What Does a Primary School Tutor Do?

A primary school tutor is a professional who offers additional training or guidance outside of the primary school classroom for students in need of such attention. The tutor may work for the school itself, or he or she may work independently; most tutors offer tutoring services in one or two subject areas, though some may offer tutoring in all subjects covered during primary school education. The primary school tutor will work exclusively with children of the primary school age, which usually means students up to 13 years of age.

While the general concepts learned during primary school tend to be more basic, students may struggle with the material, especially if class sizes are large and the student is not afforded enough one on one attention. A primary school tutor can offer additional instruction and guidance above and beyond the instruction offered by the lead teacher. Unlike the teacher, however, the primary school tutor generally will not write lesson plans to deliver to the student. Instead, the tutor will identify areas of weakness in the child's learning and work exclusively on developing those weaknesses. The tutor may also work with the student on specific assignments he or she must complete within a given timeframe.

If the primary school tutor works for the school itself, he or she is likely to meet with the lead teacher to discuss the student's strengths and weaknesses, and develop a plan for addressing the student's needs. The tutor may or may not have access to a student's special education files, if such files exist, but a collaboration with the lead teacher will allow the tutor to make the appropriate accommodations regardless. The primary school tutor will generally be paid an hourly wage by the school if he or she works in such a setting.

Some tutors work independently of the educational institution and can be hired on a freelance basis. The tutor will therefore need to advertise his or her services and come up with a reasonable rate for potential customers. The primary school tutor usually won't have access to the student's teacher, so assessments must be done independently to find out the student's strengths and weaknesses. Most tutors will have a college degree in a particular area of study, and some will have teaching credentials as well. This ensures the tutor will offer quality services and have a solid understanding of the educational process as well as specific teaching strategies that will benefit the student.