Bridge the gap in student learning with online training and resources for schools and tutors
The Tutor Network provides free online training and resources for tutors and schools.
Systems and school leaders are seeking to support children that are falling behind through the use of in-school tutoring and other schools resources. The Tutor Network works with school leaders, teachers, tutors to provide free training, guides, templates and resources to ensure maximum impact from tutoring.
The Tutor Network recognises that small-group in-school tutoring can support content competencies, as well as students’ social and emotional wellbeing and their motivation to learn.
Some students are falling further behind
Education is one of the best enablers for a strong start in life. But students from low socio-economic backgrounds are typically behind in their learning relative to their peers. And because of COVID-19 disruptions, this learning gap has grown. Students who have fallen further behind will find it harder to catch-up, with life-long implications for further study and work.
The Tutor Network provides school leaders in low socio-economic communities the additional support to implement high quality tutorials in school, to close the educational learning gap experienced by many students and ensure all children, regardless of their circumstances, obtain an excellent education.
Small group tutoring can help…
Research confirms that quality classroom teaching has the greatest positive impact for all students. But the impact of the COVID-19 disruptions is unprecedented.
Small-group tutoring has been shown to be highly effective, and cost effective, in helping students to catch up their learning (see our summary research paper here, plus here and here). This is especially true if it is embedded within existing school strategies.
Australia’s Grattan Institute has argued for a $1 billion investment in small-group tutoring for students from disadvantaged communities around Australia.
In 2020, Victorian students faced six months of remote learning. We commend the Victorian Government for providing $250 million in 2021 for in-school tutoring to help students catch up.
Learning was also disrupted in New South Wales, prompting the New South Wales Government to commit over $330 million to support tutorials across schools.
Systems are committing themselves to catching up students’ learning, and The Tutor Network will support those.
…but ensuring tutor quality, training and support is critical
Research tells us that not all tutoring is equal! Tutoring must be high quality, well supported, and conducted by trained professionals.
There is a body of evidence around the training and professionalism of tutors, how in-school tutoring should be rolled out to maximise student engagement, how tutors and teachers should best work together, and other supports that can ensure tutoring achieves real progress for students.
