After the trial, four simple points help lessons start well. Because the fee is already agreed, this checklist is about the lessons themselves.
What is the schedule?
Choose a day and hour that suit the family each week. Lessons are usually about 1.5 hours per class.
- Which day and hour will lessons fall on each week?
- What will happen during school exams, holidays and festive periods?
An original example: a family picks Wednesday at 8 pm and tells the teacher that the trial exam falls in week six. The teacher plans that week with them.
How many classes a week?
More than one class a week is possible when it is needed and the teacher has time.
- Would one class a week be enough, or would two help before an exam?
What will the lessons cover?
Lessons can follow the school syllabus or focus on topics you choose.
- Which topic should the first month focus on?
- Should lessons follow the school syllabus, or work on chosen topics?
A good plan names what the student should be able to do, not only what will be covered. The like-for-like progress view helps compare marks fairly between papers.
What about progress?
You can ask the teacher for a monthly progress review.
- When is the first review, and what will it look at?
How do you record the answers?
Write the agreed points in three or four lines and send them in a message, so both sides have the same version.
| Item | Agreed |
|---|---|
| Day and hour | |
| Classes a week | |
| Topics or syllabus | |
| First progress review |
What if the teacher is not the right fit?
You can ask for another teacher. Tell the team what you noticed, and they will arrange one.
The after-trial reflection and discussion checklist and the guide on deciding after a trial help you weigh what you have seen.
For what the trial covers, see the one-hour trial class, and for the rate, the fees page. Back to decisions.