(Updated September 2025)
Educational MOTs and Tutoring (online or in-person)
Contact Details
Contact details must be kept up to date to allow effective communication. These details must include a contact number and an email address.
Payment
For tutoring, students are allocated a regular weekly lesson time and tuition is expected to take place at this time (unless otherwise arranged). An invoice will be issued prior to any booked session (tutoring/MOT) with payment details, and will continue to be sent on a monthly basis for tutoring clients (due on the 1st/15th of each month). If payment has not been received at least 48 hrs in advance of a lesson, a reminder message will be sent and tutoring sessions will be withheld until payment is made.
For Educational MOTs, sessions will be scheduled as either one longer session or two shorter sessions, depending on the age and needs of the student. A £10 non-refundable deposit is required to secure each booking, with the remaining balance payable no later than one week prior to the appointment. For bookings made within one week of the appointment, full payment is required at the time of booking. Failure to make full payment by the end of the working day preceding the appointment will result in cancellation of the session.
All payments are recorded and declared on a yearly tax return.
Cancellations
Tutor Cancellation
If we need to cancel a session (tutoring or MOT) for any reason, there will be no charge to parents. We will aim to reschedule the session, but if this is not possible, all monies (including the deposit) will be refunded.
Parent Cancellation
Tutoring lessons cancelled by parents with less than 48 hours’ notice must still be paid for, as we are unable to offer the lesson to another student from the cancellation list. MOT sessions cancelled by parents with less than 48 hours’ notice will be charged at 50% (less non-refundable £10 deposit).
We reserve the right to terminate tutoring if lessons are cancelled frequently (three or more times in a single term). In such cases, the slot may be offered to a student on our waiting list. In addition, if more than two lessons are cancelled in a term, any further cancellations (made outside the 48-hour notice period) will be charged at 50% of the session fee.
Termination
If a parent wishes to terminate regular tuition sessions, we require two weeks’ notice either in person or in writing. This ensures that notice has been properly received and avoids the need to charge for future missed lessons as per the cancellation policy. It also allows us to say ‘goodbye’ to students properly and wish them well.
Your child’s weekly tutoring lesson will be fixed at a particular day and time for the current school session, and while we try to ensure the same day and time will be provided into the next session (after summer break) this cannot be guaranteed. Requests can be made (by parents) at any time of the year for a change of day/time, and we will do our best to accommodate.
Progress
Feedback (Tutoring)
At the end of each lesson, verbal feedback will be given to the parent/guardian.
The first tutoring lesson will be a ‘getting to know you’ session, designed to build a positive working relationship. It will include a series of activities to identify the approximate level the student is working at, in the area(s) requested by the parent. These checks are not a substitute for an Educational MOT (they do not provide age equivalences or highlight the most significant areas for focus). An Educational MOT is always recommended prior to tutoring to ensure teaching is targeted effectively.
Parents are welcome to observe their child’s first tutoring session, but for subsequent sessions we ask that you wait outside (or drop off and return) unless otherwise agreed. This helps reduce the number of adults entering the house and minimises the spread of illness. All materials and equipment (pencils, erasers, etc.) are provided, though children may bring their own water bottle.
Progress Disclaimer (Tutoring)
Whilst we endeavour to ensure that the student makes satisfactory progress, this cannot be guaranteed, and we cannot be held accountable for academic outcomes.
Feedback (Educational MOT)
At the end of an Educational MOT, verbal feedback will be given on the child’s general performance. A written report and learning plan will be emailed to parents within one week.
The range of assessments in an Educational MOT will vary depending on the age and needs of the student. Each MOT is designed to indicate potential and show the level the student is currently working at in literacy and/or numeracy (using standardised scores and age equivalences). Although every effort is made to provide reliable feedback, external factors on the day (e.g. the student’s mood or focus) may affect results. The feedback provided is not a diagnosis of additional support needs and should not be taken as such. Instead, it highlights the student’s strengths and development areas and offers strategies for parents and educators to support learning.
An Educational MOT should NOT be used in place of a psychological assessment.
Time keeping
Tutoring
Unless otherwise arranged, all tutoring lessons are 55 minutes in duration with 5 minutes feedback at the end. Clients are responsible for ensuring that students are ready to learn on arrival. Lessons will end promptly at the designated time to allow the next student to receive their full session. If you wish to discuss your child’s progress in more detail, please use the first or last few minutes of the lesson. Longer discussions can be arranged at a separate time.
Please be courteous and avoid arriving early, as this interrupts the lesson before yours. Similarly, children must be collected promptly at the end of their lesson to avoid disrupting others.
Behaviour
Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children behave appropriately. We reserve the right to cancel any bookings where behaviour is unacceptable. In such cases, the full lesson fee will still apply.
Summer Tutoring
A block of summer tutoring consists of four lessons, usually scheduled once per week as agreed at the time of booking. Unless otherwise arranged, each lesson lasts 55 minutes with 5 minutes of feedback at the end.
Each summer lesson requires a non-refundable £25 holding fee payable at the time of booking. An invoice for the remaining balance will be issued prior to the start of the block. A minimum of 72 hours’ notice is required to cancel a lesson, otherwise the full lesson fee will be charged.
Health and Safety Measures
(Educational MOT) Clients should not attend appointments if experiencing cold-like or Covid symptoms. A free rebooking service is available in such cases.
Data Protection
We care about your privacy and want you to feel confident about how we store information concerning you and your child. Paper records from assessments are transferred into a secure, password-protected account before being shredded. We hold email addresses and phone numbers in a password-protected account for the purpose of informing you about dates, classes, and session changes. All records relating to you and your child are destroyed two years after their final session.
Special Requests
We reserve the right to charge for special requests. Our administration fee is £35 per hour.
Educational MOT 