This is the first real decision most families make, and the answer follows from the diagnosis rather than the price.
Private tutors
One adult, one child, entirely shaped around the school syllabus and the specific gaps. Flexible on time and place. Quality depends completely on the individual, so references and a trial session matter. Best when the problem is specific: one subject, one exam, one year that went wrong.
Learning centres
A structured programme delivered consistently regardless of which tutor is on shift, with assessment, levels and measurable progress. Less flexible and rarely aligned to the school syllabus. Best when the problem is foundational, in maths or reading, and when a family wants routine and reporting.
Online tutoring
Wider choice of specialists, lower cost, no travel. Works well from around age eleven and for exam subjects; less well for young children who need an adult in the room.
Questions to ask either
How do you assess where my child is now, what will you send me between sessions, how will we know in three months whether this worked, and what is the notice period.
Published September 21, 2026
