With Covid-19 labelled ‘the worst public health crisis for a generation’ by the UK Government, implementing safe tutoring practices is essential.  Education 2 You is desperate to resume teaching our students as soon as possible but, in a safe manner following Government procedures.

Tutoring On-line

Many of our tutors and students are already fully aware of the benefits of on-line tutoring and during this crisis are actively pursuing this format.

Not only is there zero risk of passing on or catching coronavirus via Skype or Zoom, but you may be surprised by just how much this way of teaching has to offer and wonder why you never tried it before.  Obviously, with younger children, there is no reason why a tutor cannot Skype/Zoom a parent and guide them through the work set by their child’s school to provide extra support at this time.

Safest Practices for face-to-face lessons

Once the Government’s guidance on schools returning have been issued and it is permitted for tutors to return to face-to-face tuition the following guidelines have been issued by Education 2 You to ensure the safety of all concerned.  The aim is to ensure everyone feels comfortable and at ease with the way our tutors are educating their students.

CONAVARIUS POLICY FOR OUR FACE-TO-FACE CLIENTS

A SAFE MEANS OF TRAVEL

How a tutor travels to your home or you travel to theirs needs to be clearly specified, as at Education 2 You, our tutors are avoiding public transport.  Therefore, the tutor will either walk, cycle or drive to the home of the student.  If the student is tutored in the tutor’s home then they have the choice to walk, cycle or be driven to their place of study, safely. These measures help to avoid, catch or spread the virus.

Knocking the door or ringing the bell

This is the first hazard, the door knocker or bell is probably the most frequently touched item with which you are likely to come into contact within the course of face-to-face lessons.  Therefore, at Education 2 You our tutors will not be touching it.  If you are visiting the tutor’s home, the tutor will have the front door open in anticipation of your arrival.  If the tutor is going to your home, they will wait outside until you let them in (as teaching sessions are pre-arranged tutors will be expected).  Mobile phone numbers for clients and tutors should be exchanged so, in any event, phone contact can be made to inform a client that the tutor is on the doorstep.

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Avoiding Handshakes

There will be no handshakes or guiding a child’s hand through handwriting lessons etc. greetings will be a socially distanced wave, an elbow bump or for those that can a Spock salute with perhaps a smile and laugher at the inventiveness of our greetings.

All the public hysteria surrounding COVID is quite concerning for our children, so something to lighten up the situation whilst maintaining good hygiene practices is beneficial for everyone.

Hygiene stations

Of course, the benefit and reassurance of this is entirely two-way: the client doesn’t want people to bring germs into their home, and the tutor doesn’t want to take germs away with them.  A touch of antibac for the tutor on their way in and on their way out protects everyone involved.  The client and student should also sanitise their hands after the tutor has left.

If there is no hygiene station then washing hands upon arrival and departure following the NHS handwashing guidelines if agreed by all parties.  All tutors will be bringing their own antibacterial equipment and paper towels to dry their hands and practise safe hygiene procedures at all times.

 

Sit 2 metres away from your student adhering to social distancing policies

Tutors and students will sit 2 metres apart, as not only will this reduce the chance of infection, it will also make everyone feel more at ease and able to focus their minds on the lesson rather than worrying about whether the other person is too close.

As the weather is getting warmer, there is no reason as to why the lesson cannot take place in a garden or park across a picnic basket, as infection rates in the fresh air are drastically reduced.

Resources, Books and Equipment

Work for the student can be sent via email and printed at home so, the student and tutor will have their own copies to work from.  For those without a printer, work can be photographed on mobile phones by the parent and used for the child in that manner.

Unfortunately, due to the new guidelines, Education 2 You can no longer provide exercise books, pens, pencils etc.  so, parents will need to provide their child with a notebook and pencil case, include a ruler (protractor, calculators etc. for older children).

Work completed by the student will be placed on the ground 2 metres away, student moves away and tutor collects completed work.  Work to be handed in to the tutor will be completed on loose paper provided by the parent, notebooks will be for notes and remain with the student without the tutor handling it.

The tutor will mark the work, add comments, explanations and send it back via email to the parent or return it to the parents by both parties wearing gloves, maintaining social distance and papers can be left until parent feels safe to handle them.

Stay Safe

At Education 2 You we are passionate about education but, your safety is of our paramount concern.  We want to educate your children to ensure they reach their full potential in a calm and reassuring manner.  We know that our lives are full of uncertainty and worry at this time but, hopefully with these measures in place, our children can receive an education, maintain their wellbeing and look forward to a future when this crisis is over.