Initial tutor training
Before you sign up to a tutoring programme, you’ll attend a compulsory, two-hour online training session. This page covers what you can expect from this initial training.
If you haven’t already applied to volunteer as a tutor, you can click the link below.
Apply to volunteerAn overview of the tutor training
Ahead of your tutor training session, we’ll send you a video which introduces you to Action Tutoring’s mission and the commitment involved in volunteering with us. It’s important to watch this before the training session.
You’ll then attend a live initial tutor training session, which is designed to help you feel confident and equipped from your very first day.
Training content
- Recap quiz: A quick recap and alignment on the mission and volunteer role.
- Our resources: Key information about the tutoring resources we provide for you, how we structure sessions, and further support available to help you develop your tutoring skills.
- Working with young people: Essential skills for building instant rapport, managing group dynamics, and navigating potential tutoring scenarios.
- Safeguarding: Key principles, protocols, and a practice activity to ensure every tutor feels confident and compliant.
- Next steps and questions: What happens after the training, and how to sign up for a tutoring programme.
- DBS checks: One-to-one document verification (in individual breakout rooms) and guidance on next steps for programme sign-up.
Your continuous development
We believe in supporting your growth long after your initial training. All tutors have access to a rich library of resources to continually sharpen their skills:
- ‘Bright ideas’ e-learning courses: For new tutors, we’d recommend ‘Assessing pupils’ understanding’, ‘Behaviour management and engagement’ and ‘Effective group tutoring’.
- ‘Bright Ideas Live’ webinars: Topics include maths, English, common tutoring scenarios. You can sign up to watch live and ask questions, or watch the recordings.
- Instructional videos and modelling: Including videos on how to use our workbooks and videos of entire tutoring sessions in action.
I’m learning a new skill really. I did not work with young people in my NHS work particularly.
Sometimes it seems as if pupils have become more confident and interested and that is the aim. A couple of the Year 6 girls told me they do maths invented problems at home for fun in the evenings.
The workbooks are easy to find on the platform. They are very comprehensive giving you everything you need to facilitate a session.
As an online tutor, the support of the coordinators and the tech team are invaluable – and always available. Post-session debriefs and ongoing training modules enable tutors to get together and get to know each other. There is always someone who has dealt with issues before, to offer advice etc.
The programme coordinators are always friendly, super approachable, and have been extremely supportive with any enquiries I’ve had. They host weekly post-session debriefs where you get a chance to share how the session went, meet fellow tutors, discuss any issues you might have faced, and receive feedback.
I think it’s really important to give back to your local community, and I can think of no better way of doing this than giving a small amount of my time to help less affluent kids with their education through tutoring. Not coming from London, tutoring also gives me the opportunity to engage with my local community, which is important to me. Tutoring is one of the few things I do that gives me real satisfaction, enjoyment, and self-fulfilment.
Join us as a volunteer
By joining our community, you are choosing a highly supported path to making a profound difference. You bring the empathy and commitment, and we will provide the framework, the resources, and the ongoing guidance you need to succeed.
If you have questions about the training provided or anything else, you can check our FAQs or email hello@actiontutoring.org.uk.
