Homeschooling done right at Bee’s Tutoring Centre

Every parent wants the very best for their children and the one decision that can shape their entire future is about the type of education they should receive.

Homeschooling or alternative education is growing in popularity as many parents realise its benefits. But education can be a complex field to navigate on your own, especially when you have no prior experience in the field.

Bee’s Tutor Centre, located on Jorissen Street in Monument, is a class-A facility that works with accredited examination bodies. The certified staff can assist parents and children to navigate through the intricacies of the education system and provide tutoring support to students throughout their most important school years.

Who and what is Bee’s Tutor Centre?

Billene Dos Santos (Oosthuizen) chose to educate her own daughters at the dining room table 16 years ago and, excelling at it, was asked by the then chosen curriculum provider Impaq if she would be comfortable in assisting another child from the area as his parents worked full-day and travelled from time to time. Around that table, one child became two, then three and soon after the garage had reached capacity, they moved to a separate premises with ample space for 25 students.

“Andri and I believe tutor centres are built upon the personalities of the people operating them. Building personal relationships with each and every student is our main objective. Now, 15 years later we still hear from our students who have since got married and have children of their own, or are working and excelling in other countries. Teenagers need a safe environment where they feel comfortable and understood, where they can express themselves and ask for emotional support. I have a pastoral background and decided to further my studies in cognitive behavioural therapy as well as teenage life coaching to be able to assist our teenagers with the challenges they face every day,” Billene noted.

Last year Bee’s Tutor Centre partnered with Praxis Education to expand their horizons and offer more to their students.

Amanda Newman, Praxis principal explained that, “The biggest problem with home education is the registration of students with the Department of Education. I think that is where a lot of people struggle, whereas now with Bee’s Tutor Centre and Praxis, the process is much easier as the students are registered through Praxis Online School, which is a registered IEB entity.

“Bee’s Tutor Centre has a policy allowing parents to either choose to have their children attend the centre from 08:00 to 13:00 from Mondays to Thursdays, or simply go in at certain times for help with specific subject challenges, leaving at their leisure to continue working on their own at home.

“We provide structure to the students’ lives, because children tend to struggle without it. Should the parent want to collect their children earlier, or simply drop them off for an hour or two, they can do so.”

The centre has a notable tutor-to-learner ratio of one to ten. Billene explained, “Not every child needs that one-on-one with a tutor constantly. There’s a large spectrum of students who make use of our centre, and each student requires a different level of attention.”

The centre facilitates students from Grades 6 to 12 as well as young adults studying tertiary courses online. It currently has about 55 students attending with a capacity of 72. Looking at expanding, Billene said they have the capability to procure more space at the current centre as they grow in numbers.

Why get help when home-educating your child?

Working and studying from home can create a relaxed and, consequently, a less stressful learning environment where a child can strive. However, there comes a time when some of the coursework doesn’t make sense to the learner or the parent, and it becomes necessary to have an educator to turn to for assistance. Being able to go to Bee’s Tutor Centre for just that reason makes it a component to home education that the student can’t do without.

Some parents choose to bring in private tutors at home, but this can quickly become an expensive and time-consuming endeavour. The tutors at Bee’s Tutor Centre can help multiple learners on an individual level instead of helping just one in that hour or two, making it a far more affordable option.

Then there’s the matter of structure.

Billene noted that, “The students learn to work in a group setting where needed, which naturally helps them learn to socialise. At home, they’re often isolated from their peers, while here they make new friends with whom they can socialise on weekends or play with online in the afternoons. Our students are very welcoming to new students and make friends easily.

“We teach children to become self-reliant, to open their books without being told to do so, read through the lesson, read and answer all the questions, and ask when they need assistance or an explanation. We teach them to take initiative, create knowledge instead of just duplicating, think creatively and critically, do their own research and planning, and set their own pace. This truly empowers a child. Our tutors apply Thinking Tools when tutoring our students. Our goal is to eventually bridge the gap between Grade 12 and college or university where a student is expected to do all of the above themselves.

Why Bee’s Tutor Centre feels blended learning is better

Students will be registered with Praxis Online School, which gives students access to an online classroom platform to round out their at-home or in-centre studies.

“We run our physical classes from our one physical campus, Eagle House School, with the latest technology. The children can feel they’re actually in the classroom during an online class,” said Amanda. “We have teachers who are very creative, and the camera automatically follows the teachers as they move around the class.

“It’s difficult to express yourself sitting in front of a screen, whereas with Praxis and its blended learning we have the facilities for learners to become part of the classroom. They can hear when another student asks a question, because sometimes you need other kids to ask something that you don’t necessarily understand yourself, don’t know how to, or are too shy to ask about.”

With Bee’s Tutor Centre, a child is free to study at home, to go and see an educator when necessary, and join in on an interactive online class. In contrast to this, Praxis follows a scheduled timetable where students have to attend assembly and registration class, go on break and do their assessments at set times according to a daily schedule and due dates.

It matters to have someone there who can help

Learning on one’s own and struggling with something you don’t understand can be frustrating and may lead to a child feeling dejected. But, being able to turn to an educator who can explain a problem patiently can help build children’s self-esteem and make them feel more positive to try the problem on their own next time.

Billene said, “The people who tutor here are all hand-picked. We don’t allow tutors who are overly strict although we need to be strict to a certain point. Healthy boundaries and rules are extremely important in every aspect of life, but I don’t appreciate people screaming at children. Shouting or losing your temper just shows that you don’t have any power over your own emotions.

“We mostly tutor our students one on one. Where required, we will tutor students in a group. Sometimes with the online classes, the students can get confused and we’re right there in person to assist.”

Being accredited matters

Tutoring centres seem to be popping up everywhere, which makes it tough to know who’s the real deal and which centre or institution will set you back with nothing to show.

“There are many new curriculums and online curriculums available too, especially post Covid-19, and making an informed decision is extremely difficult for parents as just a handful are truly accredited. We have had many interviews with parents who were at their wits’ end because of promises made without delivery, and heartbreakingly the child is the one who has to repeat a subject or grade,” said Billene.

Amanda added that, “Accreditation is massively important. When registering your child through Praxis, they are accredited with the Independent Examination Board (IEB) that sets examinations for private institutions, and their National Senior Certificate is recognised and accepted by tertiary institutions”.

The centre also supports, facilitates, and invigilates students who are studying and writing through Impaq Optimi/ SACAI, Pearson CAPS as well as the General Educational Diploma, and includes cognitive behavioural therapy, life coaching, teen therapy and counselling where needed, all inclusive. Psychometric testing, subject choices and cognitive tests are available when needed.

In the afternoons the centre provides after care with homework assistance and a healthy lunch, as well as extra class tutoring services in most subjects.

The centre also tutors, supports and provides full internet connection to students studying online through various tertiary institutions.

To get into contact with the Bee’s Tutor Centre and find out how you can register your child with an accredited provider, contact Billene on 082 366 8992 or email her at billene@beetutor.co.za. Alternatively, visit their Facebook page.

Reviewers wrote the following about the Bee’s Tutor Centre:

Vanesse Levitt said, “The tutors at Bee’s Tutor Centre care for the personal welfare as well as the academic welfare of their people. They go the extra mile to ensure their students are equipped and understand their tasks to enable them to complete all requirements effectively.”

Lara West said, “My daughter has been with Bee’s since Grade 8 and her marks are phenomenal. She works so well in this atmosphere and has come into her own and is more responsible and determined than in a mainstream school. I attribute this to the owner Billene and her amazing staff. The care they give the kids is amazing. They go above and beyond. I would recommend them to every parent.”

Nelmari Saaiman said, “I would like to thank Billene and her team for helping my son with his homeschooling when we thought that all hope was lost. Billene is always professional and truly cares about her students. She is also very approachable to parents and her door is always open. We could not complain about anything and I would highly recommend Bee’s Tutor Centre for homeschooling.

Jeanine Holm said, “My sister’s children loved this centre, from the tutors to the students to the challenging Impaq curriculum. Bee’s integrates compassion into their tutor standards, emphasises the importance of values, and builds leaders through their positive interaction with the kids.”

Charlene van Wyk said, “Our experience at Bee’s Tutor Centre has been exceptional. The tutors are truly invested in my children’s education and their growth as learners and individuals. Adjustments are made as needed to meet the needs of the child. Their attention to detail and giving each child the attention they need have enabled my children to gain confidence in their learning abilities as well as in themselves as human beings.”