SOUTH COAST TUTORS – TERMS AND CONDITIONS
GROUP COURSES (see later for 1:1)
How we work
Though we have a broad plan based on the syllabus that needs covering, tutors will plan for each group based on how they are coping with the topics they have studied already.
For 11+ classes we concentrate first on Maths and English, introducing verbal reasoning around February whilst starting on test papers at about the same time.
For older students, we are usually happy to help with questions they bring to lessons, particularly past paper GCSE and A level questions, but will avoid actually doing their school homework for them. It can be helpful to email the teacher with specific questions or topics that your child is struggling with. For KS3, GCSE and A level, students need to have a maths set and a scientific calculator with natural display or whichever calculator their school recommends for A level.
For GCSE, we need to know which board the school uses (Edexcel, AQA or OCR) and which level students will be entered for e.g. foundation or higher.
For A level, we need to know which board the school uses (Edexcel, AQA, OCR A or OCR B(MEI) ) and whether they are taking internal exams in year 12 or the AS level.
For Grammar prep/11+/13+ we need to know which school/s the children are aiming for.
Homework Each week we usually expect students to do some work based on the topics we have been covering. This is often based on past GCSE or A level exam questions for KS4/5. KS3 students are sometimes given GCSE Foundation questions, worksheets or work from the Dr Frost Maths site or similar. Primary/11+ students are usually given access to the Bofa11+ and KS2 site for homework. Parents can help by making sure sufficient time and effort is given to this work as it is at least as important as the work done during the lesson and that it is brought to the next lesson.
Our students need to be willing to work hard and consistently throughout the year to ensure their success which is ultimately down to them. Students taking the Grammar tests should practice test papers over the summer holidays and we recommend the GL packs 1-3 as we generally don’t do much from there. Students need to be organised enough to do any homework I set and remember to bring their file or books and calculator to lessons, where appropriate. We will provide feedback if student’s behaviour or attitude is not acceptable or is preventing good progress and reserve the right to stop future lessons if the behaviour continues, refunding any lessons paid for but not received.
Please arrive and collect your child on time. We cannot always be flexible as we have other students booked in. Parents collecting their children from the church normally wait outside in the carpark so that we can finish smoothly and we will send your child out of we can see you from the door. For any lessons taking place at a tutors home, they will advise if you need to come to the door or if the same arrangement can occur.
Mobile phones Unfortunately, we sometimes need to answer calls briefly during lessons or check texts are not from the next student to arrive. Students phones should be on silent unless there is a special reason for them not to be.
PAYMENT I invoice termly in advance for group tuition or in full for revision courses as I have a commitment to pay the tutors and any venue hire for an agreed course. Where needed, and agreed in advance, I can accept half termly or even monthly instalments but this does not remove the responsibility to pay for the term’s classes in full. Places on courses running over several weeks can be held, for new students, with a deposit covering two lessons (of each subject if Maths and English), with the remainder due at the end of lesson 2 (4).
CANCELLATION POLICY Experience has shown that tuition is most successful when pupils attend regularly as I often revise topics over a few weeks to reinforce learning. Please keep absences to a minimum. Students will not receive a refund for missed lessons. Should I receive an email about the absence, I will try to reply with some information about the topics they have missed. If there is a space in another group which is appropriate to use as a catch up class then we will try to arrange that. If the cancellation is due to severe/contagious illness or emergency we may agree to a refund, offer the opportunity to join online or provide a recorded online lesson to make up for the missed one.
In the rare event that we need to cancel a lesson, you will have the pro rata credit for that lesson applied to your next invoice or refunded. We do try to cover the lesson with another of our experienced tutors before cancelling.
NOTICE OF CESSATION OF TUITION Once any agreed trial period is over, a commitment is required until the end of a term. For courses continuing into the next term, please could you advise by the last lesson of term if you do not wish to continue. Students currently enrolled have first option on the next terms courses but, if their invoice is unpaid on the due date, may lose their place to a student on the waiting list.
1-1 with AMELIA ROOD (Tutors to whom I recommend you may have their own terms and conditions and you enter into an agreement with them individually)
How I work
My teaching style is flexible and depends on each tutee. Some students need support on current school work whilst others need to revise other topics. The first few lessons are spent assessing what needs to be covered and how to do so.
We may work together to make notes and examples that your child keeps to refer to for revision and help with homework. It is helpful if I can have a copy of the school’s scheme of work for the year so I know what maths topics have been covered recently and what is planned. You will usually need to ask your child’s teacher for this. I am happy to help with questions they bring to lessons, particularly past paper GCSE and A level questions, but will avoid actually doing their school homework for them. Students need to have a maths set and a scientific calculator with natural display or whichever calculator their school recommends for A level.
For GCSE or IGCSE, I need to know which board the school uses (Edexcel, AQA or OCR) and which level students will be entered for e.g. foundation or higher.
For A level, I need to know which board the school uses (Edexcel, AQA, OCR A or OCR B(MEI) ) and whether they are taking internal exams in year 12 or the AS level.
Homework Each week I expect students to do some work based on the topics we have been covering. This is often based on past GCSE or A level exam questions. Younger students are sometimes given GCSE Foundation questions, worksheets or work from the Dr Frost Maths site. Primary students are usually given access to the Bofa11+ and KS2 site for homework. Parents can help by making sure sufficient time and effort is given to this work as it is at least as important as the work done during the lesson and that it is brought to the next lesson.
My students need to be willing to work hard and consistently throughout the year to ensure their success which is ultimately down to them. They need to be organised enough to do any homework I set and remember to bring their file or books and calculator to lessons. I will provide feedback if student’s behaviour or attitude is not acceptable or is preventing good progress and reserve the right to stop future lessons if the behaviour continues, refunding any lessons paid for but not received.
Please arrive and collect your child on time. I cannot always be flexible as I have other students booked in. When arriving, you should be able to see if I am already teaching as the room is visible from the front of the house. If I am, please do not ring the bell until your lesson time. Parents collecting their children normally wait outside in the car so that we can finish smoothly and I will send your child out of we can see you from the door, but feel free to ring the bell if you would like to chat to me in the last few minutes of the session.
Mobile phones Unfortunately, I sometimes need to answer calls briefly during lessons or check texts are not from the next student to arrive. I would prefer that students are only receiving important calls too and that phones are not continually pinging. Before 11am, and after school on weekdays or Saturday mornings is not the best time to ring me unless it is urgent.
CONTACT
Here are my contact details for when you need to discuss lessons and your child’s progress: Amelia Rood, 177 West Way, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 9LG Mobile 07714 238801 tel. 01202 383558 e‐mail amelia.rood@southcoasttutors.co.uk Your individual tutors phone numbers should be on your invoice.
1-1 STUDENTS -AMELIA
PAYMENT I invoice half termly in advance for private tuition. Parents have the chance to agree the session times and arrange alternative dates before paying the invoice at or before the first session of the series. I do not usually tutor in half terms or holidays but where such sessions are arranged, payment for each additional lesson will be due at the agreed lesson unless sufficient are booked to invoice.
CANCELLATION POLICY Experience has shown that tuition is most successful when pupils attend regularly as I often revise topics over a few weeks to reinforce learning. Please keep absences to a minimum. I reserve the right to charge for missed lessons and late cancellations as tutoring is how I make my living. Demand for tuition is high and I frequently turn people away.
Parents must contact me to rearrange or cancel lessons. Please tell me as soon as possible when students cannot attend lessons so that I can plan my work schedule properly with preferably at least 7 days’ notice. This may give me time to offer your child’s slot to any other students who can’t make their usual slot that week, or I can offer the slot to ‘Standby students’. With 7 days notice I will agree to a cancellation and refund the fee as a credit on the next invoice. With at least 48 hours notice I can usually offer an alternative slot. With less notice, I am unlikely to be able an alternative slot but will if one is available.
Where I am unable to offer an alternative slot, the lesson fee will be forfeited. However this is your time and I am happy to use the time to look over any work you can drop over or send via email and set work for the child to do before the next session or help via phone or skype if appropriate. If the cancellation is due to severe/contagious illness or emergency and/or sufficient notice is given for me to fill your child’s slot with another student and I do not spend the time supporting your child remotely, I may wave or reduce my fee.
In the rare event that I need to cancel a lesson, you will be given the option of an alternative session if possible or to have the credit for that lesson applied to your next invoice or refunded.
NOTICE OF CESSATION OF TUITION Notice is 10 days – either side. This usually gives a chance for a final lesson. Should you give notice in the middle of a block of paid for lessons, I will refund any remaining sessions which have been paid for. Please can you phone or speak to me in person to ensure that I have received your notice unless you have received a reply to an email sent.