Bedford Tutor Online Terms & Conditions (Updated 01/11/24)
The following terms and conditions apply to regular sessions at the below times:
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
Client: The term "Client" refers to the individual or entity who is paying for the tuition service provided by the Tutor and/or the individual or entity who ensures the Student can access their lesson. In the context of this Agreement, the Client engages with Bedford Tutor to receive tutoring services for the Student. In some instances, there may be more than one Client for each Student, such as a grandparent who pays for the tuition service and a parent who ensures the Student can access their online lesson. All Clients must be over eighteen years of age.
Student: The term "Student" refers to the individual who is receiving the tuition services provided by the Tutor(s). The Student is the recipient of the educational support and guidance offered by the Tutor(s) and paid for by the Client.
State School Term: The term "State School Term" refers to the term dates that apply in the state educational system. Bedford Tutor follows the same term dates as used by the local authority: Bedford Borough Council. In school holiday periods, customers should follow our Off-Peak Online Terms.
For our term dates, please click here
Tutor: The term "Tutor" refers to either Helena or Annabel.
All online lessons are carried out in line with the business's Safeguarding Children Policy.
1a) General Online Learning Policies
2) Phone Contact
3) Medical Conditions
4) Paying For Lessons
5) Lesson Cancellations (In Term Time)
Section A
No cancellation should be made
Section B
Students are allowed one uncharged cancellation from Section B per school term*; Bedford Tutor reserves the right to charge in full for any additional missed sessions (from Section B) exceeding this. On the first instance of cancelling, at least twenty-four hours' notice is required (for any of the below) to avoid the full lesson fee being charged.
* For our term dates, please click here
Section C
At least one-hour's notice of cancellation is required (for any of the below) and a replacement session is not compulsory
If less than one hour's cancellation notice is given for any of the reasons above, the full lesson fee will be charged and a replacement online lesson will not be offered.
6) Vacation Lessons
For our term dates, please click here
7) Behaviour Policy
8) Ceasing Tuition
9) Learning Levels
10) Homework & Kite Challenges
**Students who do not have regular weekly lessons (such as those on the waiting list or those who attend only in school holiday periods) do not have access to these programmes.
11) Tutors
12) Additional Sessions (Applies To Regular Customers Only, Not Those On the Waiting List)
13) If Bedford Tutor Can No Longer Help
14) Limitation Of Liability
15) GDPR Statement & Privacy Policy
16) Changing These Terms
Links to all important policies can be found on the 'Information' page.
The following terms and conditions apply to regular sessions at the below times:
- Weekdays (Monday to Friday): all sessions from 3:45pm
- Saturdays: all sessions from 8:45am until 11:30am
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
Client: The term "Client" refers to the individual or entity who is paying for the tuition service provided by the Tutor and/or the individual or entity who ensures the Student can access their lesson. In the context of this Agreement, the Client engages with Bedford Tutor to receive tutoring services for the Student. In some instances, there may be more than one Client for each Student, such as a grandparent who pays for the tuition service and a parent who ensures the Student can access their online lesson. All Clients must be over eighteen years of age.
Student: The term "Student" refers to the individual who is receiving the tuition services provided by the Tutor(s). The Student is the recipient of the educational support and guidance offered by the Tutor(s) and paid for by the Client.
State School Term: The term "State School Term" refers to the term dates that apply in the state educational system. Bedford Tutor follows the same term dates as used by the local authority: Bedford Borough Council. In school holiday periods, customers should follow our Off-Peak Online Terms.
For our term dates, please click here
Tutor: The term "Tutor" refers to either Helena or Annabel.
All online lessons are carried out in line with the business's Safeguarding Children Policy.
1a) General Online Learning Policies
- All Students will need a screen of at least A5 size, a webcam and a microphone (phone screens are not suitable for online lessons).
- Bedford Tutor does not permit the recording of any online session.
- Clients will not be allowed to sit with a Student during their lesson.
- Students must not be left alone in the home when they conduct an online lesson and there must be a Client present (in the house) who is over the age of eighteen.
- It is requested that the Student does their session(s) in a room free from distractions to ensure they gain the most from learning.
- Students must be fully dressed when they conduct their online lesson.
- All Students must do their lesson seated at either a desk or a table, ideally not on a swivel chair.
- Sofas and beds are not conducive to learning and the Student will be asked to move to a more suitable position if they seated on either of these when they begin.
2) Phone Contact
- For emergency purposes Clients must provide a mobile phone number and keep their phone switched on for the duration of the Student's lesson.
- All WhatsApp messages requiring clarification from a Client should be replied to within 24-hours; tuition may be ceased if a Client frequently fails to respond to important messages.
3) Medical Conditions
- Bedford Tutor relies on Clients to inform tutors of any medical conditions that may affect learning.
4) Paying For Lessons
- All sessions at Bedford Tutor are 30-minutes in length and must be paid for in advance with a block of 5 lessons.
- The business is very busy and requires each Student to have their own allotted time each week.
- If a Tutor has to cancel a session, this will be carried over to the next week and no charge will be made for the missed session.
- The next block payment is always requested when a Client has one session remaining and payment should be made by the date on the fee slip (sent via WhatsApp) to avoid losing this regular session day and time.
- Payment should be made by bank transfer (UK Clients) or Stripe (International Clients).
- During school holidays, Bedford Tutor's payment policy is more flexible, so please speak to a Tutor to discuss this.
5) Lesson Cancellations (In Term Time)
- If there is a problem with Bedford Tutor's technology, there will be no charge and a tutor will inform the Client as soon as possible of any cancellation.
- It is the Client's responsibility to check everything is working before the scheduled lesson so the session can begin on time.
- Lessons will not be extended if the Student is late and will end at the regular time.
- If there is a problem with a Student's technology, a Tutor will endeavour to teach via phone call, if possible. The full fee will be charged regardless of whether the Student has their lesson via phone.
- Those who have lessons on a Saturday morning are subject to the full cancellation policy (below) and must keep their online appointment (Section A) if the Student would be well enough to attend school.
- If lessons are frequently cancelled (for any of the reasons below), Bedford Tutor may have to exercise their right to cease further tuition.
- For Bedford Tutor's full cancellation policy, please see below:
Section A
No cancellation should be made
- A Student has a mild illness (e.g. runny nose, sore throat, cough, etc) which isn't severe enough to keep them off school
Section B
Students are allowed one uncharged cancellation from Section B per school term*; Bedford Tutor reserves the right to charge in full for any additional missed sessions (from Section B) exceeding this. On the first instance of cancelling, at least twenty-four hours' notice is required (for any of the below) to avoid the full lesson fee being charged.
- A Student has a school trip, event or appointment on the day of the lesson
- A Student has a party or event on the day of the lesson
- A Student is on holiday/vacation on the day of the lesson
- A Student has a non-emergency medical appointment on the day of the lesson
- A Student's parent/guardian has an appointment/work commitment which means the student cannot attend their online session
* For our term dates, please click here
Section C
At least one-hour's notice of cancellation is required (for any of the below) and a replacement session is not compulsory
- A Student has a severe illness (e.g. fever, influenza, stomach bug, etc) on the day of the lesson
- A Student has an emergency medical appointment on the day of the lesson
- A personal family reason (e.g. a bereavement)
If less than one hour's cancellation notice is given for any of the reasons above, the full lesson fee will be charged and a replacement online lesson will not be offered.
6) Vacation Lessons
- State school holiday sessions must be arranged separately as the timetable is not followed during holiday periods.
- Those who have lessons during school holiday periods should follow our Off-Peak Online Terms.
For our term dates, please click here
7) Behaviour Policy
- Bedford Tutor has an extremely strict behaviour policy to ensure the health and safety of all people.
- Students who show intent to damage resources; display rudeness towards a tutor; or demonstrate repeated oppositional behaviour (such as refusal to carry out activities) will have their outstanding fees refunded and will not be offered future lessons.
8) Ceasing Tuition
- If a Client decides to completely cease tuition, refunds will not be given under any circumstance due to Bedford Tutor having to reserve this specific slot.
- A Client payment holds a specific day and time each week and tutors cannot give refunds if a change of day or time is needed after paying for a block of sessions.
- If a Client would like to change the day or time of a session, a tutor will add their name to the waiting list and notify the Client when a suitable alternative becomes available.
- Bedford Tutor kindly asks that a minimum of a block’s notice (five lessons) is given if a Student decides to completely cease tuition.
- Once a Client has given notice of leaving, the position will be offered to a Student on the waiting list or advertised online, so five weeks of Tuition cannot be guaranteed.
- If a new Student joins during this time and takes the tuition slot, any outstanding lessons will be refunded in full.
9) Learning Levels
- Bedford Tutor offers two learning levels: FUNdamentals: for Students who are currently working towards the UK expected standard, and Delve Deeper: for Students who are currently working at the UK expected standard.
10) Homework & Kite Challenges
- Specific school homework* cannot be completed in sessions, as all work is planned according to individual requirements.
- Regular, weekly students** have access to our Kite Challenges**. Additional fun learning activities are provided through this scheme and completion of tasks allows students to win certificates and prizes.
- Tutors do not set and mark specific homework.
**Students who do not have regular weekly lessons (such as those on the waiting list or those who attend only in school holiday periods) do not have access to these programmes.
11) Tutors
- All Students who have Monday-Friday after-school lessons and Saturday morning lessons will receive one-to-one teaching time with Annabel Louise.
12) Additional Sessions (Applies To Regular Customers Only, Not Those On the Waiting List)
- Additional, irregular sessions can be offered where weekly availability allows, but only one regular session is guaranteed each week to ensure fairness to all Students.
13) If Bedford Tutor Can No Longer Help
- If a Tutor felt they can no longer assist a student for whatever reason, they may have to exercise their right to terminate tuition immediately without expanding on the reason why the decision was made.
- A refund of any outstanding fees would be offered if this decision was made to cease tuition.
14) Limitation Of Liability
- While Tutors will always endeavour to ensure that Students studying with Bedford Tutor make satisfactory progress, this cannot be guaranteed.
- Neither Tutor will be held accountable for the academic (or other) success of the Student.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, Bedford Tutor accepts no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage, foreseeable or otherwise, including any indirect, consequential, special or exemplary damages arising from the use of Bedford Tutor's services or any errors or omissions in the contents of the Bedford Tutor’s learning materials.
- Neither Tutor can be involved at any time, directly or indirectly, in disputes between the Client and the school.
15) GDPR Statement & Privacy Policy
16) Changing These Terms
- Bedford Tutor reserves the right to change these terms at any point; attendance of lessons always shows acceptance of the above terms. It is the Client's responsibility to review these terms periodically and contact a Tutor on bedfordtutor@outlook.com with any queries.
Links to all important policies can be found on the 'Information' page.