Tutors International recommends private tuition for school children taking extended term-time holidays.
Following the recent court victory of a father overturning the fine he received for removing his daughter from school during term-time for a family break [1], Tutors International recommends private tutors as a solution beneficial to both schools and families.
Adam Caller, who founded the global tutoring agency in 1999, said of the case:
“There is no law against taking children out of school during term-time, however, if more parents begin to regularly remove their children from school during the academic year, academic results of children and the schools in general could suffer.”
A break from the academic environment can give a much needed boost to students, even those with excellent grades and attendance. Children can respond positively to a break in academic routine and the freedom to explore new cultures and environments. However, it is important that their learning is not disrupted during these periods and, while some students may return refreshed and refocused, there is the risk of some children struggling to catch up on what they have missed when they return to classes.
Mr Caller adds: “It is also a challenge for schools to maintain results and consistency in their delivery of curriculum when children are disappearing from class for weeks at a time. As a result, headteachers are often reluctant to approve term-time absences, which often leads to penalties if parents decide to proceed without this authorisation. Tutors International is seeing a huge increase in demand for short-term private tutors under these circumstances, particularly when parents’ work commitments mean that their schedule often conflicts with the academic timetable.”
Since they were founded in 1999, Tutors International has successfully placed qualified, high-quality tutors to families in a variety of situations, from temporary one-off placements to full-time positions.
Private tutors provide a one-to-one learning environment for children, allowing them to explore new surroundings and have fun with family, while also providing reassurances for parents and teachers back at home that their academic needs continue to be met.
Tutors International have placed many travelling tutors with families that regularly take their children out of school – with the permission and support of the school. The tutors work with the students’ teachers to plan lessons while out of school, incorporate unique educational opportunities into the curriculum during their trip, communicate regularly with the school on progress and review progress after returning to school.
Reference
[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/11937117/Parent-wins-term-time-fine-victory-after-taking-daughter-to-Disney-World.html, Parent wins term-time fine victory after taking daughter to Disney World, Nicola Harley, 16 October 2015
