A new tutoring service will soon be coming to Merritt, offered by ‘The Travelling Tutor’, the brainchild of Education Assistant Brandy Parlett.

“I decided to start the business based on the educational gap, I look at it as a gap in service,” explained Parlett.

“I understand that we have remote learning using the computer, we can have staggered enrolment, but a lot of kids benefit from the one-to-one support, and it helps the parents.”

Parlett feels that her tutoring business, which launches on Sept. 8 just in time for the fall semester, will be particularly necessary as parents and caregivers navigate a return to school amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It seems that a lot of parents are concerned about sending their kids back to school,” said Parlett.

“I would say it’s because they’re worried about a second wave, especially for those who have someone immunocompromised in the house. Elders, people that maybe have cancer or things like that, those people don’t feel that comfortable sending their kids back, but at the same time those people need support. A lot of families don’t know what to do right now. Some people still have to work, it’s very complicated.”

Parlett is confident in her ability to provide that much-needed support, having been an Education Assistant for more than ten years.

“I’ve been an Education Assistant (EA) since 2008,” said Parlett.

“I worked in Surrey, which is the largest district in the province, I’ve worked in all sorts of programs. I’ve worked with kids coming out of jail, I’ve worked with kids with cerebral palsy, autism, down syndrome, just a wide variety of kids I’ve supported.”

Unlike a standard tutoring service, where someone comes to the home and does independent work with the student, Parlett believes in a more rounded approach that will include communication with others involved in a student’s educational life.

“We would be working with the student’s school team, the student’s teacher, community members if they’re special needs, working with child services to best support the child in the home,” explained Parlett.

“We support the Individual Education Plan, and I have a lot of experience with that because I’m an EA. We will support that, in the home, for the child.”

Parlett also requires a minimum two-hour session each time, believing it is more beneficial to the child and more conducive to learning.

“We’re going to learn everything about the children that we work with, and that is also why our services are a minimum of two hours,” said Parlett.

“Our goal is to take a mental health approach to our service. It’s important to us to focus on wellness, so we’re not going to be the type of tutor that comes in, slams down our books and goes ‘ok little Joey, bring out your math’… you have to give them that buffer time to get started.”

The rates for tutoring will be $25 per hour, with the tutors themselves being assigned their students and paid according to experience and education. Parlett hopes to bring other tutors on board ranging from active teachers to high school students.

“We would match the tutor up with the family,” said Parlett.

“We will fill the need.”

A schedule of 10a.m. to 8p.m. will provide families with flexibility, and also allow Parlett more hiring opportunities. Some tutors may be students themselves who are only available after school, or they may be regular classroom teachers, or have other jobs that would only allow them to offer tutoring after their work hours.

Parlett acknowledges that for some families, paying $25 per hour for a tutor is not feasible. For this reason, she is hoping to secure funding through partnerships within the community.

“We have special needs kids right now at home, we have kids that are living in poverty and their parents can’t afford to pay someone $25 an hour to come in,” said Parlett.

“So, we are looking for funding partners for our kids. Businesses, agencies and corporations in the community, if they want to become a funding partner to make a difference in a child’s life and their education, they hold the funding, we do the service and then we invoice the funding provider after the parent signs the invoice. So, we’re not asking for them to put money in our account… I’m not asking for funding to pay for my pens or my books or my computer, this is just strictly for the kids.”

In addition to tutoring, and specialized tutoring to help special needs students such as those struggling with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, global developmental delay and dyslexia, Travelling Tutor will also offer in home respite care.

“The in-home respite means that there’s still somebody there, but we might be baking cookies with the kids or doing activities with their kids so that they can get the laundry done, just have some me time, whatever the parents want,” said Parlett.

“We are dedicated to knowledge, creativity and success. We want to increase knowledge and support creativity so that all of our kids are successful.”

To begin with, the services will be available in Merritt, Lytton and Spences Bridge, with Merritt being the home base.

“These parents need the support and they should be supported,” said Parlett.

“It should be an option for them, to not send their kids back if they don’t want to. Right now, it’s time for us to stick together, we’re all in this together. Families need the support and kids need the support. It’s going to make a huge difference. I think it’s really going to benefit people.”