If your pupil hasn't joined the lesson, don't worry. Pupils can sometimes be late or miss a lesson completely. Follow the guidance below to make sure you're paid correctly and know what to do next.
How long should I wait for my pupil?
If your pupil hasn't joined within the first 30 minutes of the scheduled lesson, they're unlikely to attend.
If your pupil joins within the first 30 minutes, continue the lesson as normal for the remaining time. You'll be paid for the full hour.
If your pupil doesn't join within the first 30 minutes, you're free to leave the lesson space after the 30-minute mark. You'll be paid for 30 minutes of your time.
The 30 minutes is measured from the scheduled lesson start time, not from when you join the lesson space, so joining early doesn't extend this time. For example, if your lesson starts at 10:00 am, you don't need to stay after 10:30 am if your pupil hasn't joined.
What should I do while I'm waiting for my pupil?
Stay in the lesson space while you're waiting for your pupil. The lesson recording starts as soon as you enter, even if your pupil hasn't joined yet.
While you're waiting, you may receive an in-lesson cover opportunity. This happens when another pupil is waiting for their tutor, and you're matched to deliver their lesson instead.
If you accept the cover lesson, you'll receive an additional £10 for delivering it without preparation.
Do I need to let MyTutor know if my pupil doesn't attend?
You don't need to let us know if your pupil doesn't attend the lesson. Teachers monitor pupil attendance, and we'll follow up if a pupil appears to be struggling to attend lessons.
You can also download our PDF guide, How to solve common pupil issues and keep it on your desktop for future reference.
You can find more helpful information in the articles below: