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Canopus

Becoming a private tutor

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I'm thinking about becoming a private tutor, but I'm not sure how to go about it properly.

 

1. Is it better to go it alone or join one of the tutoring companies?

 

2. Do parents highly value teaching qualifications? Would you personally be happy using somebody who doesn't have a teaching qualification?

 

3. Is a CRB check essential?

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Canopus

 

I would think a CRB check would be a good thing to have but I don't think it's essential - I'll ask around and get back to you.

 

Having a teaching qualification would not be required so long as you have a good standard of education (I think you have a degree) and teach subjects that you have qualifications in.

 

I think you would probably get some replies if you advertised in the local press - but look for online forums where you might be able to advertise as well.

 

What age range were you thinking of? Also you'd probably find that you need to buld up a client base slowly - word of mouth is a wonderful thing.

 

Some areas of the country are crying out for tutors - let us know how you get on.

 

Barefoot

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Hi I think it would be worth getting a CRB check done even if it is not compulsory.It is not too difficult to apply and some parents may preffer you to demonstrate that you have had one.Many organisations now ask for one -even for parents helping on school trips.Karen.

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After a couple of recent scandals where paedophiles with teaching qualifications were found to be teaching children on a 1:1 basis I am pretty sure a CRB check is essential. No reputable agency would hire anyone who didn't have a CRB check and to be honest no responsible parent shouild hire anyone they don't know well to be in this kind of a trust position with their children unkess thay have passed the CRB checks.

 

You might want to ring an agency and see what they say.

 

Simon

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After a couple of recent scandals where paedophiles with teaching qualifications were found to be teaching children on a 1:1 basis I am pretty sure a CRB check is essential. No reputable agency would hire anyone who didn't have a CRB check and to be honest no responsible parent shouild hire anyone they don't know well to be in this kind of a trust position with their children unkess thay have passed the CRB checks.

 

Is it possible to get a CRB check if you work self employed?

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Is it possible to get a CRB check if you work self employed?

 

Normally they send a copy to you and your employer. I can't see any reason if you put private tutor and your own address they won't send you one. The problem is their validity period and places will normally only accept one that is done for them in particular now days. I have a silly number of checks for the last year some only a couple of weeks apart. They are fairly expensive though. It might be a bit more fun filling it in if your doing everything yourself. I think there is a helpline number. You could always ring up and ask about it.

 

EDIT: Now checked actual site. Ignore this post and check new post below.

Edited by David Matthew Baker

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Is it possible to get a CRB check if you work self employed?

No it's not. It has to be done through an employer, so in this case an agency. You would not be able to get an independent check (but if you went privately and a parent wanted it, they could put in a joint application with you as your employer).

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I have noticed that some tutors advertise they have a CRB check, and others don't. I'm wondering if those that don't are less likely to be selected by parents. I have thought of a back door way to get a CRB check via some people I know who work in the Asperger community.

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No it's not. It has to be done through an employer, so in this case an agency. You would not be able to get an independent check (but if you went privately and a parent wanted it, they could put in a joint application with you as your employer).

 

Just had a look and I don't think you can even do it as a joint application. Here is what it says on one of the pages of the Criminal Record Bureau's site:

 

The current legislation does not allow the self-employed or individuals to apply for a CRB check on themselves. In addition, parents who employ a nanny/au pair/babysitter directly cannot apply for a CRB check; however, if an agency supplies the nanny/au pair/babysitter, the agency is entitled to carry out a CRB check.

 

http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=381

 

Unless your with an agency or did some voluntary work somewhere that required a CRB it would be very difficult to get one. If you have time to do some voluntary work checks are free to volunteers and I'm sure assistance would be greatfully welcomed.

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As far as I know, a registered body - ie an employer, or agency - has to pay a hefty fee to the CRB in the first place to join up. Then an individuals forms are sent to them on that agency's behalf.

 

Any agency worth their salt will expect someone working with kids to have a CRB check for them - and probably won't accept one that has been done for another agency. There are also different levels of checks.

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I've been CRB checked for my job, but when I volunteered for another activity, I needed to be CRB checked again. I wouldn't be happy about sending my children, or anyone else's, to a tutor that hadn't been.

It also depends on what age group you intend to work with, the younger, the more protective and wary parents tend to be. Were you planning on teaching from your home, or seeing children in their homes?

It's not an easy way to make a living, especially at first, so you want to have as many skills and reassurances to offer as possible if people are going to trust you and ultimately, pay you.

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Canopus, it id not a good idea to put your friends in an awkward position by asking them to do something not entirely legitimate.

 

This is something you definitely need to look into in detail before deciding to go ahead. Contact a few agencies and ask them what qualification you would need. I would have thought a teaching qualification would be very useful, but if you intend to teach sacondary-aged children, a degree in your chosen subject may be adequate.

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Canopus, it id not a good idea to put your friends in an awkward position by asking them to do something not entirely legitimate.

 

I don't quite understand what you are saying in this statement.

 

This is something you definitely need to look into in detail before deciding to go ahead. Contact a few agencies and ask them what qualification you would need. I would have thought a teaching qualification would be very useful, but if you intend to teach sacondary-aged children, a degree in your chosen subject may be adequate.

 

I'm not actually sure if I want to work through an agency that takes a cut of my pay. I intend to teach mainly KS4 level material. Technically a teaching qualification is unnecessary, but I'm just wondering what parents think is and isn't important.

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I don't quite understand what you are saying in this statement.

I'm not actually sure if I want to work through an agency that takes a cut of my pay. I intend to teach mainly KS4 level material. Technically a teaching qualification is unnecessary, but I'm just wondering what parents think is and isn't important.

 

" I have thought of a back door way to get a CRB check via some people I know who work in the Asperger community. "

The phrase 'a back door way' implies the possible use of less than legitimate methods to obtain something you want.

If you are working with 14+ year olds, you may find that parents are less worried about you being CRB checked than parents of younger children. They may also be more enthusiastic about you having specialist subject expertise than about a general teaching qualification. I presume you are aiming at the GCSE/A level market? Depending on where you are based, you could also go for independent school candidates.

Beginning with an agency isn't a bad strategy, you can always leave once you know the ropes and have made contacts.

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The phrase 'a back door way' implies the possible use of less than legitimate methods to obtain something you want.

 

No it doesn't. It can mean an unofficial way, or a way not usually used by most people. It doesn't mean a dishonest or illegal way.

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Canopus, it id not a good idea to put your friends in an awkward position by asking them to do something not entirely legitimate.

I don't quite understand what you are saying in this statement.

 

Well, now you do! I'm sure we're all delighted that you are going to be unorthodox rather than not totally legal, but that is how some would interpret your original post, and I think that's what Tally meant.

So your speciality...what are you planning on offering? Maths, Sciences, ICT, particular languages...all very marketable.

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Hi canopus -

 

My own thoughts on this would be to go through an agency if you can to get the CRB check, or through the voluntary work channels suggested. Being on an agency's books would actually be a good way of starting up and a small number of agency bookings each week would provide a basic income while your private work expanded. Yes they would take a cut, but if they came up with plenty of work (and their rates of pay would be considerably better than independently negotiated ones at the outset, i guess) that would be a moot point, and if they didn't you would still be able to network privately with a CRB check from a 'reputable' (in terms of tutoring, I mean) source.

CRB checks are, as DMB pointed out, ridiculous at the moment - everyone wants one and they have to be done by their own organisation rather than 'trusting' the ones people have from previous occupations. That's in some ways a good thing, but a huge pain in the bot for someone trying to work independently.

Once you have a CRB check, you can 'advertise' that, but qualify it face to face with prospective clients: 'I am CRB checked by the (whatever agency) and/or the (whatever voluntary service)'

 

L&P

 

BD :D

Oh - good luck with it, BTW :thumbs:

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The phrase 'a back door way' implies the possible use of less than legitimate methods to obtain something you want.

No it doesn't. It can mean an unofficial way, or a way not usually used by most people. It doesn't mean a dishonest or illegal way.

With CRB, your check is only related to that particular employer. To get it though other means (whether you consider 'back door' to be legitimate or not), invalidates it for the work you are doing. If a teacher, with a CRB check at a particular school, moves to a new school (even if it was next door), they would have to get another CRB done.

 

Getting your CRB through an agency makes that check valid for anyone you tutor where the arrangement is set up by that agency. If you went to a second agency, you would have to get another check. If you built up a network and took on private clients, you would not be covered for tutoring them by any agency CRB check. Hence, you need to build up contacts and a reputation first, and the best way of doing this will be through an agency (who will also be able to sort out any issues that arise of complaints, payment, tax etc.). As Baddad says, you'll probably be on a higher payrate through an agency, so won't notice much difference in your take home pay. Plus you will have less to worry about with your tax self-assessment forms. Many agencies, as well as vetting you, vet the people you will tutor: this means you are less likely to unwittingly enter dangerous situations.

 

I've done a bit of tertiary level tutoring in my subject - the difficulty I found was that people expected that paying for tutoring meant paying for an A grade. This isn't the case and you need a way (and I think an agency would help here) of making expectations (for poth parties) clear.

 

I'm interesting in you tutoring KS4 - you will probably need some experience of GCSEs and different examination boards. You might find it helpful to have some experience in examination marking (contact the exam boards) as this will give you a better idea of where you are working towards (unfortunatly people who pay for tutoring generally want teaching to the test) and will make you more attractive to potential clients.

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Canopus, I must have misunderstood what you meant. I thought a "back door" way meant a way that was not legitimate, or exploited a loophole in the law. I thought you were going to ask your friends who work in the Asperger community to help you get a CRB check by falsely claiming you are working or volunteering for them, and then use the certificate to present to parents wishing to hire you as a private tutor. I thought your friends may feel pressured to agree to it even though they feel uncomfortable doing it, or they may refuse but worry that this will upset you or damage your friendship.

 

My opinion is that it would be easier and simpler to start out working for an agency, because then you won't have to negotiate pay yourself, chase up non-payments, or deal with complaints, tax-returns, or any other paperwork that may be involved. If you don't want to do this, you could contact an agency and pretend you want to work for them, and ask what qualifications they are looking for. This would give you an idea what qualifications parents consider important.

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With CRB, your check is only related to that particular employer. To get it though other means (whether you consider 'back door' to be legitimate or not), invalidates it for the work you are doing. If a teacher, with a CRB check at a particular school, moves to a new school (even if it was next door), they would have to get another CRB done.

 

I have done some investigation into this. It is true that a CRB check is only active for the employer you are working for. An independent tutor saying they are CRB checked is technically a liar and possibly contravening the Trade Descriptions Act. I'm wondering how many parents are aware of this.

 

Canopus, I must have misunderstood what you meant. I thought a "back door" way meant a way that was not legitimate, or exploited a loophole in the law. I thought you were going to ask your friends who work in the Asperger community to help you get a CRB check by falsely claiming you are working or volunteering for them, and then use the certificate to present to parents wishing to hire you as a private tutor. I thought your friends may feel pressured to agree to it even though they feel uncomfortable doing it, or they may refuse but worry that this will upset you or damage your friendship.

 

There is nothing wrong with exploiting a loophole in the law. I happen to know a few senior figures in the AS community including those who work at a university. I was planning on asking them to get me a CRB check on the grounds of proposing to offer me a job in the future involving visiting children. This is 100% legal and they would be happy to go along with it, although the CRB check wouldn't be officially valid if I worked self employed.

 

My opinion is that it would be easier and simpler to start out working for an agency, because then you won't have to negotiate pay yourself, chase up non-payments, or deal with complaints, tax-returns, or any other paperwork that may be involved. If you don't want to do this, you could contact an agency and pretend you want to work for them, and ask what qualifications they are looking for. This would give you an idea what qualifications parents consider important.

 

I shall talk to a few of the agencies to find out what they can offer me and any advice they have.

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