Have these ready before you dial
- Your child's year or grade, school system and, if you know it, the exam board or state test.
- The last school report, and one or two recent pieces of work, especially writing.
- Any fixed dates. If the exam is in May and you want your child ready by March, say so on the call.
- What you have already tried, and why it did not work. A tutor who kept dropping off the call is useful information.
- When your child can actually do lessons, in your own time zone, around school, clubs and your work.
Questions about the teacher
- Can I meet the teacher before we commit? You should be able to see who will teach your child and hear about their background.
- Will it be the same teacher every lesson? A child who has to start again with a new face every few weeks loses rhythm.
- How are teachers chosen, and what share of applicants are accepted? Vague answers like "all our teachers are great" are not an answer.
- What checks are done before a teacher meets a child? Ask exactly what. References, interviews and a sample lesson are things you can ask about by name.
- How does the teacher handle a playful child, or one who gives up quickly? Listen for firm but kind, not shouting and not endless patience with no plan.
In England, GOV.UK guidance for parents suggests asking any tutor what checks they make, whether a tutor working alone has a DBS check and can show evidence of it, and for their child protection and complaints policies. Those are fair questions to ask a provider abroad too.
Questions about the curriculum and school
- Do you teach my child's actual system? British, American and Canadian schools all teach differently, and Nigerian teaching is different again.
- Will you use the methods my child's school uses? If the school wants maths set out a certain way, the tutor should teach that way, not undo it.
- Will you look at my child's school work and homework? The Education Endowment Foundation finds tuition works best when it is explicitly linked to normal lessons.
- Can you explain what the school is asking for? If you are not sure what SPaG or a reading level means, a good tutor will tell you in plain words.
Questions about assessment and progress
- Do you assess my child before teaching? The point is to find the specific gaps, not to start at page one of a textbook.
- Will I get a written report after every lesson? You should never have to ask your child what happened.
- Can I watch lessons back? Recordings let you see the teaching for yourself.
- How will I know it is working after six weeks? Ask what they expect to have changed and how they will show you.
How long, and how often?
Parents often ask whether one hour a week is enough. The Education Endowment Foundation's review of one to one tuition found the strongest effects from short, regular sessions, about 30 minutes, three to five times a week, over a set period of up to ten weeks. That research is mostly about tuition in school, so treat it as guidance, not a rule.
My practical advice: regular beats long. Two shorter sessions a week usually do more than one long one, and a weekend marathon followed by a quiet week does least of all. Ask the provider what they recommend for your child's goal and why. If the answer is simply "more", ask again.
Changing teacher, trying first, paying and stopping
| Ask | A good answer | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Can we try before committing to months? | A clear way to start small and see. | Pressure to buy a large block on the call. |
| What if the teacher is not the right fit? | You can change teacher, and they say how quickly and at what cost. | "That won't happen", or a fee to switch. |
| How do I pay, and what does it include? | One price per lesson, with nothing hidden. | Extra charges that appear later for reports or assessment. |
| What happens if my child is ill? | A written notice rule you can live with. | No rule, or the lesson is simply lost. |
| How do I stop? | A plain answer, in writing. | No clear way out. |
| Who arranges lessons, and who contacts my child? | Everything goes through you, the parent. | The teacher asks to message your child directly. |
| Who do I contact with a concern? | A named email or number and a quick reply. | Nobody in particular. |
Write the answers down during the call. If you are speaking to two or three providers, the notes make the comparison easy and stop the friendliest voice from winning by default.
If you are calling Masani
Our free 15 minute call is for exactly these questions. Masani lessons are one to one and online, with carefully vetted Nigerian teachers. Only the top 3% of applicants are accepted, and before a teacher meets any child we take up references from two past employers, two interviews and a mock teaching session. Lessons run on Google Meet with links issued by Masani, everything is arranged with the parent, and you get a written report after every lesson and skill by skill progress tracking in a parent portal. With your consent lessons are recorded, viewable only by you, the teacher and Masani staff. You can change your child's teacher at any time, free, no questions asked.
Quick answers
What should I ask a tutor before hiring them?
Ask whether you can meet the teacher, whether it will be the same teacher every lesson, what checks they have passed, whether they will teach to your child's school methods, and how you will hear about each lesson.
Is one hour of tutoring a week enough?
It can help, but regular matters more than long. The Education Endowment Foundation found the strongest effects from short sessions of about 30 minutes, several times a week, over a set period.
Should a tutor contact my child directly?
Lessons, scheduling and feedback should be arranged with you, the parent. Be wary of any tutor who asks to message your child privately.