Transfer Test Tutoring in Northern Ireland.

Since the 11+ tests in Northern Ireland were abolished by the then secretary Martin McGuinness, more and more parents have been paying for private transfer tuition to aid their children in securing a place in their school of choice.  Some parents believe children get a better deal at grammar schools, and while the entrance tests remain, so will the push for places, the reliance on tutors and parental tuition.

Tuition includes preparation for the transfer tests that pupils are due to sit in November, covering both AQE and GL tests.  Parents of children who require help with certain subjects are paying considerable fees to ensure their child gets the chance of a grammar school education whilst giving them the best opportunity of doing well in exams.

Transfer tuition can be carried out in one of two ways, children can learn in small groups or on a one-to-one basis; both scenarios place an emphasis on familiarising pupils with the technique for the actual tests.

A lot of parents are helping their children at home, and with the right atmosphere this can prove rewarding once you have distinguished which areas of your child’s learning that could benefit from tuition.

But do remember, there is a danger that children get too much teaching, too much tuition, and too much of an academic overload so do bear this in mind if you are planning on assisting your children in their studies.  You do not want your children to feel that learning becomes a chore as it can cause them to switch off if it is not carried out correctly. Spending as little as one hour per day will go towards supporting your child in their studies and prepare them for the transfer tests.

As a parent it is very possible to tutor your own child and avoid the traditional tutoring fee’s.  You do not need to have a teaching qualification, just access to the resources and the time. 

.  Below are some tips, brought to you by Key Stage Two.com, a National Curriculum approved online learning environment for children aged 7-11.

-Set up a program with your child, and stick to it.  When planning the agenda, and in order to get the best results; involve your child and plan the schedule best suited to their learning styles. Some children perform better first thing in the morning and some function better in the evenings.  Agree a regular time and if you are unsure which time is best for your child, you could test different times of tutoring, perhaps for a week at a time.  This will help both of you understand which timings hold more value.  Once a perfect time has been agreed, display a calendar with days, times, and activities marked. 

-It is essential you have a quiet, comfortable, distraction free environment in which to tutor your child.  Nowadays the internet is a great place to find your tutoring resources, so access to the internet at your tutoring area would be beneficial. 

Ensure your tutoring desk is in easy reach of your educational supplies - pencils, erasers, paper, protractors, rulers, calculators.  Use a wall clock, and always adhere to the agreed times. 

-To encourage better listening when you are tutoring your child, get close to and make eye contact before speaking and try to speak in simple sentences, with an emphasis on important words.

Use body language to illustrate your message and regularly ask your children to repeat what you have told them in their own words to ensure they understand the lesson or point you are trying to make.

-Develop and improve your own tutoring skills. You can use the Internet to brush up on certain subjects that you are due to support your child in.

-Work as closely as possible with your child’s teacher at school. They may be able to provide guidance and suggestions that could help you tutor your own child. Supplementing and complementing what is being taught in class will be more effective than random tutoring; therefore choosing a National Curriculum approved resource, such as Key Stage Two.com would be useful.

Always praise and encourage your child for their hard efforts and don't forget to treat yourself for your own hard work.

If your child is aged between 7 and 11 why not join http://www.keystagetwo.com

It is a virtual learning environment that successfully manages to combine games with education in a fun and engaging way.  KeyStageTwo.com is National Curriculum compliant and is now being used in schools and homes throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales.  Now taking sign-ups for September 2011 at http://www.keystagetwo.com or try the Demo at http://www.keystagetwo.com/demo

Good Luck for the new term folks!