In May 2020, Tutor Trust began its first ever pilot of online tuition, providing support to pupils at 6 partner schools, including Norman Pannell Primary School in Netherley, Liverpool. The Tutor Trust’s partnership with the school is in its second year, and as part of the online pilot, 19 pupils receive Maths and English tuition on a 1:1 basis.

One of the pupils is Ruby, in Year 5, who began learning from home when school closed to her in March as part of the government’s COVID-19 response measures. Our tutors have been delivering their sessions using the interface platform Bramble. Our online pilot has a rigorous process of monitoring and evaluation including lesson observations and quality checks.

Ruby’s mum Emma commented on her daughter’s experience of online tuition on social media. She tweeted: “Ruby started her online tuition today and loved every minute. Thankyou for putting her forward for this.”

The headteacher at Norman Pannell, Rob Simpson, valued partnering with us for the online tuition pilot:

“The Tutor Trust online pilot has been a real positive that has come out of the difficulties of extended school lockdown. Our Y5 and Y6 children have responded so enthusiastically and the children are loving the sessions from home.

“As we all get used to the new technology, this partnership with Tutor Trust enables our children to continue to learn in a fast-paced, meaningful and enjoyable way, which is so important as they approach Y6 or transition into secondary education from September.”

                                 

Ellie Cross, the tutor assigned to pupils at Norman Pannell, is a Creative Writing and Film Studies student at Liverpool John Moore’s University. She is from Knotty Ash in Liverpool and this is her second year of working with Tutor Trust. She tutors in primary, as well as secondary English and Maths. Ellie is one of our Advanced Tutors, meaning she has demonstrated sustained high-quality tuition and reliability in her time working with us. Ellie had this to say about her experience of online tuition:

“Working with the students of Norman Pannell through online tuition has been a very rewarding experience so far. Each student I have worked with is passionate about learning and eager to adapt to the new style of tuition. With each session being 1:1, I have had the opportunity to work with the topics that individual students find challenging and I am able to find interactive games/activities to help their understanding.

Being online is a nice opportunity for the student to have a creative space away from their daily lives to explore English and Maths problems. One parent has told me that it has given their children a routine again which, with the absence of schools, is very important in the current situation.