The first message
Keep the first message short and concrete. In a few sentences, cover:
the level and exam board (Year 11 GCSE Maths AQA, say, or Year 12 A-level Chemistry Edexcel)
where they are now (predicted grade 5 in the mocks; a 7 in the October trial paper)
the specific weakness, if you know it (quadratics and rearranging equations; technique on long-answer questions)
the goal (a grade 7; a 5 for sixth-form entry; feeling ready by May)
when you want to start, and how often (October, weekly through to May)
the format (online, in-person within your town, or either)
Don't open with "are you available?" Their calendar answers that. Lead with what you need, and the reply tells you whether they're a fit.
How to read the reply
A strong tutor engages with your child's specific situation before they talk about money. Look for a few things in the first reply:
Diagnostic questions. "Which topics within algebra?" "Could you share a recent marked paper?" They want to understand the problem, not sell a generic course.
A proposed structure. "I'd start with a 60-minute diagnostic on the algebra gaps, then plan the next ten weeks around the three weakest topics." A plan means they've thought about how to make the time count.
A word on method. "I push method-mark technique, because most students drop 10-15% of the marks by jumping to the answer." You learn how they actually teach.
Concrete credentials. They name the spec code (8300, 9MA0) and cite recent teaching, rather than "I know all the boards".
Honesty is its own signal. A good tutor will sometimes say "I'm not the right fit for this, try someone with a stats background." Weaker replies jump straight to price and availability, stay vague about the specification, push a package before you've had a session, or never ask what your child is actually struggling with.
The trial session
Most tutors offer a first session free, half-price, or with a no-commitment exit. Take it. During the session, watch whether the tutor opens with a diagnostic or launches into content, whether your child answers in sentences or single words, and whether confusion gets a fresh explanation or just the first one repeated.
Afterwards, ask your child four things: did you follow them, did you feel able to ask questions, did anything land more clearly than it does at school, and would you want another session. One weak answer is fine. Several means keep looking.
Verifying credentials
Subject expertise. Match it to the need. KS2 SATs prep wants strong primary teaching, not a Cambridge degree; A-level Further Maths does benefit from a strong maths background. Don't over-credentialise. A £40/hr tutor your child clicks with beats an £80/hr one they don't.
Spec and level currency. Ask which board they've taught most recently. Strong tutors name the code (AQA GCSE Maths 8300, Edexcel A-level Chemistry 9CH0) and can talk about recent specification changes. Weaker ones deflect with "I'm familiar with all the boards".
Safeguarding. For any under-18 tutoring, confirm the tutor holds a current check: Enhanced DBS in England and Wales, a PVG record in Scotland, or AccessNI Enhanced Disclosure in Northern Ireland. On Tutorperch we verify whichever applies and show a Safeguarding Verified badge. See DBS verification explained, PVG verification, or AccessNI verification. Elsewhere, ask to see a redacted copy of the certificate. A tutor who dodges the question is telling you something.
Don't over-optimise
A 90% match starting in two weeks beats a 100% match starting in three months. Tutoring time is finite and exam dates don't move. Once you've found a tutor who passes these checks and your child got on with them in the trial, book it and start. Hunting for the perfect tutor while the exam creeps closer is one of the more common and more expensive parent mistakes.
A note on payment
Be wary of large upfront packages before you've seen how the tutoring goes. A tutor who's confident in their work is usually happy to invoice per session or in small blocks. A 20-session deposit demanded before the trial is a flag: even strong tutors rarely need it, and it's the setup bad-faith sellers use to lock in the money before you realise the fit is wrong.