Do you need a Governess or a Tutor?

Thinking about a Tutor or Governess to help your family, find out below the benefits, and our top tips for success.

Education plays an integral role in your child’s life. Children start their formal schooling years in the year that they turn 5 and this will continue right until they reach their 18^th birthday.

There are many different forms of education that your child can attend, which include private schools, home-schooling, state education and various forms of different schools of education (Steiner and Montessori for example). Whichever form of education your child may attend, you might also start to consider whether a Tutor or Governess might be able to further enhance your child’s education.

Tutors and Governesses offer varying forms of educational support but are quite different in their approach due to varying differences in their roles.

What is a tutor?

A tutor is a qualified and experienced person who will come to your home to further enhance your children’s education. They will come to your home to meet and assess your child’s needs and form a plan of what support they can offer your child.

You will be able to find a tutor online, speaking to other families and through a reputable agency such as Job Finder, the latter being a reassuring way to ensure the tutor has a background check.

A tutor will come to your house for a specified amount of hours and focus on directed study goals that they have assessed as being necessary. Tutors usually specialise in one or two subjects (some may offer more) and will work through curriculum goals with your child. Good tutors often become booked up months in advance and work throughout the school year; some may work through the holidays where children may need to keep focused.

Exam support is a valued and demanded skill required from tutors and tutors can offer this to ensure your child reaches their full potential. Tutors will usually come to your home for around 1-4 hours per week and may offer to work with siblings for a reduced rate, separately.

If your tutor strikes up a bond and gains the trust of your child, it can be fantastic support for your child. As tutors work 1:1 with your child, they can often spot areas where your child is struggling and put measures in place to try to combat any difficulties your child may be having in a subject at school.

Tutors usually work on a self-employed basis and come to the home for an agreed amount of time, they are not employed by the family (usually) and are free to come and go as they please (most will have a temporary contract).

Advantages of hiring a tutor

• Can offer temporary support when needed
• Are available for a few hours a day
• Are not present in the home all the time
• Can form a bond with your child to enhance their education
• Can be within your family budget
• Can teach siblings
• Offer specialist subject support

What is a governess?

A governess is quite different to a tutor, in that the family will employ them and they will receive a wage/salary from the family for a certain amount of agreed hours.

A governess will oversee more than the child’s education, in fact they will conduct themselves in a respectful and proper manner in order to set a good example to the child. A governess will usually be employed when the child no longer requires a nanny to look after their personal and physical needs. Some families will employ a nanny for the child’s physical needs and a governess for their education.

A governess will set a good example and enable children to follow and develop excellent manners. They will enable them to conduct themselves in a way that sets a good example to others. A governess will teach children how to care for themselves, help with their education, arrange their schedule and take them to extra curricular activities. Most Governesses will possess further skills that they will teach the child, such as a second (or third) language and/or the ability to play an instrument (the violin is a common favourite).

Governesses attract a generous salary due to their excellent skills of bringing children up and their ability to teach children to conduct themselves in a proper and courteous manner.  A governess will work within the family home for around 6-10 hours per day, 5-6 days per week. They will therefore be available to meet the children’s needs throughout the working day.

Advantages of hiring a Governess

• Are available for many hours as and when you need them
• They can completely take care of the child’s schedule and day
• Will offer education in many forms for your child such as manner and formal education
• Will stay with your child throughout their formative years and help prepare them for life
• Can form a lasting bond with your child which helps build trust and confidence
• Will manage your child diary efficiently and effectively
• Can offer many skills usually involving another language and musical ability

Should you choose a Tutor or  a Governess?

So, it now comes down to which one should you choose? The answer is, there is no one answer. It completely depends on what your family’s needs are and which will suite you better.  Some families require lots of support throughout the day where other just needs a few hours a week. Both offer excellent ways to enhance your child’s education.

Top Tips for Hiring a Tutor or Governess

• Do your research
• Find the time to interview prospective tutors and governesses
• Speak to other families who employ them
• Make a plan with the person you employ to make sure you’re on the same page
• Ensure your child meets them and enjoys their company
• Check the perspective person is proper security checked
• Consider using an agency such as Nanny& Butler, who will assist you with all aspects of employing a Tutor or Governess.