Welcome

Established in 1992, Cloisters (UK) Ltd is a national company that offers an excellent personal service through a network of offices. Our 1:1 tutoring is carried out by specialist tutors & is tailored to the specific needs of the pupil. We know that 1:1 tutoring helps build confidence & encourages the pupil to ask questions they would not normally do in a classroom in front of their peers.

About Us

People “working" in the training of children under 18yrs and other vulnerable people are now classed as being in a “Regulated Position" [Protection of Children and Criminal Justice & Court Services Act 2000 Sect. 35 1(c) 1(d)]

Our tutors are regulated and also cleared for trustworthiness by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) an executive agency of the Home Office.
Cloisters as an ‘Employment Business' operates under the regulations of the DBS (Umbrella Registered Body No. 20088600002) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Cloisters tutors are GTC (General Teaching Council) checked.

All tutors applying to be placed on our register must provide identification, professional and character references and have to fulfill the DBS checks (by accessing the Dept of Education & Skills, the Dept of Health and International, National and Local police records). Tutors must also agree to work to our ‘Principles and Code of Professional Conduct'

These DBS checks can only be made through “Registered Bodies" of the DBS and are not available to individual private tutors.

Parents are strongly advised not to use the services of private individual tutors, or tutors working for companies operating outside the above Acts.

Good caring professional tutors join “Registered Body" agencies. Private tutors working outside the Acts invariably avoid or fail the stringent checks or have been removed from “Registered Bodies".

Our Services

Children are already in classes! These out of school classes, often run by non- teachers, can contain children of mixed abilities and ages studying different syllabuses and subjects. For the younger child, different literacy and numeracy schemes than used in their own school can be taught leading to confusion (particularly in maths). Class sizes invariably increase as tests and examinations approach. Payment for a number of lessons in advance is normally needed! Remember even in a small class of say 5 children they can only expect 12mins of individual attention (in an average class of 10 children 6mins attention etc.) These classes are not cost effective! A local tutor is introduced on their suitability for the pupil's specific needs, personal preferences, subject, content, level etc.

As we like to select the most suitable tutor we need to know some information about a pupil, for example :- the pupil's Key Stage/year/age (to enable us to quote the precise fixed fee – no travel expenses or VAT!) - subject(s) - level – schemes – syllabus - Examination Board - Set Text books -strengths & weaknesses - any medical/special educational needs – preference of tutor (male, female etc.) - school, college, university (to avoid contacting a tutor from the same educational establishment) - home / evening telephone number – address (to select a tutor local to you) etc.

When a tutor is selected they call you, without obligation, within 2/3 working days and you can meet if you wish. If lessons are to begin you can make mutual arrangements with the tutor for content, times and frequency of lessons. Tutoring is on a lesson by lesson basis (no contract or monies in advance). Lessons can be terminated at any time by giving 24 hours notice.

As in schools from secondary school upwards, the majority of our tutors only teach their own specialised subject, although a few tutors do offer certain similar subject combinations (eg: French and German). Often we are asked for one tutor to teach more than one subject in the same hour (eg: English and Maths). We normally recommend that they consider having 2 tutors on an alternate weeks basis. The cost is the same but the real advantage is that each subject is taught by a specialist for 1 hour duration rather than for a half an hour. (tutors who can tutor successfully both Shakespeare and Trigonometry are rare!)

Why Choose Us

For peace of mind. The protection of children is our main concern. Cloisters is a Home Office Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Umbrella Body, all our tutors are police checked (Protection of Children Act), hold Enhanced Disclosure certificates and are GTC (General Teaching Council) checked

Unlike organisations that operate from a national centre (often online), our offices carefully discuss and listen to the pupil's need at the onset of an enquiry. Most of our enquiries are from personal recommendations and many families have continued with us for other family members. Our offices personally know their tutors and understand the local education system enabling them to accurately select and introduce, without obligation, the most suitable tutor.

We carry out extensive recruitment screening and applicants must be qualified to degree equivalence. Cloisters' register of tutors consists of qualified local teachers, lecturers and professional persons. Our tutors are continuously monitored and work to our ‘Code of Professional Conduct'

Tutors can come to your home

Tuition may take place in your own home or in that of the tutor, according to mutual preference. Days and times are negotiable. All of our tutors are vetted and have a DBS (formerly called CRB) check for your peace of mind.