Miami, Florence & London (MFL 0225)

The family have four children: the eldest daughter is 10, the eldest son is 7, the youngest son is 5, and the youngest daughter is 3. The three older children are currently enrolled at a competitive London school where they are thriving academically. They are all exceptionally bright, intelligent, and engaged learners who are academically able and motivated self-starters, possessing a genuine love of learning. They have the imagination and curiosity to create their own projects, sometimes working individually but often pulling together. Their mother described them as ‘drinking up knowledge’ – she has little need to chivvy them into doing home learning tasks as they are so inquisitive and keen to excel. They also enjoy playing chess and demonstrate strong skills in the game. These are truly delightful children.

The eldest daughter is broadly able across maths and art, and she is also a talented musician, playing guitar and composing her own songs, displaying a lyrical gift, and frequently writing poetry. She easily absorbs and retains new learning and thrives on intellectual challenges. She will respond well to a Tutor who can integrate these subjects in the work.

The eldest son is passionate about learning Italian, diligently practicing daily with Duolingo. He has a wonderful sense of humour and a gentle personality. He will benefit from a nurturing and supportive teacher.

The youngest son, despite his age, demonstrates advanced abilities and possesses a delightful personality. He will excel with a teacher who fosters a respectful relationship and provides engaging, structured lessons.

At three, the youngest sister has not yet started school. However, she is showing all the same traits as her siblings, and her curiosity should be encouraged.

Together they are a very talented group of siblings, with skills in the arts inherited from their mother, and mathematical brains inherited from their father. The family have an apartment in Florence, and all three of the older children have expressed a wish to improve their Italian language skills.

The family are leaving full time residency in the UK and will be spending most of each year abroad – the rough plan is six months in Miami and three months each in Florence and London. The main aim of this role is to ensure that the elder three children remain on par with their peers back in London so that if the family should decide to return to London when the eldest daughter reaches year 7, she is fully prepared for the demands of a topflight London private school. The Tutor should be prepared to work each of the children individually and sometimes with the eldest two together, differentiating the work where appropriate and ensuring that the children are appropriately challenged. (Other groupings have been tried with a previous Tutor but without much success, though hopefully this will evolve.) The Tutor should be an inspiring and engaging individual, able to explain complex topics simply and in an age-appropriate manner and bringing their own curiosity and enthusiasm for learning to every lesson.

While the youngest is too young to be included in all the activities of her siblings, it would be nice if the Tutor can devise some projects or lessons which are appropriate for her participation. These would give her good foundations for when she starts more formal schooling and help her not feel left out.

A typical day in this role will see the Tutor work on academics during the morning, using the afternoons for family excursions and hands-on learning opportunities and experiences. The family will be based in Bal Harbor, close to Miami, so there will be ample opportunities to explore art galleries, local parks, beaches, museums and more. These excursions can be an excellent springboard for the children’s lessons, bringing an interactive, practical element to their learning. Cultural immersion and leveraging their Miami experiences for educational purposes will be one facet of the Tutor’s role, and a memorable element of the children’s time in Florida.

The Tutor will need to be an excellent record keeper – efficient, well prepared and organised. It is unlikely that there will be much travel involved in this role, but a degree of flexibility is always helpful for when family plans change at short notice. The Tutor is expected to be able to respond to any such changes to their timetable with alacrity and grace. The family are very close and while they will be very welcoming of the Tutor; the Tutor in turn should be careful not to encroach on any family specific activities or time.

The Tutor should be a capable linguist. The family are keen to improve both their French and Italian so the Tutor should be fluent or near fluent in at least one of these languages with a good grasp of the other. The extent of language improvement will likely evolve, depending on the family’s longer-term plans. For example, if they decide not to apply to schools for which the French is a requirement then this language might become less important.

She or he should also have a good understanding of music theory and be able to play an instrument or sing. The eldest student plays guitar and it would be lovely if the Tutor could work with her on duets, and possibly encourage the boys to join in too either through singing or percussion.

The children are being educated in the British private school system, and the eldest student will probably be taking her 11+ exams in the winter of 2025. The Tutor should be experienced in the British school system, especially the competitive entry London day schools, able to keep the children on par with their London peers, and able to provide a range of extension activities which do not form part of the core curriculum. This includes 11+ prep as needed.

Physical activities and sports should also not be overlooked. The Tutor should be sporty and able to engage the children in various physical activities, incorporating these into their overall learning experience. This approach will help balance their academic work with physical exercise, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.

The role demands a combination of professional expertise, creativity, and a nurturing attitude to help develop the children’s academic growth.

The Tutor will engage in a standard 40-hour workweek, with a likely timetable involving academic work in the mornings. Afternoons are generally preserved for the parents to spend the time with their children, but it also is a good time for the Tutor to do extra activities like music, singing, Italian etc. The Tutor will need to be flexible in this regard, and able to adapt to the family’s plans. Any occasions the Tutor is not teaching or doing activities with the children is prep time for the Tutor.

The Tutor will be entitled to two consecutive days off per week, normally at the weekend, but it is essential that they understand the need to accommodate any changes to the timetable. The standard nine weeks off per annum applies to this contract.

The Client will provide accommodation, likely in the form of a furnished apartment or AirBnB. The Tutor will also be provided with a car as needed. Any additional work-related travel expenses incurred during the contract will be covered by the Client.

The successful candidate will be able to offer more than the minimum requirements of this position and must have been raised in a socially appropriate background. They will not only be excellent practitioners, but also good role models: educated and polished, with excellent manners and personal values.

The Tutor must be a fit and healthy non-smoker – active and energetic with a love for the outdoors; the kind of person who always makes the most of their environment to enhance teaching and learning opportunities.