Will your child get online tutoring this year at school?
You may know of children receiving online tutoring through school or heard about the different government catch-up funds available this academic year, but do you know what funding is available, which option is best for your child or your school, and what the money can be used for?
Available Funding
For the 2021–2022 academic year, the government is offering three types of funded catch-up support through schools:
- The National Tutoring Programme
- School-led Tutoring grants
- Academic mentors
1. The National Tutoring Programme
What is it? The National Tutoring Programme is a continuation of last year’s programme and is available through approved partners. Schools can book tutors through approved NTP partners for focused support in small groups or 1:1 in the case of SEND pupils.
How much does it cost? This year 70% of the cost of tuition is covered by the NTP, with schools covering the remaining 30%.
Who is it for? Pupils in state-maintained schools in England selected by their school because they have been disadvantaged by the pandemic lock down and would benefit from some focused support.
Are there any restrictions? Maximum of three students per tuition block. At least 65% of students must be pupil premium. Tuition is limited to one subject per student.
2. School-led Tutoring Grants
What is it? – The Department for Education has provided funding directly to schools to support provision of school-led tutoring. The amount that schools receive is proportionate to the number of Pupil Premium students on roll. Schools can use external tutoring organisations to provide the tutors, whether they are NTP-approved or not.
How much does it cost? For the 2021/2022 academic year, the grant covers 75% of the cost of tuition with schools contributing the remaining costs.
Who is it for? Pupils in state-maintained schools in England selected by their school because they have been disadvantaged by the pandemic lock down and would benefit from some focused support. Are there any restrictions? No – students can have unlimited sessions in multiple subjects.
3. Academic Mentors
Academic mentors are part of their school’s staff team and are supported and managed by their school to deliver tutoring that is appropriate, timely, and linked to their curriculum. They will receive a core salary funded by the DfE. For more information visit gov.uk.
How effective is tutoring?
Pearson Tutoring has been proven to work. Last year, from an average initial assessment score of 37%, students improved to an average of 64% on their final assessment.
Pupil Premium students showed even greater increases in assessment scores with an 80% improvement for Year 11 students and a 90% improvement for Year 6 students.
One of the hardest things for students who have been disadvantaged by disruption to their learning during the Covid pandemic is that many have lost confidence and have disengaged from their learning. Through Pearson Tutoring in the 2020/2021 academic year, over 45,000 tutor ratings showed that pupils had high levels of confidence, understanding and engagement in sessions:
- 72% Confidence
- 76% Understanding
- 85% Engagement
One of those pupils is Jasmine at Woodlea, who commented: “I love tutoring! I like how every activity is fun and I like it because it’s not just like the average English lesson… When I do a subject in class, I feel like I’m so much more confident.”
And it’s not just the pupils that benefit. Online tutoring can take the pressure off teachers who would otherwise be providing small group intervention work alongside regular teaching. Adele Key, Deputy Head at Woodlea Primary School said: “It’s taken a lot of workload off me as the class teacher, as I always plan [small group tuitions on top of lessons] and the other teachers deliver it but it’s meant we’ve also not had to put that extra pressure on staff because we’ve used online tuition instead”.
More about Pearson Tutoring
Pearson Tutoring are offering tuition through the National Tutoring Programme and direct to schools (with the potential to use school-led tutoring grants):
- Qualified, experienced UK teachers who work with your teachers
- Flexible booking – school-time, breakfast clubs, evenings, weekends
- Dedicated set-up support – get up and running within a week
- Quality interactive experience via Bramble’s online platform
- Standardised quality lesson materials and assessments
- Reporting and feedback to ensure progress is captured
What is available from Pearson Tutoring: NTP?
How much does it cost? £270 per 15-hour block (£900 unsubsidised), which could work out at just £6 per student, per session based on a 1:3 tutor to student ratio.
Which subjects and levels do you cover? Years 4–9 English and Maths (including Year 6 catch-up for Year 7 students), and GCSE English, Maths and Science.
Who are your tutors? All our tutors are fully qualified, experienced teachers
What is available from Pearson Tutoring: Direct to Schools?
How much does it cost? £187.50 per 15-hour block (£750 unsubsidised), which could work out at just £4.17 per student, per session based on a 1:3 tutor to student ratio.
Which subjects and levels do you cover? Years 4–9 English and Maths (including Year 6 catch-up for Year 7 students), and GCSE English, Maths and Science
Who are your tutors? All our tutors are fully qualified, experienced teachers
