The TRUE value of what we offer.

Last week, one of my clients who has only been with me for four weeks told me that she can find another teacher who charges what I charge as their hourly rate. She told me that there would be more value in her working with an in person teacher who charges £65 per hour than working with me and she is completely wrong.

Obviously up to her what she decides to do. That’s the beauty of life, we are all free to choose something and then change our minds!

But it is completely her loss. And that just honestly breaks my heart for her daughter - who is just divine.

You see, she is preparing for three top tier schools for her daughter’s 7+ (including Westminster) and if she works with someone in person, let me tell you a few things.

An in person tutor with my level of experience would not be charging £65 for one hour.

An in person tutor who charges £65 per hour will not know the three schools that she is applying to as well as I do. In fact, they would probably not have any experience whatsoever with them.

Also let me explain very clearly what I offer. My rate is (currently) £65 per week for all of my clients. My clients pay a weekly fee and with that fee they have one 30 minute lesson and 24/7 email/message support from me. This 24/7 support that I offer, is not offered from anyone else on the market currently. 24/7 support means that some clients receive hours and hours of my time each week. I dedicate this to them because this is part of their package!

Some parents use this all the time and others use it less. It’s about using it to the benefit of all of my students.

Remember that I was also that in person tutor and I charged even less than £65/ hour. I didn’t have a fraction of the level of experience that I have now. My clients at that point did not have 24/7 access to me. They would receive one lesson a week, some home learning and that would be all. We would then see each other the week after. We would not speak during the weeks between our lessons.

Let me give you an example with one of my clients who is currently preparing her daughter for NLCS at 4+ and how much value she receives at only £65 per week. We meeting weekly on a Saturday but she is one of my clients who contacts me daily for additional support - all of our clients receive 24/7 email or message support as part of their packages.

Monday - 6am - messaged me about her daughter’s phonics and how she was struggling to support her to blend. I sent her a 6 minute voice note to support her with this and also recommended some excellent resources.

1:30pm - voice noted me about her daughter’s pencil control and how she was not interested in holding her pencil. I replied with three different strategies to support and engage her daughter.

7:30pm - my client sent me a selection of videos of her daughter completing her home learning tasks and I sent her my feedback.

This sort of communication happens daily with my client and we work together beautifully. She is open and receptive to my advice and support and she is determined to support her daughter to be offered a place to study at NLCS from Reception. She knows just how challenging it is to pass this assessment because her older daughter did not pass (she didn’t prepare her) and I am now currently preparing her for her 7+ at NLCS.

So please don’t confuse a cheaper hourly rate as being of more value. Working with me is of extreme value and I will be raising my prices in the very near future because I know exactly how valuable time with me is. Current clients never have their fees raised for their duration of their time with us! So the fee you get when you start is the fee you will continue with. And by the way, many of our clients stay with us for 5-6 years. That’s how much value they see that we offer.