Some pupils need a level of support in English and/or Maths which cannot be delivered in the context of a whole class or small group and will benefit, at key moments, from an intensive burst of individual tuition, which the teacher can guide and reinforce but does not have the time to deliver.

Tuition typically benefits pupils who have not secured a particular skill, for example: 

• Failure to grasp a concept

• Difficulty in transferring a concept into practice

• Learning has faltered because an essential piece of prior knowledge is missing

One-to-one tuition addresses personal and internalised processes and involves equipping the learner with:

• Appropriate strategies

• New ways of thinking about a problem

• Self-help routines 

• Fixing old misconceptions

The success of the programme

Since starting, the programme has reached the half a million mark nationally for tuition starts. This means that schools have made a real difference for over 500,000 pupils since September 2009 - a significant achievement. Findings are very positive and the tuition appears to have been particularly effective for pupils with the lowest prior attainment. Outcomes for pupils receiving free school meals and with special educational needs are very encouraging and Dorset impact data (pdf, 222kb) (opens in a new window) from 2009-10 confirms this.

One-to-one tuition has proved to be a very successful form of intervention for pupils of all ages. The majority of pupils who have received tuition have shown accelerated rates of progress, as well as greater confidence and engagement in their learning. The gains have been immense for individual pupils and in terms of whole school improvement. One-to-one tuition has been extremely popular with pupils, parents and teachers.

The one-to-one tuition programme has also led to improvements in the skills and capacity of the educational workforce. There are now many trained and experienced tutors who have developed very effective methods of tuition and can offer something unique to the education of children and young people. The best tutors address academic needs and also enable the pupil to develop as a critical learner and a more confident individual. This year (2010-11) Dorset schools have delivered tuition to over 4,300 pupils.

With the funding for one-to-one tuition no longer linked to an allocated number of tuition places following the demise of the grant provided by the government, schools now have full autonomy as to how the funding is used. Dorset schools, having seen the impact of one-to-one tuition, will continue to deliver the programme, alongside other interventions aimed at maximising pupil progress.

Further information

If you are interested in becoming a tutor or are already registered as a tutor and want further information please see our tutor information pages.

Please note that we are not able to offer specific advice or recommendations regarding private tuition.

• Local Authority Lead for One-to-one Tuition Programme
  Name: Jane Stanier
  Email: j.m.stanier@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 224557
  Fax: 01305 224348
  Full details for Jane Stanier
• Administrative Officer
  Name: Mrs June Hamon
  Email: j.hamon@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 224557
  Fax: 01305 224348
  Full details for Mrs June Hamon