The tutoring sector is growing rapidly. Research by the Sutton Trust showed that 27% of 11-16 year-olds have received private tuition, while one in four secondary school teachers have worked as a private tutor outside of school. Given the buoyant market it is not surprising that more and more teachers are looking to use their skills as privately paid tutors. 

If you’re a teacher looking to tutor in either a part time or full time capacity then it is strongly advised that you ensure that you have insurance in place. Although it is not a legal requirement, having insurance will give you peace of mind and provide you with protection should you need it. 

When you teach in a school environment a personal insurance policy is normally not a requirement. If you teach in the independent sector your school should have a commercial insurance policy in place whilst most state schools have protection from the  Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) for schools .

But if you offer your professional services outside the scope of school then insurance becomes imperative and thosewhocan strongly advocate ensuring you have the correct policy in place. 

When it comes to offering your services as a tutor there are two different insurance types that you will need to consider. 

Professional Indemnity Insurance

As a tutor you are providing a professional service to a client. In the tutoring industry clients may be defined as tutees, the tutees family or the educational institutions that they are enrolled in. There could arise a situation where the client makes a legal claim that you have been professionally negligent. 

Tutoring plays a critical role in the educational progress of children and the stakes are high. With this in mind clients may well have very high expectations when it comes to educational outcomes for their child. Therefore it is possible that they could make a legal claim if they feel they have lost out as a result of your professional negligence. 

Claims whether unfounded or not could include a tutee; failing to reach a specific grade in a subject, not passing an entrance exam to a prestigious school or not meeting the pass level of the 11+ in their local area. In such circumstances your professionalism might be called into question. Litigious parents might claim you omitted parts of the syllabus, did not engage with assessment materials or delivered irrelevant topics. 

In the event of a claim of professional negligence whether justified or unfounded your professional indemnity insurance provider will pay (in part or whole) the legal costs and compensation to the client. 

You will also need to check with the insurance company whether the coverage is for the UK or worldwide. If for example you are tutoring a child who resides in the China a separate policy may be needed. It is also important to notify your insurer of any locations outside of the UK in which a child is resident. 

Public Liability Insurance

Tutoring can take place in person but online tutoring is becoming increasingly popular. If your services are going to be provided in a physical location then there is a possibility of damage or injury to third party property occurring because of your professional negligence. 

For example let’s say a parent chaperoning their child to your home or office fell down a faulty staircase and injured themselves. They could make a claim against you. In such an instance your public liability insurance would cover and pay for legal costs and any compensation. Equally if you happened to break a student’s laptop or tablet by accidentally knocking it off a table and a claim is made against you to pay for repair or replacement then this insurance would cover the costs. 

If you are tutoring in an online capacity then it is less likely that public liability insurance would be required but think carefully about what you are asking the tutee to participate in. For example if you are a PE teacher there could be a possibility that a child gets injured practicing drills or exercises under your online direction. 

Be aware that such cover often will not enable you to make a claim for injury suffered by yourself or damage to your own property, this would normally require additional cover. It must also be noted that any injuries or damage or theft of property of employees will not be covered because business insurance should be used in such a scenario. 

It is also vital that your insurer knows if you are going to be tutoring on a 1:1 basis any vulnerable or at risk children. 

What If I’m Setting Up a Tutoring Business? 

If you are looking to run a tutoring service that employs several teachers then it is recommended that you have business insurance. In particular, employee liability insurance is certainly required if you are employing other members of staff. This gives you protection if one of your tutors becomes sick or injured whilst they work for you. It will help you pay them compensation if they make a claim. 

Small business insurance is often the most cost effective way of ensuring that your business is covered for the major elements of running a business including; Employers liability, business contents insurance and equipment insurance. 

Please note that If you are a member of a major teaching union then be aware that there are discounted insurance rates available to you as part of your membership package. 

Disclaimer: This content of this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. We have carefully researched these helpful insights however we strongly recommend teachers should carry out their own research and carefully review the terms and conditions of any insurance policy with the relevant provider.