School resumption is exciting.
But for many parents, it also comes with a quiet worry.
“What if my child is not ready?”
What if they have forgotten some of what they learned last term?
What if they struggled with Mathematics but never really caught up?
What if their reading and writing have fallen behind?
What if they enter a new class and suddenly discover that everyone seems to understand the work except them?
What if the first few weeks of school become a struggle with homework, tests, assignments and unfinished work?
These are not unreasonable concerns.
For many families, the beginning of a new academic session is when previously hidden learning gaps become visible.
And by the time parents notice the problem, the term may already be well underway.
For parents in Nigeria and Nigerian families living in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia, there is another challenge: finding a private tutor who understands the child's actual curriculum, not simply someone who knows the subject.
School Resumption Is the Best Time to Ask: “Where Is My Child Academically?”
The beginning of a school year gives parents an opportunity that is often overlooked.
It is a chance to pause before the academic pressure becomes intense and ask:
What does my child already understand?
What do they struggle with?
What did they fail to master last year?
What will they be expected to learn this year?
A child can move from one class to another without completely mastering the previous year's work.
This happens more often than many parents realise.
A learner may have passed the previous class but still have weaknesses in:
- Fractions
- Multiplication and division
- Problem-solving
- Algebra
- Reading comprehension
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Essay writing
- Vocabulary
- Science concepts
- Examination technique
- Independent learning
Those gaps do not necessarily disappear when a new school year begins.
Instead, new topics are often built on top of them.
That is why early academic support can be more effective than waiting until examination time.
“My Child Is Intelligent, So Why Are They Struggling?”
This is one of the most frustrating questions parents ask.
A child can be intelligent and still struggle academically.
Academic performance is influenced by many things, including:
- Previous learning gaps
- Teaching style
- Confidence
- Concentration
- Study habits
- Reading ability
- Understanding of foundational concepts
- Ability to apply knowledge
- Examination technique
- The pace at which new material is introduced
Sometimes a child does not need more hours of homework.
They need someone to identify what they don't understand and why.
That is where personalised tutoring can make a difference.
The Problem With Waiting Until Your Child Starts Failing Tests
Many parents wait for a report card before taking action.
By then, the problem may have become more difficult to solve.
Imagine a child entering a new academic year with a weakness in fractions.
The new teacher moves on to ratios, percentages, algebra or more advanced problem-solving.
The learner is now trying to understand the new topic while still carrying an old gap.
Then homework becomes difficult.
Tests become stressful.
The child begins losing confidence.
Eventually, the parent hears:
“I don't like Mathematics.”
But the real problem may have started months earlier.
This is why the beginning of the academic session can be a good time for an academic check-in or diagnostic assessment.
Not because every child needs tutoring.
But because parents deserve to know where their child actually stands.
What Should Parents Check Before the New School Term?
You do not need to give your child hours of revision during the holiday.
Instead, focus on the fundamentals.
1. Mathematics
Can your child confidently handle the major concepts expected at their current level?
Depending on age and curriculum, this could include:
- Number operations
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Percentages
- Place value
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Algebra
- Word problems
- Logical reasoning
Do not only ask your child to solve routine questions.
Give them a problem that requires them to think.
That can reveal much more than memorisation.
2. English and Reading
Ask yourself:
Can my child read independently and understand what they have read?
Look beyond spelling.
A learner may be able to read words but struggle with:
- Understanding passages
- Identifying the main idea
- Explaining an answer
- Using evidence
- Vocabulary
- Sentence construction
- Paragraph writing
- Grammar
For older learners, writing becomes increasingly important.
A child may understand an idea but struggle to express it clearly in a structured answer.
3. Science
Science is not simply about memorising definitions.
Ask whether your child can explain why something happens.
Can they interpret a diagram?
Can they apply a scientific idea to a new situation?
Can they explain an experiment?
Can they interpret information from a table or graph?
These skills become particularly important as learners move into more advanced secondary education.
The Biggest Mistake: Choosing a Tutor Simply Because They Teach the Subject
This is where many parents get stuck.
You search for:
“Maths tutor near me.”
You find someone.
They have good qualifications.
They seem friendly.
Their price is reasonable.
You book the lessons.
But there is one important question you may not have asked:
Does this tutor understand the curriculum my child follows?
A Mathematics tutor may be excellent but have little experience with the British curriculum.
Another tutor may be very good at Mathematics but unfamiliar with the Ontario curriculum.
Another may be able to teach Mathematics but have no experience preparing students for SAT or AP examinations.
The subject is only one part of the equation.
Curriculum Matters More Than Many Parents Realise
For a child following the British curriculum, parents may specifically need a tutor familiar with:
- UK National Curriculum
- GCSE
- IGCSE
- A-Level
- 11 Plus
- Cambridge Checkpoint
For families in Canada, the tutor may need experience with provincial curricula such as:
- Ontario curriculum
- British Columbia curriculum
- Alberta programmes of study
For families in the United States, parents may be looking for support with:
- American curriculum
- Common Core-related learning
- SAT
- AP subjects
- High school academic preparation
For families in Australia, parents may need a tutor familiar with:
- Australian Curriculum
- State-based curriculum requirements
- Primary and secondary subjects
- Examination preparation
So when searching for an online private tutor, don't only ask:
“Can you teach this subject?”
Ask:
“Can you teach this subject according to my child's curriculum and academic level?”
That is a much better question.
For Parents Abroad: Finding the Right Nigerian Tutor Can Be Even More Complicated
For Nigerian families living abroad, there can be another consideration.
Many parents want a tutor who understands both their child's educational requirements and their family's expectations.
A parent in London may want a Nigerian tutor for a child following the British curriculum.
A Nigerian family in Toronto may want a Nigerian tutor who understands the Canadian curriculum.
A family in Houston or New York may be looking for an online Nigerian tutor for American curriculum subjects or SAT preparation.
A Nigerian family in Melbourne or Sydney may want an online tutor who understands the Australian curriculum.
The attraction is understandable.
Nigeria has a large pool of academically trained professionals, educators and subject specialists.
But parents should still be selective.
A tutor being Nigerian does not automatically mean that they understand the British, American, Canadian or Australian curriculum.
Curriculum knowledge, teaching ability and the ability to connect with the individual child still matter.
What If Your Child Is Following an International Curriculum in Nigeria?
This is another situation many parents overlook.
Not every child studying in Nigeria follows the Nigerian curriculum.
Many children attend international schools and follow:
- British curriculum
- Cambridge curriculum
- American curriculum
- Canadian curriculum
- International programmes
These learners may need a tutor who understands the curriculum they encounter at school.
For example, a parent searching for a British curriculum tutor in Lagos should ideally look for someone who understands the child's year level, learning objectives and assessment style.
The same applies to families in Abuja, Port Harcourt and other Nigerian cities.
The Right Tutor Should Start With the Learner—Not the Textbook
One of the clearest signs of good tutoring is that the tutor wants to understand the learner before simply starting lessons.
A good first conversation should explore:
What class is the learner entering?
Which curriculum do they follow?
Which subjects are difficult?
What does the parent want to improve?
What did the child struggle with last term?
Are there upcoming examinations?
Does the child enjoy the subject or avoid it?
Does the learner need academic support, examination preparation or both?
This information helps determine what kind of tutoring the child actually needs.
Your Child May Not Need a Tutor for Every Subject
Another common mistake is assuming that tutoring means adding private lessons for everything.
That may not be necessary.
Perhaps your child is doing very well in English and Science but struggles with Mathematics.
Perhaps Mathematics is fine but writing is weak.
Perhaps the child understands their schoolwork but needs help preparing for IGCSE.
Perhaps they are academically strong but need specialised SAT preparation.
Perhaps they are excellent academically but need support developing technology skills.
The objective should not be to fill your child's timetable with tutoring.
The objective should be to solve the actual learning problem.
How to Know When Your Child May Need a Private Tutor
Consider getting additional academic support if your child:
- Consistently struggles with a particular subject
- Avoids homework
- Takes unusually long to complete simple assignments
- Frequently says “I don't understand”
- Has lost confidence in a subject
- Performs well in classwork but poorly in tests
- Has difficulty explaining concepts independently
- Has significant gaps from the previous academic year
- Is preparing for an important examination
- Needs support transitioning to a more demanding academic level
- Needs personalised attention that the classroom cannot provide
None of these automatically means your child is “weak”.
Sometimes it simply means the learner needs more individualised teaching.
Why One-on-One Tutoring Can Help
A classroom teacher has to support many learners.
A private tutor can focus on one learner.
That changes the learning experience.
The tutor can slow down when the learner is confused.
They can move faster when the learner is ready.
They can ask follow-up questions.
They can provide additional examples.
They can identify recurring mistakes.
They can adjust the lesson to the learner.
Most importantly, the learner has space to say:
“I don't understand.”
without feeling embarrassed in front of an entire classroom.
Parents in Nigeria Are Under Pressure Too
School resumption does not only create academic pressure.
It creates financial and logistical pressure.
Parents are already thinking about:
- School fees
- Uniforms
- Books
- Transportation
- Feeding
- School supplies
- Extra-curricular activities
- Examination costs
Adding private tutoring to the list can therefore feel like another financial burden.
That is why parents should avoid paying for tutoring simply because someone recommended it.
First determine:
What does my child actually need?
Then determine:
What type of tutor can solve that problem?
Then consider:
How often does the child realistically need lessons?
This approach is more sensible than automatically booking several lessons every week.
Parents Abroad Have a Different Set of Challenges
For parents in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia, finding the right tutor can also involve:
- Time-zone differences
- Curriculum differences
- Finding tutors who understand their child's school system
- Ensuring reliable online lessons
- Finding someone who communicates well with both parent and child
- Managing tutoring alongside school and extracurricular activities
- Finding a tutor who understands the family's expectations
This is why online tutoring platforms and tutoring organisations need to do more than simply provide a list of tutors.
The goal should be to help parents find a suitable match.
Don't Wait Until the First Examination
This may be the most important message for parents preparing for the new school year.
If you already know that your child struggled last year, don't wait for the first major examination before addressing it.
If your child is moving into a more difficult year group, identify potential gaps early.
If your child is starting IGCSE, GCSE, A-Level, SAT, AP or another important academic programme, early preparation can give them more time to understand the material.
And if your child is simply moving into a new school year, a simple academic check can help establish a baseline.
The objective is not to create unnecessary pressure.
It is to prevent small problems from becoming major ones.
A Simple Back-to-School Academic Plan for Parents
Before school gets busy, consider doing these five things:
Step 1: Identify the child's curriculum
Is it Nigerian, British, American, Canadian, Australian or another curriculum?
Step 2: Identify the weakest subjects
Don't guess.
Look at previous results, homework, teacher feedback and the child's own experience.
Step 3: Identify the specific learning gaps
“Bad at Mathematics” is too broad.
Is the problem fractions?
Algebra?
Problem-solving?
Mental arithmetic?
Geometry?
Step 4: Find a tutor who matches the problem
Look for subject knowledge and curriculum experience.
Step 5: Start with a clear learning goal
For example:
«“Improve Year 7 Mathematics confidence and close gaps in fractions and algebra during the first six weeks of the term.”»
That is much better than:
«“I just want my child to be better at Maths.”»
The Right Time to Get Academic Support May Be Before There Is a Crisis
Parents often seek tutoring when the situation has already become urgent.
A poor test result.
A teacher's warning.
A difficult report card.
An examination approaching.
A child who suddenly says they hate a subject.
But tutoring does not have to be a rescue operation.
It can also be preventive.
A well-planned private tutoring programme can help a learner enter a new academic year with greater confidence, stronger foundations and a clearer understanding of what is expected.
At Glareminds, the First Question Is Not “How Many Lessons Do You Want?”
It is:
“What does your child need help with?”
Glareminds provides personalised online private tutoring for learners in Nigeria and families abroad, with support across academic subjects, examination preparation and technology education.
Parents can seek tutors for learners following Nigerian, British, American, Canadian and Australian curricula, depending on the learner's needs.
Whether you are looking for a private tutor in Lagos or Abuja, a British curriculum tutor in Nigeria, an IGCSE tutor, an SAT tutor, or a Nigerian tutor for your child in the UK, USA, Canada or Australia, the starting point should be understanding the learner.
Because the goal is not simply to find a tutor.
The goal is to find the right tutor for your child.
School Is Resuming. What Will You Do Differently This Term?
The new academic year gives parents a fresh opportunity.
You don't have to wait for your child's first poor test.
You don't have to wait for a teacher to say there is a problem.
You don't have to wait until examination season.
Start by asking your child three simple questions:
What subject do you enjoy most?
What subject do you find hardest?
What do you wish your teacher explained better?
Their answers may tell you more than you expect.
And if you discover that your child needs additional support, act early.
The best time to address a learning gap is usually before it becomes a crisis.
Looking for the Right Private Tutor?
If your child is preparing for a new school year, struggling with a particular subject, following an international curriculum or preparing for an examination, Glareminds can help you explore personalised one-on-one tutoring options.
Tell us your child's age/year group, curriculum, subjects, learning challenges and goals, and the right tutoring approach can be considered around the learner rather than simply putting the learner into a standard programme.