When does tutoring normally take place? Is it normally on an evening or a weekend?
This is one of the most common concerns for anyone considering tutoring: the fear that you’ll be heading off to work just as everyone else is winding down. And I’d be sugar-coating it if I said tutoring easily fits within the school day. Most children are home in the evenings and on weekends, and that’s when the majority of demand for tutors arises.
If you'd rather watch a video version of the article click here
Acknowledge the Fear
But having said that, I do know tutors who work exclusively with home-educated children and finish their sessions by 3pm. It’s not about the hours available; it’s about the hours you choose to work.
One of the main reasons I started building a team of tutors was after my son, Jamie, took a one-way flight to Australia. Clara had already moved out, and it struck me hard that soon, Angel, my youngest, would also leave home. For years, every evening, as they walked in from school, I was heading out to lessons. Every weekend we could have spent together, I was working. Something had to change.
I know that might sound like a bleak picture, but it was my truth at the time. The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way.
It's about the hours you choose to work
Flexibility vs. Commitment
Yes, demand is high outside school hours, but that doesn’t mean you have to work them all.
Some tutors work only in the daytime with home-educated children. Others block off specific windows, like Monday to Thursday from 4:30 to 7pm, and stick to them.
The key is to be firm, with parents, and with yourself.
I’ll be honest: I found this hard, especially when I heard heart breaking stories from families whose children were struggling. Some had lost confidence after repeated test failures, for others it was because they couldn’t keep up with what the curriculum. Others were refusing to go to school. Saying “no” felt like turning my back. But building a team of tutors meant I didn’t have to carry that burden alone, and neither did the families.
What Kind of Tutor Do You Want to Be?
Looking back, I was naïve when I started tutoring. I thought helping meant doing everything myself. But you don’t have to make the same mistake.
Ask yourself honestly: is this a part-time project, or do I want to build a full-time business? What kind of hours am I willing to work and what am I not willing to miss?
Maybe standing in the cold at your child’s rugby training isn’t your thing, and tutoring on Wednesdays gives you the perfect excuse. But if you do want to be there to cheer them on or just be nearby, then protect that time. Say no. Be clear. Your future self will thank you.
For me, tutoring is about helping as many children as possible regain their confidence in maths and English. But I’ve learned I can have a greater impact by not doing it all alone. I think my favourite analogy is that of a football team: you can’t be the player, coach, and manager all in one. Build your team. You’ll preserve your energy, expand your reach and stand a better chance of winning.
Can I give you an example?
I once worked with a family on Saturday evenings. Each week, I’d confirm the lesson in advance only to arrive and find it cancelled because the boys had fallen out and gone out with their nan to try and defuse the situation.
“Don’t worry,” they’d say, “we’ll still pay you.”
But on many occasions I’d already turned down babysitting, or a BBQ at my daughter’s house to be there.
When we did have the lesson, it was normally to complete the homework the school had set. The younger brother clearly wasn’t interested and spent most of the time throwing a rugby ball at the ceiling to annoy his sister.
After that session, I politely told them I wouldn’t be coming back.
It was terrifying, but liberating. Since then, I’ve only needed to draw that boundary a couple of times. But the knowledge that I can gives me confidence to hold the line. I now know what I will and won’t tolerate.
There are tutors who work only weekday mornings. Others who protect weekends. They’ve built their businesses with intention, and there’s nothing to say that you can’t too.
Be firm with yourself and the family, because somethings are more important than money
You’re in Control (Mostly)
It’s okay to say no. In fact, saying no more often can make you more in demand, and more valuable.
One of our tutors recently messaged me to outline his new personal boundaries. He’d decided to stop working with high-set maths students where he felt he wasn’t adding enough value. He also limited his travel area to avoid the stress of unpredictable traffic. Clear, honest, and simple. It meant I could support him better, and he could show up for his students more fully.
Since COVID, online tutoring has transformed everything. You can now support students from the comfort of your own home, with more flexibility than ever before.
This isn’t about restriction, it’s about design. What do you want this to look like?
From Fear to Clarity
Feeling unsure about evenings and weekends is normal: it’s a sign you care about balance, your family, and your time.
Tutoring doesn’t have to take over your life. But it can change it. With honesty, intention, and boundaries, you can build a tutoring business that supports students and supports you.
So, ask yourself: What does a good work-life balance look like for me?
Then shape your business around that because when you lead from your values, your work becomes sustainable, meaningful, and genuinely life-changing.
What does a good work-life balance look like for me?
5. Get Organised for Your First Lesson
How to prepare a simple lesson plan.
Before you jump into tutoring I have put together a free session starter kit so that you can go in into your first lesson feeling confident that you are fully prepared and ready to go. It includes the sheets that I use to prepare my week and my lessons, ensuring that I am organised both before, during and after the event.
I hope you find it helpful too and I wish you every piece of luck in your journey into tutoring.
Download the free "Tutoring Session" starter kit
Copywrite: Clara James Tutoring 2025