Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of a Choice Home Tutoring Tutor – What I’ve Learned from Tutoring our Learners
By Alison, Tutor and Director, Choice Home Tutoring Stockport
When people think of tutoring, they often picture someone drilling through vocab or solving maths problems while sat across a kitchen table. And yes, there’s a bit of that but tutoring is so much more than just academic support.
After working with over 100 students through Choice Home Tutoring, I’ve come to realise that every day is a mix of connection, confidence-building, flexibility and yes, a good bit of subject knowledge too. Here’s a peek into a typical day in my life as a tutor, and what it’s taught me along the way.
☀️ 7:30 AM – Morning Prep and Planning
The day doesn’t begin with a whiteboard, but with a strong coffee and a review of the day ahead. I check notes from previous sessions, update lesson plans, and tailor each session to the student’s current progress.
At Choice, we’re lucky to have a strong support network and clear structure but what makes the difference is how personal each session is.
Lesson learned: Preparation trumps perfection. A responsive plan, shaped around each student’s needs, always wins over a rigid one.
📚 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Home-School & In-School Sessions
Mornings tend to be quieter, often dedicated to home-educated students or those on alternative provision timetables arranged by their schools. These one-to-one sessions are rich in interaction; they can involve untangling algebra with a year 8 student or shaping the structure of an essay at GCSE level.
In these calm one-to-one spaces, students often find the confidence to ask the questions they wouldn’t in a full classroom and that’s when real progress happens!
Lesson learned: Learners don’t always need more content, they need space to think and the confidence to speak.
🍎 3:00 PM – Time to Recharge
This short break is a chance to pause, eat, and reflect. After many years of tutoring, I’ve learned to spot patterns. Some students wrestle with motivation, others with mindset. Often, what looks like an academic challenge is actually emotional. When they see that ‘wrong answers’ aren’t failures, that often provides the launchpad for meaningful progress.
Lesson learned: Academic success is rarely just academic, it’s deeply tied to mindset and self-belief.
🎯 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM – The After-School Rush
Afternoons into early evenings are a whirlwind, this is peak tutoring time, both online and in-person. I switch between subjects and students at pace, and it’s during these hours that I truly feel the value of my 20 years’ experience coming into play!
I meet learners with wildly different needs; some aiming for top grades, others just trying to catch up. But each one deserves the same thing: a tutor who sees them as a whole person, not just a student.
Lesson learned: Tutoring isn’t about showing what I know, it’s about unlocking what each student is capable of.
🌙 8:00 PM – Wind Down and Reflect
Before I wrap up for the day, I write notes on each session, track learner progress, and update parents. It’s a vital part of the job, not just for record keeping, but for staying connected and focused on each learner’s journey – what’s working and what isn’t.
What makes working with Choice so fulfilling is the balance between independence and teamwork. We have the freedom to tailor every session, but we’re backed by a team that genuinely cares about student outcomes. That combination is rare and it’s why I love what I do.
Lesson learned: You can teach skills in an hour, but building trust takes time. And that’s where the magic happens!
💬 Final Thoughts
Tutoring has taught me that while every student is unique, they all need the same three things: to feel seen, capable, and supported.
Behind every improved grade is a story of effort, encouragement, and belief. Being a part of that journey is more than just rewarding: it’s transformative!
Whether you’re a parent, a student, or a fellow educator, remember this: tutoring isn’t just about catching up or getting ahead. It’s about building confident, resilient learners who believe in themselves.
And that’s exactly what we aim for – every single day – at Choice Home Tutoring.