Tutor Guidelines For DSF Tutors and Members Updated August 2016 Page 1 of 11
The Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation (otherwise known as DSF Literacy Services) actively supports children and adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. DSF offers a range of services including advocacy and support, professional learning and assessment. One of the key services that DSF provides to individuals with learning difficulties and disabilities is access to evidence-based remediation provided by registered DSF Tutors and Specialist Teachers. The DSF Tutor Register DSF maintains a register of qualified Tutors and Specialist Teachers (both groups will be referred to as DSF Tutors * throughout this document) who provide individual tutoring for children and adults. DSF Tutors are appropriately trained in evidence-based teaching approaches, designed to improve students literacy and numeracy skills. Student progress is monitored by the DSF Tutor Manager as DSF Tutors are required to submit regular progress reports. Reports are due at the end of each semester. Tutors registered with DSF are covered by both Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance. The children and adults who seek tutoring through DSF experience difficulties with literacy and/or numeracy, and some have a diagnosed Specific Learning Disability (such as Dyslexia). However, individuals do not need to have an identified learning disability to access tutoring through DSF. The demand for tutoring by Tutors registered with DSF is ever-increasing. DSF Tutors work across the Perth metropolitan area and throughout Western Australia. Some DSF tutors provide online tutoring using a virtual classroom. This is of particular value to families living in remote areas. * DSF has two levels of tutors on the Tutor Register: Specialist Teachers and Tutors. Specialist Teachers must have an appropriate teaching qualification. Tutors must have a relevant qualification. Their aptitude and additional training requirements will be considered by the Tutor Manager. For ease of reference, both Specialist Teachers and Tutors will be referred to as Tutors or DSF Tutors throughout this document (unless otherwise specified). Page 2 of 11
Why do we have Tutor Guidelines? The DSF Tutor Guidelines provide an overview of the requirements that Tutors must meet in order for their name to be placed on the Tutor Register. DSF is a professional organisation that is well-regarded in the community and the guidelines are designed to ensure that the professional standard of all registered tutors remains high. DSF has a duty of care to the families it supports and also to the Tutors on the DSF Tutor Register. How do Parents/Individuals access DSF Tutors? Members of DSF are provided with the names and contact details of Tutors by application. 1. Parents / Individuals join the Foundation as a Family Member by completing a membership form and paying the annual fee plus an administration fee. At the same time as completing their membership they are required to complete an online Tutor Request Form detailing their specific tutoring needs and personal information. (The administration fee is refunded to parents by the tutor by way of reduced tutoring costs across the first two sessions) 2. Parents / Individuals are emailed a password that will give them access to the online tutor register for a period of four weeks. Parents can search for a tutor by location and read their online profiles. 3. Parents / Individuals contact their chosen Tutor to discuss student requirements, location of tutoring, time and day of lessons and rate of payment. 4. Parents / Individuals and Tutors inform DSF once they have confirmed a tutoring arrangement. Page 3 of 11
What are the benefits of being a DSF Tutor? There are a range of benefits for Tutors registered with DSF. These include: Referral of students Collegial support from other registered Tutors Advice and support from the Tutor Manager and other DSF staff Discounts on DSF resources, professional learning and photocopying Access to Tutor-only test materials and other resources in the Resource Library Professional Indemnity insurance at a significantly reduced rate Free Public Liability insurance What is the fee structure for tutoring? The current recommended hourly rate for tutoring is between $65 and $80 an hour. This is the range provided to parents when they contact DSF and therefore it is important that Tutors charge accordingly. This will be reviewed annually. DSF facilitates contact between Registered Tutors and individuals seeking tutoring. Once a student is matched with a Tutor, it is the Tutor s responsibility to manage the financial transactions between themselves and the student s family including the refundable administration fee paid by the family at the time of application (see below for details). While there is a close working relationship between DSF staff and the Registered Tutors, please note that DSF does not employ Tutors. It is each Tutor s responsibility to maintain good accounting practice in relation to their tutoring income. The DSF Tutor Manager can provide advice regarding some of the financial tasks that Tutors need to complete including: Keeping appropriate records (including copies of receipts) Raising invoices Cancellation policies Page 4 of 11
Refunded Administration Fee At the time of application, the Parent/Individual pays a $50 administration charge. This $50 fee covers the cost of administrative activities conducted by DSF and is refunded by the tutor to the family by way of reduced tutoring fees for the first two sessions attended. For example, if a tutor is to charge $65 per session, they would charge $40 for sessions one and two ($25 discount per session = $50) and $65 thereafter. What are the requirements to become a DSF Tutor? Professional Standards A DSF Tutor is expected to act in a professional, courteous, positive and respectful manner at all times. Qualifications and Experience All Tutors registered with DSF: Have an appropriate qualification from a recognised tertiary institution o DSF Specialist Teachers must have a teaching qualification o DSF Tutors must have a recognised qualification from another relevant discipline (e.g. Teacher Assistant, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy etc.) Have a current Working with Children check (WWC) and commit to renewing the WWC as required by the government Have a minimum of two years practical experience or equivalent (e.g. in a classroom, as a therapist, individual tutoring) Have provided the names and contact details of two professional referees who can attest to the applicant s credentials, professionalism and aptitude Have attended an interview with the DSF Tutor Manager and demonstrated aptitude and suitability against a range of criteria Have a current Tax File Number (TFN) from the ATO Teachers with less than two years experience may be considered. Their teaching experience will be evaluated by the Tutor Manager. Page 5 of 11
Professional Learning for Prospective Tutors Before they are registered with DSF, Prospective Tutors are required to complete a minimum of five days of training in current research and high quality, evidence-based programs and strategies recognised as effective for individuals with learning difficulties and disabilities. Prospective Tutors can choose the course options from the lists below; ensuring they include at least one course from column A and at least one course from Column B to total a minimum of five days. A B Dyslexia Defining Features (1 day) Understanding Learning Difficulties: A Practical Guide (1 day) Individual and Small Group Teaching of Students with Dyslexia & other SLDs (2 days) Letters and Sounds (2 days) Effective Teaching of Literacy: A Structured Approach (1 day) Sounds~Write (4 days) 5 days For example: Understanding Learning Difficulties: A Practical Guide + Sounds~Write = 5 days Dyslexia Defining Features + Sounds~Write = 5 days Individual & Small Group + Sounds~Write = 6 days Individual & Small Group + Letters & Sounds + Understanding Learning Difficulties: A Practical Guide = 5 days Once the professional learning component of training has been completed, prospective tutors will be expected to attend a 2 hour Final Tutor Meeting where programming, reporting, assessing, and invoicing and receipting will be discussed. Tutors names, along with their professional profiles, will be entered on the Tutor Register after this meeting. Page 6 of 11
Ongoing Professional Learning for Registered Tutors Ongoing professional learning is an essential part of developing good practice; as such, registered Tutors are expected to regularly engage in professional learning opportunities in order to consolidate and improve their expert knowledge of literacy acquisition and remedial approaches to teaching. All tutors are required to complete ongoing DSF-approved professional learning. New tutors are required to complete a minimum of 6 days of professional learning in their first year, inclusive of the five days of training they completed. Tutors are thereafter required to complete a minimum of 6 hours of relevant professional learning per year to remain on the register. Registered Tutors are able to access professional learning workshops onsite at DSF at a significantly reduced rate. Professional learning through DSF could be comprised of two full-day workshops such as Letters and Sounds, or several shorter workshops such as Working Memory, Word Shark, Reading Comprehension, Voracious Vocabulary or an Essay Writing workshop. The DSF staff members who present professional learning workshops are knowledgeable and have practical experience using the programs and materials presented. Please see our website and Professional Learning calendar for a full list of available courses https://dsf.net.au/events. Consideration may also be given to the recognition of Professional Learning attended outside of DSF in place of DSF courses, if considered relevant by the Tutor Manager. Tutor Meetings DSF Tutors are encouraged to attend quarterly Tutor Catch-Ups. These catch-ups provide an opportunity to discuss current issues, share information about strategies and programs, be informed of new programs and issues concerning DSF Tutors, share success stories and/or brainstorm solutions to problems encountered. Page 7 of 11
Programs Used Many families choose to access Tutors through DSF because DSF Tutors use programs that are structured, systematic, synthetic and phonicsbased. DSF Tutors receive training in appropriate methods of literacy instruction, all of which incorporate evidence-based approaches. Examples of programs that are often recommended by DSF Psychologists are Sounds- Write, Letters and Sounds, A Multi-sensory Approach to Teaching Literacy and Alpha to Omega/WordShark 4. These programs may be supplemented by resources such as the Dandelion Readers/UK Phonics Books or TRUGS games. It is expected that Tutors will use programs that have been specifically identified as appropriate because they fit within a research-based approach to literacy remediation. Planning and Reporting An important function of the Tutor Register is to provide parents and individuals with access to Tutors who are competent, professional and work closely with DSF staff to ensure the consistently high quality of the tutoring services provided. DSF Tutors are expected to: Develop an Individual Tutoring Plan (ITP) for each student detailing: anticipated goals, strategies/programs used and a summary of any assessments undertaken. Regularly assess student progress. Submit student progress reports each semester to the student s parents (or directly to the client if the student is an adult) and to the DSF Tutor Manager. Page 8 of 11
Registration Fees Tutors registration fees and insurance are due before July 1 st every year. A pro rata professional membership fee and pro-rata tutor registration fee applies after January 1 st. The required amount for Professional Indemnity Insurance does not change. Tutors are required to pay a Professional Indemnity Insurance fee each year. This fee is separate to the membership and annual registration fee. Professional Indemnity Insurance is provided at a heavily reduced rate on the basis that all tutors are insured and fulfil the register requirements. Professional Indemnity Insurance provides up to $500 000 worth of cover (for any single event). DSF also covers Public Liability Insurance at no extra cost. Tutors are fully insured once they have paid their registration and insurance fees, but only with respect to students from families that are current members of DSF. It is important to note that if a student s membership lapses, Tutors are no longer covered by either Professional Indemnity or Professional Liability insurance when tutoring that student. Maintenance of the Tutor Register Registered Tutors are required to inform the Tutor Manager of changes to their availability. Tutors are also required to provide the Tutor Manager with the names of new students referred through DSF that they have started tutoring. Associated Business Interests Frequently, tutoring is only one aspect of a Tutor s busy professional life. Some DSF Tutors teach in schools, work in other businesses and sell products (sometimes associated with literacy acquisition). Whilst Tutors are obviously free to participate in other professional activities, it is important to keep these separate from the Tutor s role with DSF. The DSF logo and specified affiliation to DSF should not be used on any documentation other than that directly related to the tutoring of DSF referred students. Specifically, this should be limited to student progress reports and letters to parents. The DSF logo and affiliation to DSF should not be linked to product sales or activity promotion of any kind as it has the potential to suggest DSF endorsement of the product or activity; this also includes opinions expressed as part of website testimonials, blogging and other internet activities. If in doubt, please contact DSF for further clarification about the use of the DSF name and logo. Page 9 of 11
A final note Being a DSF Tutor gives teachers and other professionals the chance to work closely with students who need support. There are many rewards from being a Tutor, the most important of which is the chance to make a difference in the lives of students who struggle with literacy and learning. DSF Contact Details Phone: (08) 9217 2500 Fax: (08) 9217 2599 Email: Website: support@dsf.net.au www.dsf.net.au Page 10 of 11
DSF Staff Member Details Executive Officer: Mandy Nayton Email: mandynayton@dsf.net.au Tutor Manager: Kim Bloor* Email: kimbloor@dsf.net.au Senior Administrator & Tutor Manager: Margie Backhouse* Email: margiebackhouse@dsf.net.au Office Manager & Membership Coordinator: Priscilla Kelly Email: priscillakelly@dsf.net.au PL Coordinator: Charlie Grey Email: charlieg@dsf.net.au Tutor Admin Assistant: Libby Payne* Email: libbypayne@dsf.net.au Tutor Admin Assistant: Cath Harris* Email: tutoring@dsf.net.au Library Coordinator: Beth Burton Email: bethburton@dsf.net.au * Please address queries regarding tutoring issues to these staff members. Links Department of Education 151 Royal Street, East Perth, WA 6004 (08) 9264 4111 www.det.wa.edu.au School of Special Educational Needs: Disability PO Box 1190 HILLARYS WA 6923 Statewide Services Centre 33 Giles Avenue PADBURY WA 6025 Telephone: (08) 9402 6100 SSEND.Enquiries@education.wa.edu.au AUSPELD British Dyslexia Association International Dyslexia Association Dyslexia Action Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand www.auspeld.org.au www.bdadyslexia.org.uk www.interdys.org http://dyslexiaaction.org.uk/ www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz Page 11 of 11