HOW TO HIRE · LESSONS & TUTORING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a primary school tutor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A primary school tutor in Ireland costs €25–€50 per hour, typically around €35. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a primary school tutor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers primary school tutor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — test Preparation — tutors often assist students in preparing for important exams or assessments, providing strategies and practice materials.
- How does their experience change the price?Specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does subject matter expertise required change the price?An expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does session length change the price?A longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Tutoring primarily focuses on academic subjects and skills development — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a primary school tutor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Garda vetting, shown to you, with its date; A subject qualification, and how much of their work is this subject at this level; Whether lessons are one-to-one or shared, and where they happen; For online lessons, whether sessions are recorded and who holds the recording; Cancellation and payment terms in writing — block-paid lessons are the commonest dispute; Two references from current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers primary school tutor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — test Preparation — tutors often assist students in preparing for important exams or assessments, providing strategies and practice materials.
A good answer: Specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: An expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Tutoring primarily focuses on academic subjects and skills development — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a primary school tutor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy — homework Assistance — many tutors offer support with homework assignments, helping students understand concepts and complete tasks effectively.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the primary school tutor starts, and an itemised invoice after — subject-Specific Support — tutors can provide specialised assistance in subjects like mathematics, English, or science.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: their experience — specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe
- They will not talk about it: subject matter expertise required — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour
- They will not talk about it: session length — a longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down
- A price for the primary school tutor before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the primary school tutor has begun
What a primary school tutor costs: €25–€50 per hour
Most primary school tutors quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Maths tutor and English tutor each carry their own band. Primary School Tutor price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Primary school tutors near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstTheir experience — specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe — that is what the primary school tutor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneSubject matter expertise required — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSession length — a longer booking usually brings the hourly rate down — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSpecific needs of the child — each level up adds both material and labour — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the primary school tutor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of the material — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all.
- Subject-Specific Support
- Tutors can provide specialised assistance in subjects like mathematics, English, or science.
- Homework Assistance
- Many tutors offer support with homework assignments, helping students understand concepts and complete tasks effectively.
- Test Preparation
- Tutors often assist students in preparing for important exams or assessments, providing strategies and practice materials.
- Maths Tutor
- Specialises in helping students develop their mathematical skills, focusing on areas like arithmetic, geometry, and problem-solving.
- English Tutor
- Assists children in improving their reading, writing, and comprehension skills, often covering grammar and vocabulary as well.
- Science Tutor
- Guides students through foundational concepts in subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics, often using hands-on experiments.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a primary school tutor: questions people ask
The cost of a primary school tutor can vary based on their experience, qualifications, and the subject matter expertise required. More experienced tutors or those with specialised skills may charge higher rates.
Typical tutoring sessions usually last between one to two hours, depending on the student's needs and attention span. Longer sessions can be beneficial for more complex topics or exam preparation.
If your child needs help in a specific subject, such as mathematics or literacy, a specialist tutor may be beneficial. General tutors can provide broad support, but specialists often have deeper expertise in their subject area.
Many tutors offer flexible scheduling, but availability can vary. It's best to check in advance if you require same-day or emergency tutoring sessions, as not all tutors may be able to accommodate last-minute requests.
Tutoring primarily focuses on academic subjects and skills development. Services such as educational assessments or psychological evaluations are usually outside the scope of typical tutoring services.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
MORE GUIDES