Read our COVID-19 safety guidance for tutoring face to face in schools here.
We recommenced programmes in October 2020 after a short break where we halted our programmes due to the pandemic.. You can read our full statement on the current situation here. We are now delivering a mixture of online and face-to-face programmes, following social distancing guidelines in relation to COVID-19.
We know the impact the school closures will have had on our pupils’ learning and wellbeing is significant. These pupils were already struggling academically and the absence of education, and any other means of support, will simply have left them further behind.
We know that our help is needed now more than ever to support pupils, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to catch up. We need to engage many more volunteers to ensure we can help these pupils get back to where they should be.
Please find below some FAQs on our delivery and operations relating to the crisis. If you can’t find the answer you need, please drop us an email: [email protected].
Are sessions still going ahead?
We began running tutoring programmes again, both online and face-to-face, in October. We have developed guidelines for maintaining social distancing on face-to-face programmes and are in touch with our schools so we can adapt our delivery as needed.
How will face-to-face programmes adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines?
To ensure that social distancing can be maintained during sessions and programmes can go ahead safely, we have created some guidelines for our volunteers. These describe the measures in place, what to do before, during and after sessions, and when you shouldn't attend your programme.
Where partner schools are enforcing their own social distancing measures, we will keep volunteers informed as appropriate. Action Tutoring's policies are subject to change as further guidance is released by the government.
Read our COVID-19 safety guidance for volunteers on face-to-face tutoring programmes.
I am classed as vulnerable (e.g. pregnant, over 70 years old, diabetic). Can I still tutor face to face in a school?
Ultimately Action Tutoring deems it the decision of any vulnerable volunteer whether they wish to attend a programme and cannot take responsibility for this decision, beyond taking reasonable and recommended measures to reduce COVID-19 risks.
We ask all vulnerable tutors to inform the Programme Coordinator before attending the school and we can share the school's policy on vulnerable visitors to inform your decision. Please see further information on NHS advice for people at high risk from coronavirus.
Schools’ risk assessments can be shared with you once you have signed up to a programme. If you decide you are not comfortable volunteering in person, you may wish to sign up for an online programme instead.
Did GCSE exams and Key Stage 2 SATs still take place this summer?
Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, exams were cancelled. You can read the full guidance on the government website here. However, Year 11 pupils did receive GCSE results, based on their schools' assessment of the grade they would have achieved should exams have gone ahead. More information from Ofqual on this is available here.
Can we do tutoring online?
Moving our delivery online was already part of our strategic plans before the crisis hit, but we refreshed the timescales to enable us to deliver it much sooner. We delivered a small-scale test phase in June and July 2020 and have since rolled out delivery more widely to schools.
Please apply now via our application form if you would like to join us as an online tutor. If you are interested in online tutoring for your school, please do get in touch.
What happened to my pupils from last academic year?
Unfortunately we do not have direct contact with the pupils but we stayed in touch with schools during lockdown to find out the best ways we could support them. For some programmes, we were able to pass along messages from tutors to their pupils via the school.
Please do remember our safeguarding policy and do not attempt to make any direct contact with your pupils from last year.
Will volunteers be able to be trained online?
We are now delivering training to prospective volunteers online. This is a new venture for us and we are requesting feedback from volunteers after their training sessions as usual. If your tutor application is successful, we will invite you to join an online training session and explain the process for completing your DBS check remotely following training.
I don't live in any of your regions - can I still apply to be an online tutor?
Yes, you can! We have now launched our online tutoring platform, meaning you’ll be able to join one of our tutoring programmes from anywhere in the country.
Please do apply via our normal online application form - https://www.tfaforms.com/332860 - you can select 'None of the above' under the 'Region' question. This means you'll be able to support as an online only tutor. We'll invite you to some online training and process your DBS for you before you get started.
