between teachers and tutors while learning from home. It’s up to teachers whether they would like the tutors to support the current topic they are studying or reinforce previous subjects.
One downside to students working remotely is that it is harder for schools to monitor attendance. School administrators will need to create a system to ensure that students attend, potentially involving drop-ins by teachers or follow-ups with tutors after each session.
The right solution for your school
Every school is unique, and the advantage of the NTP is that the school can decide for itself how best to utilise the support it offers to address their students’ needs. For instance, we have noticed that primary schools are sending students with very specific requirements, such as support for year one phonics. The group of 33 NTP providers offers a broad range of options, and I’m confident that there’s something on offer which will suit every school’s need.
Get the most out of sessions
- Understand how your provider delivers sessions. Every provider is different, so consider a trial session to see if their style is right for your students.
- Communication is key. Regular, two-way communication between teacher and tutor ensures the sessions cover only the relevant material and avoid repetition. To maximise tutoring time, teachers should offer guidance on what each student needs to cover.
- Know what you want – and how to measure it. The school and the tutor should agree on the desired outcome of the sessions, and they should set out a way to quantify improvements in each student’s attainment.
- Students need to attend to benefit. Tutoring works best when delivered in a sustained block at a regular time each week. Use the tutoring provider’s flexibility to find a time that works for each student to ensure that they’re focused and getting the most out of the sessions.
Simon Barnes, CEO & founder of online tuition firm and NTP Tuition Partner TLC LIVE.
