By Russell Greenhill

Founder & CEO @ Greenhill Academics

Oxford Master’s Graduate • 8+ Years Tutoring Experience

What happens after you book your first lesson

Booking your child’s first lesson is exciting, but it can also feel nerve-wracking. Here are some questions you might have: Will the tech work? Will my child enjoy it? Will the tutor be a good fit?

This guide will walk you through every step you need to feel confident and prepared to get the most out of the tutoring. If for any reason along the way, you should message us immediately to

Get the technology set up

We do all of the hard work to get you set up on our platform. We use two main pieces of software:

• Tutorcruncher – this is our booking system
• Pencil Spaces – this is the tutoring software

We set this up for you. All you need to do is make sure you get the welcome emails and can log in.

Get access to WhatsApp (or WeChat)

Every family has a WhatsApp (or WeChat) group that we set up. This is where you access our Lesson Coordinators and where all communication about lesson booking and adjustments is made. We are always available to make adjustments and action feedback.

When lessons are booked, we screenshot your current lesson booking calendar to the chat. If for any reason you see an error, please tell us so we can fix it. The calendar in the chat enables everyone to see the lesson bookings.

Get ready for your first lesson

The first lesson can either be targeted at your goals if you know exactly what it is you’re coming for or a fun, exploratory lesson if you’re after more general tutoring. What you should expect is to engage with tutoring at a high level, whilst maintaining the fun of learning, ultimately leaving you with a smile on your face.

The more information you share with us about your level of learning, your difficulties, and your resources, the better the first lesson will be. Everything will be shared with the tutor and you can expect your tutor to come into the lesson prepared, ready to make the most of your time together.

If you need to change a lesson booking

You can reschedule any lesson as long as you give more than 24 hours’ notice. Lessons changed after this period will be charged. All you have to do is message us and we will get this organised for you. We endeavour to respond quickly to any changes, usually in under 5 minutes during business hours.

Access your lesson

You’ll receive two reminder emails (2 days and 1 hour before each lesson). Each includes a direct link to join the online classroom. Just click the link before the lesson starts and you will get into the classroom. If it’s your first lesson, please join at least 10 minutes before to make sure there are no initial technical issues. If you have any problems, our team is on hand to help.

You can also join your lesson through TutorCruncher, but navigating to the current lesson and clicking on ‘Pencil Spaces’.

How do I know if the tutor is the right fit?

We will check in with you to discuss the first lesson, after it takes place. This is where you have an opportunity to discuss any uncertainties with us, and it gives us a chance to take action and adjust the lessons towards your goals. We welcome any feedback as this is how we improve our service to you.

What if I need another subject?

We offer tutors for all subjects that you see on our tutor page. These tutors teach the IB, GCSE, and A Levels.