Safe Tutorials
Tutors listed on this website are self-employed, and build their reputation by logging hours, ratings and reviews from their students. The vast majority are upstanding citizens, but without wanting to be all 'doom & gloom', please bear in mind the following safety advice.
Have a good look at a tutor’s rating and reviews
How other students rate and review a tutor is the best indicator of the service you can expect. In addition, a tutor’s profile also shows you how many hours they’ve logged. This information, along with their written profile, will help you to judge a tutor’s suitability.
Does the tutor have a background check?
Tutors can show on their profile that they have obtained a background check, i.e. the police or another official agency has checked if they have a criminal record, and have found nothing to suggest that they should not work with children. As we are unable to verify background checks, we recommend that you ask your tutor for evidence of their background check at your first lesson.
In some states/countries a background check is compulsory for those who want to tutor children. For example, background checks are compulsory in Australia (e.g. see 'Working with Children Check', Victoria). In New Zealand, a background check is not compulsory (see Ministry of Justice, New Zealand).
Meet where there are other people around
It’s very common for tutorials to occur in your home. That’s part of the attraction of hiring a tutor - they can come to you! Make sure other family members are around at lesson times, and while a quiet part of the house is best, do keep things within earshot.
If your home is reasonably far away from the tutor, mutually convenient public venues like a café or library are a great option for tutorials.
Lastly, if the tutor hosts lessons from their own home, make sure you’re completely comfortable with the arrangement. Perhaps ask to speak with one of their current students (or parent) for a reference.
Don’t share your home address until you’re satisfied
Wait until you’ve agreed with a tutor to have a first lesson. If a tutor wants to know your address more accurately, i.e. to better determine how far they’ll have to travel to your home, you could give them a nearby street name or landmark.
If something seems fishy, let us know
We aim for tutors listed on this website to be of the highest standard. If you think a tutor is behaving unethically, cease communication with them and let us know ASAP.
And remember: if you ever find yourself in a situation where your personal safety is threatened, don't hesitate to contact your local police or emergency services.