When Should You Get a Maths Tutor for Your Child? A Parent's Decision Guide

Watching your child struggle with mathematics is hard. You want to help but aren’t sure how. Should you hire a tutor? When is the right time? What should you look for? These questions weigh on many parents. While tutoring can be transformative for some students, it’s not always the answer—and done poorly, it can create dependency rather than independence.

When Tutoring Might Help

Clear Signs Tutoring Could Be Beneficial

1. Persistent difficulties despite effort

Child is working hard but not progressing
Same concepts remain confusing after multiple explanations
Growing gap between effort and results
Why tutoring helps: Individualized attention to identify and address specific gaps

2. Specific concept gaps

Missing foundational concepts (e.g., doesn’t understand fractions, affecting all work)
Extended absence created learning holes
Previous grade’s weak teaching left gaps
Why tutoring helps: Targeted intervention on specific missing concepts

3. Mathematics anxiety

High stress or emotional reactions to maths
Avoidance behaviors
“I’m just not a maths person” mindset
Physical symptoms (stomachaches, tears)
Why tutoring helps: One-on-one support builds confidence in safe environment

4. Declining grades despite understanding ability

Previously successful but now struggling
Teacher indicates concern
Test scores dropping
Why tutoring helps: Early intervention prevents deeper problems

5. Learning differences

Diagnosed learning difficulties (dyscalculia, ADHD, etc.)
Needs accommodations or different teaching approaches
Classroom pace too fast
Why tutoring helps: Specialized strategies and pacing

6. Preparation for transitions

Moving to secondary school
Preparing for selective entry or scholarship exams
Catching up before starting new school
Why tutoring helps: Focused preparation for specific goals

When Tutoring Probably Isn’t the Answer

1. “Everyone else has one”

Child is doing fine
Just keeping up with peers
Better approach: Spend the money on enriching experiences instead

2. Parent wants higher grades when child is performing well

Child achieving appropriately
Parent wants perfection
Better approach: Celebrate current achievement; avoid pressure

3. Homework battles

Real issue is motivation or responsibility
Not actual understanding problems
Better approach: Address work habits and independence

4. Child lacks effort, not ability

Not completing work
Not paying attention in class
Better approach: Address motivation and study skills first

5. Very short-term problem

Temporary confusion about one concept
Teacher will re-teach
Better approach: Give school instruction time to work

What Type of Tutoring Does Your Child Need?

Intervention Tutoring

For: Students significantly behind grade level Focus: Filling major gaps, building foundational skills Duration: Longer-term (months to years) Frequency: 2-3 times per week Outcome goal: Catch up to grade level expectations

Support Tutoring

For: Students struggling with current grade content Focus: Reinforcing classroom learning, building confidence Duration: Medium-term (weeks to months) Frequency: 1-2 times per week Outcome goal: Succeed with current curriculum

Enrichment Tutoring

For: Students ready for challenges beyond classroom Focus: Extensions, deeper exploration, advanced concepts Duration: Flexible, interest-driven Frequency: 1 time per week Outcome goal: Maintain engagement and develop advanced thinking

Test Preparation Tutoring

For: Specific exam preparation (NAPLAN, selective entry, etc.) Focus: Test strategies, content review, practice Duration: Short to medium-term (weeks to months) Frequency: 1-2 times per week Outcome goal: Maximize performance on specific test

Homework Help

For: Students who need help staying on track Focus: Completing assignments, organization Duration: Ongoing as needed Frequency: As assignments require Outcome goal: Independence and work completion

Match the tutoring type to your child’s actual needs, not what’s most convenient.

What to Look for in a Mathematics Tutor

Essential Qualifications

Mathematics knowledge:

Strong understanding of mathematics content
Knows curriculum at multiple grade levels
Can explain concepts multiple ways
Understands common misconceptions

Teaching skill:

Can diagnose where understanding breaks down
Uses questioning, not just telling
Patient and encouraging
Adaptable to different learning styles

Experience:

Previous tutoring or teaching experience
Familiar with age group
Track record of student improvement

Green Flags (Good Signs)

During initial meeting:

Asks questions about your child’s specific struggles
Wants to see schoolwork and assessments
Explains their teaching approach
Discusses realistic goals and timelines
Asks what your child enjoys
Mentions building confidence and understanding, not just grades

During tutoring:

Makes your child think, doesn’t just give answers
Uses manipulatives and visuals
Explains WHY, not just HOW
Builds on what child already knows
Celebrates efforts and strategies
Communicates regularly about progress

Over time:

Your child’s understanding improves, not just homework completion
Your child can explain concepts better
Growing confidence
Becoming more independent

Red Flags (Warning Signs)

During selection:

Guarantees specific grade improvements
Focuses only on tricks and shortcuts
Doesn’t ask about your child’s needs
No clear qualifications or experience
Unwilling to communicate with school teachers

During tutoring:

Just does homework for your child
Always gives answers instead of guiding thinking
No visible teaching materials or strategies
Your child can’t explain what they learned
Constant complaints about your child
Suggests indefinite tutoring with no goals

Over time:

Dependency developing (can’t do homework without tutor)
No measurable improvement after months
Child more anxious, not less
Tutor keeps adding more sessions

Making Tutoring Effective

Set Clear, Specific Goals

Instead of: “Get better at maths” Try:

“Understand fraction operations confidently”
“Reduce anxiety about word problems”
“Catch up on Year 3 place value concepts”
“Prepare for Year 7 mathematics”

Make goals:

Specific and measurable
Time-bound (review progress in 6-8 weeks)
Focused on understanding, not just grades

Maintain Communication

With the tutor:

What concepts are being worked on?
What progress is being made?
What can I do at home to support?
When should we expect to see improvement?

With the school teacher:

Inform them tutoring is happening
Share what tutor is working on
Ask how you can all be aligned
Get teacher’s perspective on progress

With your child:

What are you learning in tutoring?
Can you explain what you worked on today?
Is the tutor helpful? How?
Do you feel more confident?

Avoid Creating Dependency

Good tutoring builds independence:

Teaches strategies, not just answers
Fades support as competence grows
Empowers student to solve problems alone
Has an end point in mind

Warning signs of dependency:

Child won’t attempt homework without tutor
Constant texts/calls to tutor
No improvement in ability to work independently
Tutor becomes permanent homework helper

Prevention:

Discuss independence as a goal
Gradually reduce session frequency as improvement happens
Encourage child to try first, then ask for help
Plan for tutoring to end when goals met

How Long Should Tutoring Last?

Typical timelines:

Short-term intervention (4-8 weeks):

Specific concept confusion
Preparing for a test
Getting through a difficult unit

Medium-term support (2-4 months):

Building confidence
Catching up from absence
Transitional periods

Long-term intervention (6-12+ months):

Significant gaps to fill
Learning difficulties requiring ongoing support
Persistent struggles across multiple areas

Indefinite:

Only for students with diagnosed learning disabilities requiring ongoing support
Should still have goals and progress markers

If no improvement after 8-10 weeks, reassess: Wrong tutor? Wrong approach? Different problem than tutoring can solve?

Cost and Value Considerations

Tutoring costs vary widely:

Student tutors: $20-40/hour
Experienced teachers: $50-100/hour
Specialists (learning difficulties): $80-150/hour
Learning centers: $30-60/hour

Value isn’t just about price:

$100/hour that fixes the problem in 8 weeks is better value than$ 30/hour that goes on indefinitely
Consider qualifications and results, not just cost
Some students respond better to experienced educators despite higher cost

Budgeting approaches:

Set a trial period (6-8 sessions) to assess value
Determine affordable weekly/monthly amount
Consider reducing frequency rather than stopping completely if budget tight
Explore school-based support programs (often free)

Alternatives if tutoring is unaffordable:

School intervention programs
Peer tutoring programs
Online learning platforms (much cheaper)
Parent support groups
Library homework help programs

Questions to Ask Potential Tutors

About their approach:

“How do you typically help students who are struggling with [specific area]?”
“Do you use manipulatives and visual models?”
“How do you build conceptual understanding, not just procedural knowledge?”

About logistics: 4. “What is your hourly rate and cancellation policy?” 5. “Where do sessions take place?” 6. “How long are sessions?” 7. “How often do you recommend meeting?”

About progress: 8. “How do you assess what my child needs?” 9. “How will you track and communicate progress?” 10. “How long do you expect tutoring to last?” 11. “How will we know when goals are met?”

About them: 12. “What are your qualifications and experience?” 13. “Do you have references from previous clients?” 14. “Are you available to communicate with my child’s teacher?”

Alternatives to Private Tutoring

Before committing to private tutoring, explore:

School-based options:

Intervention programs
Homework clubs
Teacher help sessions
Peer tutoring programs

Online options:

Adaptive learning platforms (often cheaper than tutoring)
Video tutorial sites (Khan Academy, etc.)
Live online tutoring (often more affordable than in-person)

Community options:

Library homework help
Community learning centers
University student volunteers
Retired teacher programs

Home strategies:

Parent learning how to support (often very effective)
Sibling help
Study groups with peers

The Bottom Line

Tutoring can be transformative when:

There’s a genuine need (not just parental anxiety)
The right tutor is selected (qualified, good fit, right approach)
Clear goals are set and monitored
Independence is prioritized over dependency
Communication among all parties is maintained

But tutoring isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the issue is motivation, work habits, temporary confusion, or unrealistic expectations. Sometimes school-based support or changes at home address the need more effectively.

The decision to hire a tutor should be thoughtful, not panicked. Identify the specific problem, explore all options, set clear goals, choose carefully, monitor progress, and always keep the end goal in mind: a confident, independent mathematical thinker who doesn’t need a tutor anymore.

That’s not just good tutoring—that’s successful tutoring. And knowing when and how to use tutoring effectively is one of the best investments you can make in your child’s mathematical future.