Tutoring for schools - your questions answered

Third Space Learning is suitable for KS1 up to GCSE. Programmes have been designed to meet specific goals and are not limited to one year group or key stage. For example, schools could put a Year 5 pupil on a Year 4 programme if they had gaps from Year 4.

Primary programmes:

• Foundation programmes (Years 2-6): best for pupils with significant gaps
• Booster programmes (Years 2-6): best for pupils working just behind
• SATs revision (Year 6): best for exam question practice
• Ready to Progress (Year 5): best for summer term interventions

Secondary programmes:

• KS3 programmes (Years 7-9): 4 programmes ranging from addressing KS2 gaps to preparing for KS4
• GCSE revision (Years 10-11): programmes aligned to target GCSE grades from grade 3 to grade 7

Yes. We are a team of maths experts; all tutoring programmes and lessons have been developed by maths teachers, and all tutors are STEM specialists who receive extensive maths tutor training.

Yes, all Third Space Learning maths tutoring programmes are one to one; individual pupils work through their own personalised learning journey with their own dedicated maths specialist tutor.

Yes, all Third Space Learning maths tutoring sessions take place online. Pupils communicate with their tutor via a shared screen and a microphone headset which we’ll send out for free.

Teachers begin by selecting a programme for each pupil. Each programme is made up of 20 lessons which have been specially created to best meet the programme’s goal.

Pupils then complete a diagnostic assessment before they begin the programme. This tells teachers and tutors which of the 20 lessons each pupil is secure with, and in which they have learning gaps.

Tutors will use these insights – as well as the results of the structured tutor-led assessments at the start of each lesson – to adapt the pace of each lesson.

Lessons can be re-ordered at any point according to pupil gaps as identified in their initial diagnostic assessment, to align with class teaching, or into any order preferred by their teachers.

Yes. Because teachers are in control of the programme each pupil embarks on and the order in which they progress through the lessons, Third Space Learning can be completely aligned with class teaching. Tutors also receive extensive training on delivering the National Curriculum, with training modules created by former teachers.

All tutors use our bank of specially created scaffolded teaching slides to deliver their lessons. Lessons all follow an ‘I do, we do, you do’ approach to help build conceptual understanding. Tutors begin with a structured formative assessment to help them gauge how much support the pupil needs in that topic, allowing them to begin by recapping prior knowledge or skipping straight to the ‘you do’ part of the lesson. SATs and GCSE revision programme lessons focus on exam-style questions. You can preview lessons here.

Like the tutor training programme, the assessments and the tutoring programme structure, lessons have been built by our academic team of former maths teachers and pedagogy experts.

Yes, schools choose a regular timeslot for their pupils’ one to one tutoring sessions. Schools are free to break groups up into multiple timeslots if this works better for their timetable.

Timeslots are available before, during and after school, from 8am to 4pm.

After just one lesson, 90% of pupils successfully answer post-session questions on the concept they’ve been learning.

After a sustained period of time, gaps are addressed, confidence grows and pupils make accelerated progress.

In an independent trial, pupils receiving one Third Space Learning session a week made 7 months’ progress in 14 weeks.

The cost of Third Space Learning depends on each school’s requirements, as pricing is based on:

• The number of pupils you’d like to receive one to one tutoring
• Contract length
• The number of schools signed up – discounts are also available for MATs and school clusters

On average, Third Space Learning is 56% cheaper than one to one tutoring from other providers, and is the most affordable DfE-approved one to one tutoring provider.

• Free microphone headsets for all pupils
• Diagnostic and post-programme assessments
• Regular online one to one tutoring sessions
• Unlimited staff accounts
• Dedicated Account Manager per school
• On-demand reports and assessment results
• Live in-session technical support when needed
• Access to whole school resources, including premium primary resources

The majority of schools use Pupil Premium to cover the costs. Discounts are available for multi-school sign ups and longer-term bookings.

Most schools opt for one session a week, but if you’d prefer more just let us know and we’ll get this set up for you.

Yes, we try our best to ensure pupils work with a regular tutor throughout the programme. In instances of illnesses or annual leave, or when schools choose to have more than one session per week, this isn’t always possible.

Third Space Learning tutors are all graduates and undergraduates in STEM or other maths-related fields. Each tutor must pass our rigorous application process to assess subject knowledge and teaching skills. Hired tutors receive extensive initial training before delivering their first session, followed by ongoing CPD throughout their career.

We recruit and train tutors in India and Sri Lanka. This is because there is a high number of English speaking STEM graduates and undergraduates in these regions, and we can provide schools with high quality tutors at a price that works for their budgets, while still paying tutors well above the local graduate average.

Yes, tutors are paid per session and receive additional bonuses for completing training and improving their skills.

Yes, all sessions are recorded for training and safeguarding purposes.

Our safeguarding policy and procedures have been created in line with the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance and the NSPCC’s safeguarding checklist. You can view our Safeguarding Policy here.

No, we support schools of all sizes. If you only have 1 pupil who requires additional one to one tutoring, we’re happy to help. We also work with schools who put entire year groups onto the programme.

Once you have confirmed the number of pupils you’d like to support, we’ll send out your free microphone headsets.

Getting set up for Third Space Learning is quick and easy and you can be ready for sessions in 7 days.

• Add whichever staff members you’d like to have access to the tutoring platform, including an intervention lead (who will be our main point of contact) and an IT lead (who can complete the simple IT setup steps)
• Add pupil profiles; we only need a few details such as first name and current working level
• Pick a programme for each pupil
• Complete a short technical test to ensure your school and devices are set up correctly – this is normally done by each school’s IT lead
• Set aside time for pupils to complete their initial diagnostic assessment – this usually takes about 45 minutes

Third Space Learning is currently only available for schools. If you would like your child to access Third Space Learning’s one to one tutoring programmes, it’s worth contacting their school to see if this is something they can provide.

Third Space Learning is currently only available to schools in the UK and the US. This page outlines the support available in the UK. You can find information about the service for US schools here.