What Are the Key Benefits of Online Tutoring?

23/06/2023 / Online Tutoring

Children face several challenges in education, including end-of-year tests such as SATs, 11 plus examinations and GCSEs. In addition, general learning can be affected by a number of external factors, from teacher strikes and staff absences to a lack of resources in schools. With all these things to consider during a child’s education, private tutoring can benefit students in numerous ways.

There’s often a misconception that tutoring is a last-resort solution to help a child get over the finish line. However, this is not the case. Tutoring provides additional support and guidance and can help boost confidence in learning to ensure students progress well and excel in the end-of-term or end-of-year exams.

Why consider online tutoring?

There are different types of private tutoring available in the UK. Some offer one-to-one or group on-site sessions. But the alternative growing in popularity is online tutoring. This style of education opens up a broader range of benefits for students and parents.

Tutoring bridges the gap between school and home learning, building confidence and knowledge to succeed in many subject areas. What’s more, your child doesn’t have to be struggling to find this support helpful. It can boost performance in a number of ways and take the pressure off around exam time.

So, what are the main online tutor benefits children can take advantage of? Below, we look at how this type of tutoring can be essential to a student’s success inside and outside the classroom.

Convenient lesson scheduling

Alongside their parents, children have busy schedules and commitments after school that clash with traditional-style tutoring. Online tutoring offers a flexible solution to this. Lessons can be tailored to convenient times, and the flexibility even means a child can study back-to-back subjects before or after school.

Sessions can be completed anywhere

Another of the main online tutor benefits is the flexibility of location. There’s no set time or place to be as everything is completed over the internet. That means you could be on holiday or at home and still receive the best teaching without travelling.

Tutors are available to support students

Sometimes, the frustrating thing with general education is that lessons cover universal learning and often don’t cater to those that require extra support or assistance. The same can also happen with students that excel in subjects and find lessons are not engaging. But with an online tutor, your teacher is available to guide you and support you at whatever level of learning a child is at. The session is tailored to the student, so there’s no rushing through subjects and expecting specific results.

Fewer distractions and perceived expectations

Classrooms are full of distractions, and this can lead to slower learning and missing important steps in the curriculum. In addition, some students find traditional lessons intimidating and may withdraw from engaging due to feeling insecure or awkward about speaking or working with other students. The difference with online learning is that you take all this out of the equation. It’s a private learning situation where no question is too simple or complex.

Puts education in the student’s hands

Instead of spoon-feeding the curriculum to pupils, online tutoring enables students to take their learning into their own hands. Tutors can guide children to take responsibility for their education, as they have no control over what the child does at the other end of the session. Trust is built within sessions, so the student understands they must put the effort in to ensure this partnership provides the best outcome.

Cost-effective learning

Online tutoring can be more cost-effective than traditional private tutors as you don’t have to factor in external costs such as travel and resources. That means every penny you spend is going towards the quality of the tutor. Finding an online tutor is also easier as there’s a host to choose from because you don’t need to choose one specifically in your local area. This cuts research time and allows you to weigh up the benefits and costs of tutors easier than ringing around traditional options.

Fun and engaging lessons

Traditional tutoring has its constraints, as there are limited ways to create an engaging environment, for example, in someone’s home. In comparison, online tutors benefit from using technology creatively. In these sessions, teachers have a wealth of resources available to them, from video conferencing software and collaborative whiteboard tools to digital writing resources and learning management systems such as Canva and Blackboard.

These different types of tools enable a variety of learning strategies as tutors incorporate quizzes, forums, real-time collaboration on projects and easy submission of assignments.

Encourages wider use of technology

Most children know how to use technology, more so than many adults these days. However, rather than just scrolling social media or watching YouTube, online tutoring develops a wider set of skills when using a computer or laptop. The collaborative nature of this type of study provides access to a number of tools such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Google Docs and Grammarly, to name a few.

Tutors will also give access to online resources that help a student progress with their studies and enable them to present work confidently. These skills are invaluable to pupils inside and outside the classroom. When they progress, they can put these into practice for future studies and learning.

Access to experts

As you are not limited by location, a broader range of experts is available in specific subject areas. Online tutors are available to provide exactly the support your child needs and have proven experience in the subject. This is ideal for students who require specialised learning strategies for individual subjects. For example, if required, qualified maths teachers are on-hand for maths sessions according to grade level. So, if you need GCSE Maths specifically, there’s access to trained tutors who deliver this subject and have expert knowledge of how to succeed in this exam.

Improves confidence

The school setting can feel daunting for some children, so hiring a private tutor is a great way to build confidence. When students understand a subject area, they feel more relaxed and confident in it, and this is a major online tutor benefit. Studying with a teacher online enables a child to discuss the subject and ask questions in a less formal way.

Students often don’t feel intimated about asking what they deem silly questions, so this helps to break down barriers in engagement. In addition, this confidence boost is also taken into classroom settings, as pupils feel better about talking and questioning in front of others.

Real-time feedback

Instead of waiting days, sometimes weeks, for results or feedback on test papers or mock exams, online tutors provide quick turnarounds on your progress. This enables

students to move on to the next chapter of their learning without feeling anxious about whether they’re on the right track or not.

Again, if there are improvements to be made, this can be looked at more quickly, and any areas that prove challenging are tackled immediately.

Tutors available for all levels

Online tutoring isn’t just available for older children looking to pass their exams. Tutors are on-hand at all levels, from primary to A-level education. There are also specialist teachers suitable for 11+ exams and adult learning.

Whichever stage your child is at, even if they require additional assistance in a specific area of the curriculum, there is a tutor suitable to meet their needs. In some cases – like at Principal Tutors – online tutors are pupil-matched, so you have the right person for your child’s ability and needs. This helps to build a strong partnership and brings a tailored approach to learning.

Improves academic performance

In most cases, hiring an online tutor benefits students because of the tools, resources and knowledge to gain higher grades in specific subject areas. This bespoke style of teaching covers every aspect of how a child learns, from helping them understand the subject matter to preparing them for an exam. Overall, this approach garners an improved outcome in examinations and boosts confidence levels in other areas to help pupils prepare and excel across the board.

Supports children with learning disabilities

With limited resources and staffing levels in UK schools, children with different learning needs may find general education teaching and resources challenging. However, hiring a private online tutor can help students take on various subjects and concepts to improve learning and exam outcomes. This one-to-one time also gives pupils a chance to feel comfortable asking questions and communicating their personal challenges and requirements.

How to choose an online tutor

While many online tutors are available, selecting the best person for your child’s needs is important. There are a few considerations to make during this process, such as cost, expertise and availability. For example, at Principal Tutors, all our online tutors are qualified teachers with high school and college experience.

With this knowledge and experience available, finding the right tutor for your child is simple. This makes it easy for parents and children to take advantage of the

numerous online tutor benefits. If you’d like to learn more about our services, call our team on 0800 772 0974 or book an online tutor today.