An interview with Simon and Manda Barnes, founders of TLC Education Group
Why did you start TLC?
Simon: Both Manda and I are qualified teachers and having worked in the education sector for more than 25 years we felt that there was something we could offer that would supplement the work being done in schools.
Manda: Also, as parents, we had struggled with the challenge of finding suitable private tutoring for our children and saw a need for a more professional approach.
What makes TLC’s approach more professional?
Manda: In most cases parents find a tutor who will start teaching a student without any form of assessment to identify where they need help. A student might say they struggle with algebra for example, but the reason for this may be that they still have underlying problems with division, so this basic gap in their knowledge would need to be tackled first. At TLC we conduct a skills assessment to identify any gaps in the students’ knowledge and then we put together a bespoke programme for the student based on this.
You say that building confidence in students is a key objective for you. How do you achieve this?
Manda: Students at TLC work at their own pace and don’t have the pressure of keeping up with the rest of the class, which for many students makes learning easier and less stressful. They tackle one skill at a time and only move on to the next when they’ve mastered the previous.
Simon: Students gain in confidence when realising they’ve mastered a skill they previously thought was impossible. As they gain in confidence the next task seems less daunting and the cycle of confidence and success continues.
How do you choose your teachers?
Simon: We only hire fully qualified teachers as we believe that students need to be taught by someone who has been fully trained to do this. We also look for teachers who have a passion for their work and who take pride in the help they are able to provide our students. We look for experience and the right attitude and we can then train the teachers to use the TLC learning aids.
What is next for TLC Education Group?
Simon: We started from humble beginnings with one centre, but now have six centres open in some of the best and most innovative schools in our local area. We will continue to grow our business in partnership with schools, as our aim is to provide the best education and opportunities for local children.
Manda: We are also proud to have launched our online tutoring service TLC Live!, which we think is a very convenient way for students to get the extra help they need, and for us to offer the TLC programmes to a wider audience. It’s already being successfully trialled in three schools and many private students are also benefiting from it. In fact TLC has already gone ‘international’ by tutoring two students from Bermuda!