I can’t make my Schools Programme lesson, can I get cover?

It's really important that you try to attend every single lesson you have with your pupils on the Schools Programme. Continuity will help them to build a good relationship with you, and they will benefit from being taught by someone who has an in-depth understanding of their academic needs each week.

However, we understand that in some situations, you may be unable to attend one of your lessons, and require a cover tutor.

Check out our Schools Programme Cancellation Policy for more information on what MyTutor expects from tutors in the event tutors can’t make their lessons.

To cancel a schools lesson:

1. Click on your bookings tab and identify the tutorial you wish to cancel
2. Click the 'Edit' button, then click 'I can't make this lesson' from the drop-down menu
3. A pop-up will appear that confirms the date and time of the tutorial you have requested to cancel
4. Select 'Cancel Lesson' to confirm the cancellation
5. Once you've cancelled the lesson, you will need to submit a cover report (see below)

Writing cover reports:
You are required to submit a cover report for any lesson you cancel. This is important as it tells the cover tutor what to work on and ensures minimal disruption to your pupils learning.

If the lesson you cancel is your next lesson with your pupil, you will be prompted to write the cover report when you cancel the lesson. If you are not able to write it at the time that's fine, you can write it later from the prompt on your Bookings page.

If the lesson is not your next lesson together, you will be prompted to write the cover report after you complete the lesson before the one you've cancelled.

I am being blocked from cancelling my lesson:

If you’re unable to attend the first session with your pupil, you will have to cancel all of your lessons with that pupil. We want you to build a brilliant rapport with your pupil – we’re sure that you’ll agree that missing your first lesson is not the ideal start to ensure this. 

What happens if my pupil doesn't attend the first lesson? 
As long as you remain in the lesson the whole time, you will still be paid. You will still be able to cancel the second lesson in the slot if you really need to, as a pupil not attending is out of your control. 

What about A level lessons? 
A Level pupils have messaging enabled on their accounts. In these cases, you should message the pupil explaining why you are not able to make the lesson and also email tutors@mytutor.co.uk so we can cancel the lesson.  Once you've agreed on a new time, email tutors@mytutor.co.uk and we will get that booked in for you.

What if my A level pupil isn't replying? 
Please wait until 3 hours before your lesson is due to start for your A level pupil to reply.

If they don't reply in time, please get in touch by phone (020 3773 6020) and we will reschedule the lesson to be at the end of the slot. Once your pupil does reply, we will then move that lesson to the agreed time. It's really important you get in touch with us, otherwise, the lesson will go as missed. 

There's a limit on the number of lessons you can cancel in a slot. This is 20% of the entire slot (e.g. 2 out of 10 lessons). If you require more cover than this, you will risk losing the entire recurring slot. You should always review the timings of a slot before accepting.

If you are ever unsure of what action to take, email tutors@mytutor.co.uk and we'll be happy to help!

Please note that we will make a note of all cover requests on your profile, which could impact future slot allocation. A cover session can disrupt your pupil's learning which can have a knock-on effect on their engagement. Therefore we really stress that you make every effort you can to attend these sessions.