BBT Terms and Conditions Policy Document
Brain Bugs Tutors
All our tutors are highly qualified with university degrees, teaching certificates, professional qualifications or a combination thereof. Our selection process includes taking up professional references in respect of Tutors and checks with the Criminal Records Bureau. Extensive vetting takes place prior to any tutor being recommended. Tuition may take place in the learner's home, the tutor's home or at a third party venue. This is at the tutors' and learners' discretion. If any tutor is found to be unsatisfactory in any way, or a parent or a learner has a complaint against any tutor or BBT member of staff, please contact us immediately and we will investigate fully and take appropriate action.
Please note: A tutor cannot be held responsible for children or guarding a house while tutoring. Please ensure that a responsible adult is on the premises at all times. Although our tutors are thoroughly vetted, BBT recommends that where the learner is a young child or vulnerable in any way, a responsible adult known to him/her (e.g. a parent or guardian) should be present for the duration of the tuition session.
All tutors are contracted on a freelance, self-employed basis only. Tutors are responsible for their own financial arrangements regarding tax and National Insurance and travel arrangements. BBT is not responsible for the tutors' own personal safety and the safety of their personal effects.
The Tuition
One of the benefits of private tuition is that the Tutor can tailor his or her teaching method to the needs of the individual student in a way that cannot be achieved in the larger classroom setting. There is no set pattern or material for private tuition. Every student is an individual, and student and Tutor need to find their best approach together. The background information given before starting is of great help and the Tutor will ask for any additional information needed.
If tuition is to be carried out in the learner's home, please ensure that a quiet atmosphere can be provided for the duration of the session. The learner must be responsible for the provision of any course book or materials necessary to the session.
Tuition normally consists of one-hour sessions, unless prior arrangements are made between the tutor and learner. As it is difficult to know how much tuition a learner needs or for how long, BBT provides tutors who can cater for long and short term learner needs, can provide more intensive tuition in a short time if required or even provide single session tuition. Please note that multiple session bookings are only eligible for discount if booked in advance and pre-paid through BBT.
Fees
Fees as published on the BBT website and promotional material are per hour, for tuition on a one-to-one basis. Please note that there can be considerable preparation involved before each session of tuition, in addition to travel time and cost to the tutor. If a tutor has to travel some distance for the session, additional travel expenses may be incurred. This is negotiable between the learner and the tutor, although BBT will be happy to provide guidance on what should be considered to be a 'reasonable' expense.
Illness & Holidays
Please contact BBT or your tutor directly over such matters, giving a minimum of 24 hours' notice (except in unforeseeable situations). Cancellations without this notice period will be charged at the one-hour rate.
Termination of tuition
Payment For Tuition: Weekly Tutors
Tutors providing tuition on a freelance basis are responsible for the collection of tuition fees directly from the learner on each occasion tuition takes place. The rate specified by BBT on the website and promotional material is a set rate and should not be altered by individual tutors. Tutors are permitted to add a reasonable travelling expense charge which should always be verbally agreed between tutor and client prior to commencement of tuition. The basic tuition rate includes the payment for the tutor and the agency's administrative commission. The rate of commission at present is 20%. BBT will invoice tutors at the end of each month. Tutors are responsible for informing BBT of any changes to their BBT hours so that records of tuition can be maintained. Payment of the commission due to BBT should be received by BBT by the 7th day of each month.
Learners should be aware that unless a prior agreement with BBT has been made, payment for each session will be due on the day of each session. Payment should be made directly to the tutor who will provide you with a receipt. Fees are verbally agreed by BBT on behalf of the tutor and with the learner prior to commencement of tuition. They will be at the standard rate appropriate to the level of tuition provided and confirmed in writing as soon as possible.
In the case of a number of sessions being pre-booked by a learner, payment must be made in advance directly to BBT in order to qualify for discount. Tutors providing tuition where a learner has pre-booked a number of sessions will be provided with a contract guaranteeing a minimum number of hours work, payable at a slightly reduced rate on a monthly basis directly from BBT. Any travelling expenses incurred are not eligible for discount and is entirely negotiable between learner and tutor. Where sessions have been pre-booked and the learner is not happy with the tutor, BBT will endeavour to provide a replacement tutor. If for any reason another tutor is not available, the balance for tuition not received will be refunded by BBT. Where the sessions have to be postponed or cancelled by the learner, no further charge will be incurred providing BBT's cancellation and postponement policy is followed. The tuition session may be re-scheduled at a later date.
At the end of the prepaid course, tuition automatically carries on at the standard rate unless you give one-week's notice both to your tutor and to BBT. This will enable the tutor to bring tuition to an appropriate conclusion for the learner and seek reassignment to another job. Alternatively, an additional number of sessions may be pre-booked and any discounts at that time will apply.
Both learner and tutor will be required to read and sign this policy document, agreeing to these terms and conditions. You are entitled to cancel the contract within 7 working days of your acceptance or deemed acceptance in which case you will be entitled to refund of any money you have paid. However if you instruct BBT or the tutor introduced to you that you want the tuition sessions to commence before the end of this cancellation period, you will not be entitled to receive refund and full payment according to the type of tuition received will be requested.
Non-residential fulltime tuition is paid on an hourly basis under the payment options available for weekly tutors above. In both cases, the hours per day are agreed in advance between BBT, tutor and client, as appropriate for the age of the student and goals the learner and/or parent seek to achieve. As a general guideline, 3 hours per day of one-to-one tuition at home is regarded by most local education authorities as the equivalent of a full day's school in a larger classroom group. However, this can vary according to the needs, ability, effort and goals of the individual student.
Any information provided to BBT by tutors, learners or parents is entirely confidential. Details will not be passed on to any third party without express agreement.