Most 'how to choose a tutor' articles are written by marketplaces trying to get you to browse their listings, so the safeguarding and quality questions that actually matter get quietly skipped. This is the checklist we'd want a parent to run through before booking anyone — including us. If a tutor or agency can't answer these clearly, that's the answer.
Before price, check the fundamentals
Price and personality matter, but they come after safety and legitimacy — a charming tutor with no verifiable checks isn't a bargain at any price.
DBS status
- What to ask
- 'Can I see your enhanced DBS certificate, and when was it issued?'
- Why it matters
- An enhanced DBS check is the baseline safeguard for anyone working with children — a legitimate tutor will show it without hesitation.
Safeguarding policy
- What to ask
- 'Do you have a written safeguarding policy I can read?'
- Why it matters
- A real policy sets out what happens if a concern ever arises — vague reassurance is not the same as a documented process.
Communication channel
- What to ask
- 'How will we message each other, and can I see lesson content?'
- Why it matters
- Official, parent-visible channels protect both the child and the tutor; anything that pushes communication to a private, unmonitored channel is a red flag.
| Check | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| DBS status | 'Can I see your enhanced DBS certificate, and when was it issued?' | An enhanced DBS check is the baseline safeguard for anyone working with children — a legitimate tutor will show it without hesitation. |
| Safeguarding policy | 'Do you have a written safeguarding policy I can read?' | A real policy sets out what happens if a concern ever arises — vague reassurance is not the same as a documented process. |
| Communication channel | 'How will we message each other, and can I see lesson content?' | Official, parent-visible channels protect both the child and the tutor; anything that pushes communication to a private, unmonitored channel is a red flag. |
The 10 questions to ask
Work through these before you commit to anyone:
- 1Do you hold an enhanced DBS check, and can I see it?
- 2Do you have a written safeguarding policy?
- 3Can a parent join or observe a lesson at any time?
- 4What happens if my child is ill on lesson day — do I still get charged?
- 5Am I required to buy a block of lessons upfront, or can I pay per session?
- 6What is your qualification or teaching experience, specifically for this level and exam board?
- 7How do you track progress, and will I get regular updates?
- 8What happens if the tutor is unwell or cancels — do I lose the lesson and the fee?
- 9Is the first lesson a genuine assessment, or a sales call in disguise?
- 10What's your cancellation and refund policy in writing, not just spoken reassurance?
Red flags that should end the conversation
Walk away from: any tutor unwilling to show DBS or safeguarding documentation; pressure to move communication off an official platform; compulsory lesson blocks with no per-session option; vague or evasive answers about cancellation policy; and any guarantee of a specific grade or exam outcome — no honest tutor can promise that, and one who does is selling reassurance, not teaching.
What a genuine trial lesson should look like
A real trial is a full, unrushed lesson where the tutor assesses your child properly and tells you honestly what needs work — not a shortened sales pitch dressed up as teaching. If a 'free trial' spends most of its time explaining pricing tiers rather than teaching, that tells you what the business actually prioritises.
Run any tutor — ours included — through this list before booking. We'd rather you ask every one of these questions and choose someone else than skip the checklist and end up with the wrong fit.
Ready to find out where your child stands?
Sources
- TutorMint founder — 15+ years teaching and safeguarding experience in one-to-one tuition
Written by TutorMint Founder
15+ years of classroom and one-to-one teaching experience. Facts checked 26 July 2026.