As a private tutor, providing high-quality education to students is your top priority. However, working closely with students, whether online or in person, can blur boundaries bringing about certain risks.
Unfounded false accusations of failing professional duty or inappropriate conduct can arise, causing significant stress and potential harm to your career. Therefore, it is essential for private tutors to take proactive steps to protect themselves, both professionally and personally.
One key element of this protection is obtaining private tutor insurance, but there are also best practices you can follow to minimise the risk of misunderstandings or accusations.
1. Set Clear Boundaries and Expectations
The first step in protecting yourself is to establish clear boundaries and expectations from the outset. For both online and offline lessons, make sure your students and their parents or guardians understand your role and what your sessions will involve.
This should include agreeing on the scope of the tutoring, the learning objectives, and the length and format of the sessions. It is advisable to communicate these expectations in writing and have the student and their parent/guardian acknowledge them.
If you are tutoring online, make sure both you and your students are aware of and agree on the software or platform you will use. Providing a transparent, professional environment helps to prevent misunderstandings and provides you with a documented framework should any issues arise.
2. Maintain Professionalism at All Times
Whether you are tutoring in person or online, always maintain a professional tone and demeanour. Avoid overly casual or personal conversations, especially if you’re working with younger students, and focus on the lesson objectives.
Dress appropriately for lessons, even when online, as this reinforces your professional role. For in-person lessons, choose neutral and suitable locations, such as libraries or learning centres, if you can, rather than private homes. If tutoring at a student’s home, ensure a parent or guardian is present or nearby during the session.
Professionalism extends to the materials you use as well. Make sure that all content and resources provided to students are appropriate for their age group and in line with educational standards.
3. Keep Records of All Lessons
If you deliver your lessons online, obtain the right permission to record all your sessions. There are many different softwares that have this feature in-built in. Share every recording with the parents of your students. It shows transparency and professionalism.
It’s still a good idea to keep at least a voice record of all lessons, including dates, times, lesson objectives, as well as any communications with parents or students outside the classes. Consider sending a brief summary or progress report to the parent or guardian after each session.
When in a private home, keep the study room door open. Be wary of situations when you are being asked to deliver a lesson without another adult present. No matter how familiar you are with your student or the parents, being left alone in a private home with a young student is a risky situation.
4. Be Aware of Body Language and Physical Contact
Be mindful of body language and, if teaching face to face, physical contact. As a private tutor, it’s important to avoid any physical interaction with students, even if it is intended to be supportive or instructional. If you need to show a student how to hold a pen or use a tool, do so verbally or by demonstrating yourself rather than directly touching the student. This ensures that there is no room for misinterpretation of your actions.
5. Obtain Professional Insurance
Even when following best practices, there is always a chance that a false accusation could occur. This is where private tutor insurance becomes essential. Private tutor insurance provides cover for a range of potential claims, including allegations of professional negligence, failure to deliver expected results or inappropriate conduct.
If an accusation is made against you, the insurance can cover legal costs, settlements, and compensation payments. When searching for self-employed insurance, make sure your policy includes professional indemnity cover, which protects against claims of professional errors or omissions, as well as public liability, which covers incidents that occur during in-person lessons.