The Programmes:
Your child has signed up to one of two programmes:
Gold Programme:
- 10 modules of online self-study, comprising bite-size ‘how to’ videos covering every aspect of the AQA GCSE English course. The final module focuses on approaches to AQA GCSE English Literature, but does not study individual texts
- A once-a-week live small-group Zoom lesson
- An on-call tutor service: available to mark work, answer questions and feed back between Tuesday- Thursday (9am-5pm) in term time
- A full AQA GCSE English course of downloadable materials with some bonus material on English Literature
Silver Programme:
- 10 modules of online self-study, comprising bite-size ‘how to’ videos covering every aspect of the AQA GCSE English course. The final module focuses on approaches to AQA GCSE English Literature, but does not study individual texts
- A full AQA GCSE English course of downloadable materials with some bonus material on English Literature
Live Zoom Meetings (Gold Programme only)
Your child will be placed in either a Grade 4-6 group or a Grade 7-9 group, depending on ability and target grade. There will be no more than 6 students in each group.
There will be one live tutoring session per week. This will take place on an advertised time and day, during term-time only. The time and day will vary weekly in order to give everyone the opportunity to attend.
If your child cannot attend at any time, the session will be recorded and posted in the Members Only portal so that it can be viewed later at your child’s convenience. No refunds or alternative times are given if your child is unable to make a live meeting, which is why the recording is made. However, if your child has something they would like to cover, questions can be submitted up to 24 hours before and will be covered in the live session.
Please note that live lessons are recorded and saved for 12 weeks, after which time, they will be deleted. In agreeing to these terms and conditions, you are agreeing to the recording of the sessions, which will placed in the Members Only portal and will only be accessible to Gold Programme members.
The on-call tutoring service is available during term-time only. As a result, membership of the 12 week programme will be suspended during school holidays, but students will, of course, still have access to the online programme, which they can log onto at any time. This means that they will have access to the Gold Programme for longer if there is a holiday in the middle of their subscription. The dates of school holidays can vary, so the dates when the tutor is not available will be advertised at least 4 weeks in advance.
Suspensions do not affect students on the Silver Programme.
RESOURCES
- A notebook for your child’s work (A4 is advised.)
A pen, pencil, a pack of highlighters
NUMBERS
All live tutoring sessions are in small groups of no more than 6. As a tutor, I am fully DBS checked, but I do ask that the parent/guardian is in the vicinity of the session whilst it is taking place.
FEEDBACK (Gold Programme only)
A feedback service is available to Gold Programme students between Tuesday and Thursday of each week in term time. Students may email the tutor any work from the tasks set on the programme at any time, and they will respond between 9-5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during term time via email, a Vimeo recording or voice note on Loom/Vimeo. Students can also send a voice note on Loom/Vimeo or email the tutor to ask questions about the programme or work set within the programme.
The tutor does not provide written reports for parents.
HOMEWORK
Formal homework will not be set. However, the programme is full of bite- size tasks which the student is strongly encouraged to delve into in. If the student is on the Gold Programme, they may email the work to be marked. The tutor will use Vimeo to live-mark the work and it will be returned between Tuesday- Thursday of each week between 9am-5pm in term time. The tutor will not routinely help a child complete work set by their school.
GUARANTEE
Although the tutor will always strive to provide the best possible service, they cannot be held accountable for a child’s academic success, or lack thereof. The tutor will do everything they can to help your child improve their skill set, but there are no guarantees.
PAYMENT
Gold Programme: a payment of £600 must be paid in advance of the child beginning the 12 week programme. Once payment has been made, log in details will be sent along with all the information your child needs to get started. Paying in one instalment will save you £60.
Gold Programme: there is the option of paying in 3 monthly instalments of £220. A deposit of £220 is required to secure a place on the programme,
then two further payments of £220 will be taken automatically at the 4 and 8 week point on the programme.
Silver Programme: a payment of £295 must be made in advance of the child beginning the 12 week programme. Once payment has been made, log in details will be sent along with all the information your child needs to get started. There is no option to pay in instalments.
REFUND POLICY
Gold Programme: if a student decides during the course of the first month that the programme is not for them, they may leave the course and the last two months (£400) will be refunded or the last two instalments of £220 per month (£440) cancelled.
BEHAVIOUR
Misbehaviour, including distracting others in group sessions, the use of swear words, racist or discriminatory language is prohibited. If there are serious behaviour issues, then you will be told your child can no longer continue with the sessions.
We hope this will be an enjoyable and successful partnership between The English Lab Virtual Tutoring and you as a family. We reserve the right to refuse any student.