What are our expectations around reliability?
Being reliable is important for your students and helps ensure lessons run smoothly.
You should:
Attend lessons on time and teach for the full 55 minutes.
Avoid missing lessons and free video meetings.
Be proactive if you are unable to attend a lesson or are experiencing issues. Let the parent know or contact us as soon as possible.
Check your calendar before accepting lesson slots and only accept lessons you know you can attend.
Keep your availability up to date so you can manage your workload.
What are our expectations around lesson preparation?
Tutors should be prepared and ready to deliver engaging lessons.
You should:
Follow our Tech Requirements policy to make sure you have the correct setup.
Deliver lessons from a laptop or computer. Mobile phones cannot be used to deliver lessons because the lesson space is designed for laptops and computers.
Contact our support team through Live Chat if you experience technical issues with your laptop or computer.
Plan lessons in advance and prepare resources and activities for the full lesson.
Make sure you are confident teaching the subject and exam board before accepting a lesson.
What are our expectations during lessons?
During lessons, tutors should create a safe, focused and positive learning environment.
You should:
Have your camera and microphone on during lessons. You can switch your camera off while waiting for your pupil to enter the lesson space.
Teach from a suitable location that is quiet and private.
Do not teach from unsuitable locations, including beds, cars, cafes, restaurants, shopping centres, public transport or university libraries.
Do not deliver lessons while attending university classes or lectures.
Do not deliver lessons while overseas, including short holiday breaks or longer periods.
Remember that lessons are recorded from the moment you enter the lesson space and students can view recordings.
Focus on your student and avoid distractions, such as using your phone or speaking to other people.
Be polite, patient and encouraging. Remember that some students may need additional support to build confidence.
If you experience behaviour issues with a student:
Speak to the parent.
For school lessons, leave details in the lesson report.
Contact our support team so we can provide further help.
What are the expectations for tutor communication?
Clear and timely communication helps lessons run smoothly.
You should:
Let parents, students or us know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend a lesson or are experiencing issues.
Respond to messages promptly, including when declining requests.
Keep communication on the platform so we can help keep everyone safe and secure.
Use clear grammar and spelling, including in lesson chat. Avoid text abbreviations or informal shorthand.
Respond promptly if Support contacts you, for example, to confirm details about an issue or a discretionary refund.
What should I include in lesson reports?
Lesson reports help track student progress and allow cover tutors to prepare for lessons.
Your lesson reports should:
Provide helpful information about what was covered in the lesson.
Include details that help another tutor understand the student’s progress and next steps.
What should I do if a student or parent does not attend a lesson?
If a student or parent does not join a lesson:
Send them a message to check whether they will be attending.
If they do not respond or confirm that they want to continue lessons, cancel any upcoming lessons to prevent further missed lessons and charges for the parent.
How can I get support if I am struggling to meet these expectations?
If you need support meeting tutor expectations, contact us through Live Chat.
We are here to support you and help you have the tools and confidence to be the best tutor you can be.
You can also work on your professionalism with our short training module.
What happens if I do not meet tutor expectations?
If you consistently fail to meet our tutor expectations:
Our Tutor Quality team will investigate and follow up with you.
Parents or schools may request a new tutor.
In some cases, we may decide that we can no longer work with you.
If a student asks you to complete coursework or sit an exam on their behalf, and you are unsure how to respond, follow our guidance on academic integrity and tutor expectations.
You can find more helpful information in the articles below: