Online tutoring can fit neatly between school and sport. In-person lessons give a student and tutor a shared desk, paper and materials. Either can be a sensible choice, but convenience alone does not tell you how much your child will learn.
Start with a more useful question: in which setting can your child show their thinking, ask questions and practise independently? Then consider the subject, the tutor and the practical demands on your family.
Check how your child participates
Think about a recent online activity. Could your child follow a conversation, take turns and say when something was unclear? Or did they need an adult beside them to manage the device and bring their attention back?
A student who confidently uses video calls for games may still need help showing handwritten working during a maths lesson. Equally, a quiet child may feel comfortable asking questions from a familiar space at home. Try to judge the learning interaction rather than how much they like screens.
For in-person tutoring, consider whether your child is comfortable working with someone new and whether the proposed space is calm enough for conversation. Being in the same room does not automatically mean a student is participating.
Match the format to the lesson activities
Ask what a typical lesson will actually involve. An English student might annotate a paragraph in a shared document. A maths student needs a workable way to show each step, whether that is paper, a camera or a digital whiteboard.
For a younger child using counters, drawing shapes or practising handwriting, shared physical materials may make an in-person lesson simpler to organise. Online lessons can include those activities too, provided the materials and camera setup are ready and the tutor can see what the child is doing.
The important test is whether the tutor can identify a misunderstanding while it happens. Watching a polished solution on a screen, or on paper beside them, gives a student fewer opportunities to practise than attempting the work themselves.
Be realistic about the home setup
Before booking online lessons, test the connection in the exact room and at roughly the time you expect to use it. Check the microphone, camera and any shared-work tools. A phone screen may be awkward when a student needs to read a question and follow an explanation at the same time.
Set out the school materials, notebook and calculator before the lesson.
Turn off unrelated notifications and close extra tabs.
Agree on what happens if the connection drops.
Ask whether an adult needs to help with setup or stay nearby.
The NSW Department of Education's advice on supporting learning at home recommends an accessible learning space, routines and planned access to shared devices. Although written for home learning generally, those practical considerations are useful when organising online tutoring.
Count the demands of both options
Compare the whole routine. An in-person lesson may involve travel, parking or preparing a suitable space at home. An online lesson may require a shared device and some adult help. Ask about lesson fees, cancellation arrangements and any equipment you would need before deciding.
Consider the time of day too. A convenient slot straight after a long school day may leave your child too tired to contribute. A short break and a snack could make either format easier to manage. Choose an arrangement your family can realistically keep.
Ask the same questions about teaching
When comparing tutors, ask how they will use school feedback, identify gaps and check that a student can apply a skill without help. Find out how parents receive updates and how lesson goals are reviewed.
Ask about the practical boundaries as well: communication channels, supervision expectations and whether online sessions are recorded. If recording is proposed, clarify consent, storage and who can access it. Your child should know how to raise a concern.
North Shore Tutors provides one-to-one tutoring across primary and high school subjects, with in-person and online options described on its website. Discuss your child's subject and participation needs when enquiring about a suitable match.
Review what happens after the lesson
After trying a format, ask your child to show one thing they learned and attempt a similar task independently. Ask what made it easy or difficult to take part. If the lesson felt awkward, identify whether the issue was the technology, timing, teaching approach or tutor match before changing everything.
To explore the options, contact North Shore Tutors with your child's year level, subject, availability and preferred lesson location. Include any setup or attention concerns so they can be discussed from the start.
