A day in the life of a TP Tutor

Working as a tutor helps you change young people’s lives while taking more control of your own.

Hear from our tutors

Our passionate tutors are dedicated to helping students of all ages and skill levels achieve their academic goals.
Read what they have to say about working for TP Tutors.

“A typical day with TP Tutors is busy but manageable. There is a large variety of needs to plan and deliver lessons for, which gives me an enjoyable challenge and keeps my day fresh and interesting.

TP Tutors feels different from other tutoring services as I feel supported all the time, and the consultants have always delivered on their promises of providing regular hours. On the rare occasions when any issues have arisen, the consultants have always been quick to resolve them. The flexible working that is offered is supportive of maintaining a work-life balance and recording procedures are straightforward. In my experience, these were the hardest parts when working in a full-time fixed role.

The best part of working for TP Tutors is the flexibility in teaching and autonomy over my plans and approaches. I enjoy working with diverse young people and teaching various lessons each week. Success stories include helping a young person re-integrate into school and another improving significantly in science after weekly sessions.

I was inspired to become a tutor as I feel that I can have a greater impact as a teacher to the young people who really need that extra support and understanding. I have also been able to return to my ‘roots’ working with young people who have SEND and other complex needs. TP has shaped my approach to tutoring by providing the opportunities and support to begin and go on my tutoring journey with confidence.

If I could give any advice to prospective tutors registering with TP Tutors, it would be to take the ‘plunge’ as it will be worth it. There is the element of the unknown in terms of hours and work available. However, I have experienced very few periods where there has not been regular work.

I feel that flexible working has really helped me to regain a work-life balance after life as a full-time primary school teacher. The consultants have been great in understanding any needs or requests. I feel like I have a large part of my life and myself back, whilst still being able to make a difference to those who need it.

The CPD academy is supportive in providing both mandatory training as well as extra opportunities that can further enhance your career. There are some free opportunities and discounted course offers. There is also advice available to help with your tutoring sessions. There are regular offers of additional courses throughout the year as well, such as behaviour management training.”

“In my role with TP Tutors, each day presents a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of my students. From the moment I step out after the morning rush hour to visit four young people Monday to Friday, to the challenges of creating a supportive learning environment for each individual, my journey with TP Tutors is filled with meaningful interactions and rewarding outcomes.

Take, for example, my work with Student W, who, despite a tough early life and high anxiety has made remarkable COVID-19, our transition from remote learning to face-to-face sessions in a library setting has been challenging yet rewarding. By adapting our approach and utilising distance learning methods initially, we gradually built a foundation of trust and confidence, leading to notable progress in their functional skills in Maths and English. Furthermore, my online sessions with Student Y, who lives 50 miles away, highlight the importance of technology in bridging geographical barriers and providing access to quality education. Through collaborative online platforms, we work together to achieve academic goals, with Student Y demonstrating strong motivation and a desire for progress. Then, there’s student Z, preparing to leave school with significant academic gaps and a dislike for traditional academic work. By incorporating their work experiences into our curriculum, we’ve seen remarkable growth, with Student Z now excelling in areas previously considered challenging, leading to a rewarding offer of paid employment at their work placement.

Reflecting on my experience with TP Tutors, it’s not just about the individual successes, but also the supportive and collaborative environment that sets this organisation apart. The team’s friendliness, approachability, and commitment to student success have not only empowered me as a tutor but also enabled me to make a meaningful impact on the lives of my students. The online initial assessment program and the Leap platform streamline administrative tasks, allowing me to focus on what truly matters: student progress and engagement.

Moreover, the flexible working arrangements provided by TP Tutors have been transformative, allowing me to maintain a healthy work-life balance and approach my role with enthusiasm and dedication. The CPD Academy further enriches my professional development, ensuring that I stay abreast of best practices and continue to enhance my skills as an educator. As a teacher of nearly 30 years, working for TP Tutors has allowed me a new enthusiasm and enjoyment for my job.“

“My typical working day consists of different types of English, Psychology and Humanities lessons with different students. I teach online and my students all come from different backgrounds and have different learning goals.

On a daily basis, I prepare lesson plans or learning modules for tutoring sessions according to students’ needs and goals. Also, I develop teaching or training materials, such as study materials, tests and quizzes, and retrieve past exam papers. Then I have a lesson with a student, which normally lasts for an hour. Typically, I have 4 lessons a day.

Each student has their own custom learning plan that I tailor to their particular wants and needs. Some students are assigned a Group Assessment to be completed in the first session. I use the Bramble platform, alongside Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.

While I am teaching, I question my student to see if they really understand the work, as a way of encouraging them to think independently. I provide feedback to students using positive reinforcement techniques to motivate them and build their confidence. I teach students study skills, note-taking skills, and test-taking strategies. I review class material with students by discussing the text, working solutions to problems, or reviewing worksheets or other assignments.

Working as a tutor gives me the opportunity to help young people eager to learn and I’m so glad to have the chance to instil useful knowledge. It is really rewarding seeing my students thrive.

At the end of the lesson, I complete a Session Report which consists of the lesson overview. I make a record if the student was Absent or Present. Then I fill in the Learning Objective, record the student’s level of engagement and describe the learning. Finally, I complete the Additional Comment Section.”

“The best part of being a tutor is how varied each week can be. Every 24 hours will hold something new, but each day ends with a deep feeling of reward.

Tutoring gives me an unparalleled flexibility to organise my life. I can spend two hours tutoring children from the comfort of my own home one day. Then, when I feel like getting out of the house, I’ll head to a primary school on the Wirral to tutor face-to-face.

The job frees you from the need to get up early and fight your way through morning traffic, allowing you to start your day the way you want. For example, I’ll rise at 7.30am to work on the Music degree I’m studying for, so by the time my first online tutoring session starts at 10, I’m awake, motivated and ready to teach.

These sessions are no less powerful for taking place online. You can still build that close connection with the pupils and watch those lightbulb moments happen, plus the digital assessment platform makes it easy to keep track of their progress.

I’ll then travel to my next tutoring destination on the Wirral to help small groups of Year 6s improve their maths skills. Travelling is much easier out of rush hours and TP Tutors often help with travel costs.

Those sessions are a joy. The children are so much more receptive to what they’re learning than they would be in a big classroom. I also enjoy the challenge of adapting to their different learning styles and seeing what clicks. The hours just fly by, before it’s back on the road, homeward-bound, for another online session at 5pm.

When this ends at 6pm, I’m feeling that sense of reward and motivation, and the rest of the evening is time for me to do what I want, whether that’s work out, play an instrument, or prepare some teaching materials for the next day’s tutoring sessions.

Working as a tutor allows you to find your own ideal daily routine while still making a really deep impact on children’s lives. I would highly recommend it to any educator looking to assert a bit more control over their working lives.”