Start with the exact need
Write down the year group, programme, subject, current level, target, topics causing difficulty and any examination deadlines.
Free printable UAE parent resource
Tutor qualification & safeguarding checklist
Private tuition should begin with clear information and sensible boundaries. These twelve checks help UAE parents compare tutors consistently before lessons start.
Free to print and share with families, schools and parent communities when British Scholars remains credited as the source.
Twelve practical checks
What to confirm
The aim is not to interrogate a tutor. A calm conversation and written summary should establish whether the arrangement is suitable and what each person is responsible for.
Confirm identity
Know the tutor's full name and ask how their identity has been checked before arranging direct contact or inviting them into your home.
Check current permit requirements
Private tuition is regulated in the UAE. Ask the tutor about their status and check the latest official guidance rather than relying on an old screenshot or verbal claim.
Review relevant qualifications
Ask which teaching and subject qualifications the tutor holds, whether documents have been reviewed and how they relate to your child's course.
Match the curriculum and board
Confirm GCSE, IGCSE, A Level, IB or another programme, plus the exact board or specification. Similar courses can assess different content in different ways.
Ask about relevant experience
Look for recent experience with the student's age, subject and level. A broad claim such as “all subjects and all ages” is not the same as specialist experience.
Agree safeguarding arrangements
Decide where lessons take place, who remains nearby, how online sessions are accessed and what the parent should do if the child feels uncomfortable.
Set communication boundaries
Agree which channel will be used, who may contact the student, the hours in which messages are appropriate and whether the parent should be included.
Protect privacy
Ask how schoolwork, assessment results and personal information will be stored or shared. No lesson should be recorded without clear permission.
Write down fees and cancellations
Record lesson length, price, payment timing, cancellation notice, rearrangements, included marking and what happens if either side stops tuition.
Set an honest progress plan
Review progress after four to six weeks through confidence, accuracy, completed practice and independence—not guaranteed grades.
Protect academic integrity
A tutor may explain, question and give appropriate feedback. They must not write coursework, complete an IB Internal Assessment or produce assessed work for the student.
Use the current official UAE guidance
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation provides a Private Tutor Work Permit service. Requirements can change, so parents and tutors should check the official source directly.
Warning signs
Pause before agreeing
A professional arrangement should withstand straightforward questions. Take extra care when evidence, boundaries or costs remain vague.
- A grade is guaranteed before the tutor has assessed the student.
- Qualifications, identity or permit status cannot be explained or checked.
- The tutor offers to complete homework, coursework or assessed work.
- Fees, cancellations or direct communication with the child remain unclear.
- The tutor is unfamiliar with the student's exact programme or examination board.
- The student feels persistently uncomfortable or unable to ask questions.
Parent questions
Frequently asked questions
Are private tutors regulated in the UAE?
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation provides an official Private Tutor Work Permit service. Check the current official requirements because eligibility and documentation can change.
What should I check before an online lesson?
Agree the platform, parent visibility, communication channel, recording policy, document-sharing method and what the child should do if they feel uncomfortable.
Can a tutor write assessed work for a student?
No. A tutor may explain concepts, ask questions and give appropriate feedback, but assessed work must remain the student's own.
Is this checklist legal advice?
No. It is general parent guidance. Check current UAE requirements through official government sources and obtain professional advice when needed.
Keep a copy before lessons begin
Print the checklist and ask better questions.
Use it when comparing tutors or share it with another UAE family who is beginning private tuition.