Are We Rushing the Most Powerful Part of Our Tutoring Sessions?

September 17, 2025•2 min read

Are We Rushing the Most Powerful Part of Our Tutoring Sessions?

The other day, I was on a training course and something that was said in a completely different context, really made me think.

It reminded me of how we used to treat exercise books at school.

At the start of the year, we’d be given a brand-new book. The first page? Spotless. Neatly written. Carefully thought out.
The middle of the book was "fine", with good intentions.
But by the end? It was a mad dash to fill the pages and hand it in: messy handwriting, rushed answers, anything to get it finished.

And I realised…
Sometimes, we approach tutoring the same way.

From Preparation to Delivery… Then Gone

We put real care into preparing our lessons.
We arrive focused and deliver them with heart.
And when the session’s over, we often dash off — onto the next child, the next appointment, or back home to squeeze in prep before tea.

It’s completely understandable. We’re busy, often spinning multiple plates.

But in doing so, we might be skipping the most powerful part of the whole process:
That small moment at the end where we connect with the parent.

The Power of a Quick Chat

A few minutes to say,
“They worked really hard today.”
“We had a breakthrough with those times tables.”
“They were a bit tired but still gave it their best.”

It might feel small, even inconsequential, but those moments are priceless. They help parents:

Understand the progress their child is making
Feel confident in what they’re paying for
Trust you as a partner in their child’s learning

And selfishly? As a business owner, I can’t help but believe there’s a strong correlation between those little conversations and:

Ongoing bookings
Referrals to other families
A lasting, loyal relationship

Are You Missing This Opportunity?

It’s easy to think our job ends when the lesson does.
But sometimes, it’s what we say after the lesson that leaves the biggest impression.

So this week, share a sentence.
Let parents into what happens in the lesson, the thing they don’t always get to see.

It’s a tiny shift, but one that could make a world of difference.

Thinking of Becoming a Tutor?

If you’re just starting your journey as a tutor, or wondering if it’s the right path for you, I’ve put together a free Tutor Starter Kit full of practical tips, reflection prompts, and printable tools to help you get started with confidence.

Download the free Tutor Starter Kit here

I hope it helps

Dawn Strachan

For the past 20+ years I have been a firm believer that learning should be an enjoyable experience. I appreciate that traditionally education has revolved around worksheets, textbooks, listening to teachers. But a grounding in early years and working with children who had a variety of learning styles from I learned that it is an individual activity that is personal to all of us. We don’t all learn in the same way. Our influences, our experiences, our capabilities all influence how we retain information. But through it all, I believe that if we can make it enjoyable and engaging, they will want to participate. With participation comes practice which in turn boosts skill and confidence. With an increase in skill and confidence comes a willingness to have a go. This in turn leads to more practice which leads to a positive spiral of success. The moral, we need to make learning fun, engaging, use a range of techniques.

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