Tutors, childcare and lessons: finding the right fit for your child

Finding someone to support your child is personal.

You might be looking for a Maths tutor before exams, music lessons, after-school care, an early-learning programme or a driving instructor for a teenager.

These services aren't interchangeable, and neither are the checks you should make.

Start with what your child actually needs, then look at the person's experience, teaching approach, relevant registration or credentials, safeguarding information and practical arrangements.

What tutoring and lessons can cost

Prices vary according to location, subject, level, provider, qualifications, lesson length and whether sessions are individual, group-based or online.

As a broad 2026 planning guide:

Important: These are broad market examples for planning, not fixed or prescribed national rates.

Ask what is included and how long a “lesson” or “session” actually lasts before comparing prices.

Start with the kind of support your child needs

A good provider for one child isn't automatically right for another.

Think about the actual need.

Is your child:

• struggling with a particular school subject;
• preparing for Matric or another important exam;
• looking for enrichment rather than remedial help;
• learning an instrument;
• needing supervision after school;
• attending an early-learning programme;
• learning to drive; or
• needing another particular type of educational support?

The clearer you are about the need, the easier it is to ask the right questions.

Choosing a tutor

Ask about experience with your child's:

• grade;
• curriculum;
• subject;
• particular areas of difficulty;
• exam or assessment requirements; and
• preferred way of learning.

A tutor doesn't necessarily need to be the most academically decorated person available.

They do need to understand what they're teaching and be able to explain it effectively to your child.

Ask how lessons are structured, whether homework or preparation is expected, how progress is communicated and what happens if a session needs to be cancelled.

For online tutoring, check what platform, device, internet connection and learning materials will be needed.

Choosing childcare or an ECD programme

Childcare and early learning involve more than finding someone who “likes children.”

If you're considering an ECD programme, crèche, daycare or similar facility, ask about:

• the programme or service offered;
• age groups;
• staff;
• supervision;
• child-to-adult arrangements;
• operating hours;
• meals;
• sleeping arrangements where relevant;
• collection procedures;
• emergency procedures;
• illness policies;
• facilities;
• safeguarding procedures; and
• registration status where applicable.

South Africa has registration requirements for ECD programmes and relevant partial-care facilities.

The Department of Basic Education is currently running the Bana Pele ECD Registration Drive, including the eCares registration system for Early Learning Programmes.

Don't assume that a professional-looking social-media page means an ECD programme or facility meets the applicable registration requirements.

Ask the provider about its registration status and relevant compliance information.

Child safeguarding needs more than one checkbox

When someone will work directly with children, safeguarding deserves particular attention.

Depending on the role and setting, relevant checks may include references, identity information, employment screening, qualifications, registration and checks required under South African child-protection and sexual-offences legislation.

South Africa has both a National Child Protection Register and a National Register for Sex Offenders.

The National Register for Sex Offenders isn't a public search database for parents. Relevant employers and organisations, including schools and crèches, have processes for checking whether people being placed in relevant positions are suitable to work with children or other protected persons.

ECD programme registration requirements also include relevant clearance information for staff.

A general police-clearance certificate can be useful information, but don't treat it as the only safeguarding check or as a guarantee that someone is safe.

Choosing a driving instructor

Driving instruction has its own regulatory requirements.

To be legally recognised as a driving instructor in South Africa, a person must be registered with the relevant provincial transport authority and hold the appropriate instructor certificate for the class of vehicle they teach.

The instructor certificate is valid for a limited period and must be renewed.

Before paying for a package of lessons, ask:

• whether the instructor is appropriately registered;
• which licence codes they teach;
• lesson duration;
• whether the vehicle is supplied;
• whether vehicle use for the driving test is included or separately charged;
• cancellation terms; and
• what a lesson package actually includes.

Don't choose purely on the cheapest package.

Choosing music or other private lessons

For music and other individual lessons, look for a good fit between the instructor and your child.

Ask about:

• experience;
• teaching approach;
• lesson length;
• whether lessons are individual or group-based;
• what equipment or instrument is needed;
• practice expectations;
• progress or assessment;
• cancellation policies; and
• where lessons take place.

A trial or introductory lesson can be useful where the provider offers one.

Understand what ID Verified means

South African Pros complete identity verification as part of the Know a Pro signup process before their profile can go live.

Once completed, their profile can display the ID Verified badge.

ID Verified relates to identity verification.

It does not prove teaching ability, childcare competence, qualifications, registration, trustworthiness or child safety.

It also doesn't replace safeguarding checks, ECD registration, driving-instructor registration or any other professional or regulatory requirements that apply to a particular service.

Treat identity verification as one piece of information alongside the checks relevant to the service you're choosing.

Check references and reviews carefully

References and genuine reviews can help you understand previous experiences.

For someone working directly with your child, consider asking for contactable references where appropriate and actually checking them.

Reviews may tell you about:

• communication;
• reliability;
• teaching style;
• organisation;
• the parent's experience; or
• how the service generally operates.

They don't prove that someone is safe, professionally registered or right for your child.

Meet before making a longer commitment

Where practical, start with a conversation, interview, visit or introductory session.

Pay attention to how the provider communicates with both you and your child.

For a tutor or instructor, you may want to see whether their teaching style works for your child before buying a large package.

For childcare or ECD, visiting the environment can help you understand how the service operates.

For services involving one-to-one contact with a child, agree on appropriate communication, collection, supervision and contact arrangements.

Protect your child's privacy

Be thoughtful about what information you share.

A provider may need information relevant to teaching or caring for your child, but that doesn't mean every detail belongs in a public enquiry, review or profile.

Don't put information such as your child's:

• full school timetable;
• home-access details;
• unnecessary medical information;
• daily movements;
• private contact information; or
• other sensitive personal details

into a public review or public request.

Discuss sensitive information privately with an appropriate provider when it's genuinely necessary.

Find the right education or childcare Pro

Know a Pro makes it easier to browse local providers, compare profile information and reviews, and see available trust information before deciding who to contact.

Prices in this article are indicative market examples for general guidance and were reviewed in September 2026. Actual tutoring, lessons and childcare costs vary by provider, location, service and individual circumstances. Registration and safeguarding requirements depend on the type of provider and service. Parents should check the requirements relevant to their situation. This article provides general information and is not legal or safeguarding advice.