Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Onsite Home Tutor

🎯 Role Definition

An Onsite Home Tutor provides tailored, one-to-one instruction at the student’s
home or agreed location, designing and delivering lesson plans that meet
individual learning goals, close gaps, and prepare learners for regular
assessments and high-stakes exams. The tutor manages all aspects of in-home
teaching including baseline assessment, differentiated instruction, progress
monitoring, parent communication, safeguarding and punctual on-site delivery.
This hands-on role emphasizes measurable improvement, positive engagement, and
clear reporting for parents and schools.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Classroom teacher (primary or secondary)
Recent graduate with a strong subject degree
Teaching assistant or after-school club leader

Advancement To:

Lead private tutor / Head of Tutoring
Academic coach or learning specialist
Curriculum consultant for tutoring agencies

Lateral Moves:

Online/remote tutoring specialist
Educational assessor or exam preparation tutor
Special educational needs (SEN) tutor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive baseline assessments during the first session to identify each student’s current attainment, learning gaps, strengths, weaknesses, and preferred learning styles, and use findings to set short- and long-term measurable learning goals.
Design and deliver individualized lesson plans aligned to national curricula (e.g., KS1–KS4, GCSE, A-Level), state standards, or bespoke family goals, incorporating progressive skill-building and scaffolding to improve confidence and outcomes.
Prepare students for standardized and entrance exams (e.g., GCSE, A-Level, SAT, ACT, 11+, ISEB exams), including timed-practice papers, exam technique coaching, marking, and targeted revision strategies to increase exam readiness and scores.
Provide structured one-on-one instruction in core subjects (Mathematics, English, Science) and elective areas as required, adapting content complexity for primary, secondary and sixth form levels while maintaining pace and challenge.
Use a variety of teaching methods and learning resources—textbooks, manipulatives, digital platforms (Zoom, Google Classroom, educational apps), interactive whiteboards, and assessment tools—to sustain engagement and support diverse learning needs.
Implement differentiated instruction and adaptive strategies for students with learning differences, dyslexia, ADHD or mild SEN needs, collaborating with parents and external specialists to apply recommended accommodations and individualized education plans (IEPs).
Track and record student progress each session by maintaining lesson notes, assessment scores, work samples, and progress reports; use these records to adjust subsequent lessons and provide evidence-based updates to parents and schools.
Communicate regularly and proactively with parents or guardians—via email, phone or face-to-face meetings—about weekly objectives, homework, progress against goals, behavioural strategies, and next steps to ensure transparency and partnership.
Set and monitor achievable homework tasks, provide constructive feedback, and teach effective study skills and time management techniques to reinforce learning outside lesson time and build independent study habits.
Deliver engaging remedial or catch-up programs for students returning to formal education after absence (illness, transition, pandemic-related gaps), focusing on core literacy and numeracy recovery plans and confidence rebuilding.
Maintain punctual, professional in-home presence, traveling to student locations reliably with all necessary materials, and adhering to agreed scheduling, cancellation and punctuality policies.
Establish and enforce classroom-style expectations and positive behaviour management within the home setting to create a focused, respectful learning environment that maximizes learning time and student engagement.
Liaise with school teachers, heads of year or SEND coordinators when appropriate to align tutoring aims with classroom learning, access curriculum resources or share progress documentation that supports holistic educational planning.
Create and curate differentiated learning resources, worksheets, practice tests, and revision packs tailored to the student’s current topic coverage and assessment schedule, ensuring materials are up-to-date with curriculum changes.
Conduct periodic formal assessments and mock exams to measure attainment and adjust instructional strategies; analyze results and provide parents with clear, jargon-free reports and recommended next steps.
Use basic tech literacy to set up and troubleshoot learning apps, online assessments and virtual homework submissions, ensuring continuity between in-person sessions and digital resources used at home.
Uphold safeguarding and child protection policies at all times, completing required background checks (DBS, police clearance), following agency or employer safeguarding procedures, and maintaining boundaries and professionalism in the student’s home.
Maintain confidentiality of student records, assessment outcomes and family information in line with data protection regulations and agency policies.
Model positive learning attitudes, motivate students through praise and targeted challenges, and apply constructive reinforcement to increase self-efficacy and long-term academic resilience.
Offer targeted support for transitional phases (e.g., primary to secondary, GCSE revision to A-Level), including study pathway advice, subject selection guidance and practical preparation for school interviews or entrance exams.
Adapt lesson pacing dynamically during sessions based on real-time assessment of comprehension, using micro-teaching strategies to reteach, scaffold or accelerate topics as needed.
Manage routine administrative tasks related to tutoring (invoicing, scheduling, attendance logs), and liaise with tutoring agencies or private clients to coordinate payment, reporting and session changes.
Recommend and signpost additional educational supports where appropriate—such as specialist assessments, speech and language therapists, or counselling services—when learning needs exceed the remit of typical in-home tutoring services.
Participate in professional development and training (subject pedagogy, SEND strategies, assessment techniques) to stay current with best practices and maintain high-quality in-home instruction.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc parent or school requests such as preparing short-term intervention plans for upcoming tests or school meetings.
Contribute to the tutoring provider’s resource library by developing high-quality lesson materials, diagnostic tests, and curriculum-aligned worksheets.
Collaborate with other tutors or coaching staff to share best practices, strategies for challenging topics, and referral opportunities for students requiring specialized support.
Participate in team meetings, quality assurance checks and lesson observations when employed via an agency to ensure consistent teaching standards.
Assist with scheduling and logistics for tutoring blocks, holiday intensive programs or group revision sessions when required by the client or agency.
Provide flexible cover or emergency tuition for other students when available, maintaining consistent instructional quality and adherence to safeguarding protocols.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong subject knowledge in Mathematics (numeracy, algebra, geometry), English (literacy, comprehension, writing) and/or Science (biology, chemistry, physics) at the relevant student level.
Curriculum expertise: familiarity with national curricula and exam specifications (KS1–KS4, GCSE, A-Level, SAT/ACT, 11+, ISEB).
Assessment and diagnostic skills: ability to design, administer and interpret formative and summative assessments and use data to guide instruction.
Lesson planning and curriculum mapping: create scaffolded, sequenced lesson plans with clear learning objectives, success criteria and measurable outcomes.
Differentiated instruction and remediation techniques for mixed-ability groups and one-to-one settings.
Exam technique coaching: timed practice management, question analysis, mark scheme interpretation and revision planning.
Educational technology proficiency: use of virtual whiteboards, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, online assessment platforms, and common classroom apps.
Progress reporting and record-keeping: maintain accurate session logs, assessment records and written progress reports for parents and schools.
Safeguarding knowledge: understanding of child protection responsibilities and experience with background checks (e.g., DBS).
Basic first aid awareness and emergency response knowledge (preferred by some employers).

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication with students, parents and school staff; ability to explain complex concepts simply.
Patience, empathy and the ability to build rapport quickly to motivate and reassure learners.
Strong organizational and time-management skills to coordinate in-home schedules, travel and resource preparation effectively.
Adaptability and creativity in lesson delivery to match student interests and learning styles.
Reliability and professionalism: punctuality, consistent delivery and ethical conduct in private home settings.
Problem-solving and diagnostic thinking to identify root causes of learning gaps and craft targeted interventions.
Cultural sensitivity and discretion when working within families and diverse home environments.
Motivational coaching: setting realistic milestones, celebrating progress and maintaining student engagement.
Resilience and emotional intelligence to manage challenging behaviours and fluctuating motivation levels.
Collaboration and teamwork where working alongside parents, agencies or school staff is required.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma (GCSEs or equivalent) with strong grades in the subject(s) being taught.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Mathematics, English, Science, or a related subject.
PGCE, QTS or teaching qualification preferred for candidates aiming for classroom-equivalent expertise.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Education
Mathematics
English Language & Literature
Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Special Educational Needs (SEN) / Child Development

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of tutoring, classroom teaching, teaching assistant experience or other direct teaching roles.

Preferred:

2+ years of one-to-one or small-group tutoring experience, demonstrable improvements in student outcomes, prior experience preparing students for exams (GCSE, A-Level, SAT/ACT), and experience working with students with SEND or learning gaps.