Our daughter's maths tutor comes home three evenings a week. We're going home to Odisha from the 8th and will be back around the end of the month. She's asked for the full May fee as usual, since she keeps the slot for us and can't fill it for three weeks. I can see her side. I also don't love paying for nine missed classes. What do others do in vacation months? Full fee, half, or a pause and risk losing the slot?
We paid full for the summer months when our son had a regular tutor, on the understanding that she'd add a few extra sessions in June to make up. It worked because we agreed it before we left, not after. Would she consider something like that?
From the teacher side: she's counting on that income in May whether you're there or not. If you want the slot in June, pay it. If you're fine finding someone new, tell her now, she'd rather know.
That's fair. We do want her back in June, my daughter likes her a lot. I'll ask once about a reduced amount and pay the full fee if she says no.
half fee for a held slot is what we settled on last year. she wasn't thrilled but agreed. depends entirely on how replaceable each of you is to the other
We pay full for our elder one's tuition teacher in the holidays. She's been with us four years and haggling in May feels wrong to me. But I know not everyone can, and three weeks is a lot.
Four years is a different relationship, though. We've only had her since January, so I don't know yet where we stand with her.
Ask her what she does with other families who travel. If everyone pays full, fine. If some get a break, so should you. Don't negotiate blind.
Slightly different worry: three weeks without any maths right before the new school year. Is she going to do anything while you're away? We send a small workbook with ours when they go to their grandparents, and it mostly comes back blank, so no judgement either way.
paid full, felt cheated for a week, got over it. good tutors are hard to find near us 😄
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