Private Tutor Prep & Student Onboarding Checklist

What a good one includes

• A comprehensive intake section that captures student contact info, preferred communication channels, and guardian details for minors.
• A clear tech checklist specifying required video platforms, digital whiteboards, and physical materials like textbooks or calculators.
• A self-assessment or diagnostic prompt section to identify the student’s current academic pain points, preferred learning styles, and school-year goals.
• A formalized policy agreement covering cancellations, late arrivals, make-up sessions, and payment schedules.
• A simple prep checklist for the student to submit their recent exam papers or current syllabus before the first lesson.
• A structured schedule outlining how and when you will share progress updates with parents or adult learners.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Overlooking a formal cancellation policy during onboarding, which leads to awkward boundary enforcement later when a student misses a session.
• Failing to request past graded work or school syllabi in advance, forcing you to spend the entire first session playing catch-up instead of teaching.
• Making the onboarding process too long and tedious for parents, which creates an unnecessary barrier to booking their child's first lesson.
• Ignoring the student's personal learning preferences and anxiety levels, focusing solely on the academic syllabus rather than their emotional relationship with the subject.

Frequently asked questions