Why Don't My Pupils Turn Up? Options

[tetrachord]

Feeling a bit depressed..

Yet again a violin pupil failed to turn up and didn't call me to let me know. I was left sitting in my flat for an hour wondering what was going on. When this sort of thing happens I end up thinking I must be a rubbish teacher that they don't want to turn up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[SueHM]

It's not that you are a rubbish teacher, but they have other priorities and are rude and inconsiderate. Do you have a contract / terms and conditions / payment in advance? If not, I would strongly suggest that you introduce them asap - amazing how people start turning up once they have paid for the service. Unfortunately, if you let them get away it they will take advantage and do it again and again... You will find loads of threads on this topic - it seems to be a stage that we go through (Mr/Mrs Nice Guy) before toughening up and treating our teaching more like a serious business concern. Good luck, and don't blame yourself for other people's bad behaviour.

[dolce@piano]

Feeling a bit depressed..

Yet again a violin pupil failed to turn up and didn't call me to let me know. I was left sitting in my flat for an hour wondering what was going on. When this sort of thing happens I end up thinking I must be a rubbish teacher that they don't want to turn up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

It's not a reflection on your teaching at all.

I don't have terms and conditions or payment in advance but I have no problems with no-shows.

I start off by giving them the benefit of the doubt - if it's a new pupil or a new time, maybe they've got the wrong day/wrong time/forgot etc. I call them and ask them where they are/were. Lots are very apologetic and mortified when they realise and it doesn't happen again.
I've only ever had one where lessons continued to be cancelled - and that was only occasionally. I stopped lessons with that child at the end of the year (mainly due to other reasons but the cancellations didn't help).

If your pupil doesn't show after 10 mins, call them ! Text them. Email them. Be concerned - maybe they've had an accident (as, after all, that's the only good reason why they're not there). If it really carries on being a problem, implement your T&Cs and make them pay in advance for the month/term.

Good luck.

[Louise H]

I don't have many no-shows but on the odd occasion it has happened, I ring them up if they are 10-15 minutes late to find out what's going on. Mostly it has been due to illness or an unusual day for some reason which threw the normal routine and therefore the parent forgot to let me know or completely forgot the lesson.


Louise

[maggiemay]

It's not that you are a rubbish teacher, but they have other priorities and are rude and inconsiderate. Do you have a contract / terms and conditions / payment in advance? If not, I would strongly suggest that you introduce them asap - amazing how people start turning up once they have paid for the service. Unfortunately, if you let them get away it they will take advantage and do it again and again... You will find loads of threads on this topic - it seems to be a stage that we go through (Mr/Mrs Nice Guy) before toughening up and treating our teaching more like a serious business concern. Good luck, and don't blame yourself for other people's bad behaviour.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Bill them in advance. A month, half a term, whatever you feel your students would be willing to do.

Email them. Be concerned - maybe they've had an accident (as, after all, that's the only good reason why they're not there).

Yes, this is what I do. 'I was sorry not to see you today and I do hope everyone is ok' sort of message.
Just as though you know they wouldn't normally just not bother to turn up! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[tetrachord]

Thanks for all the advice. I have now sent an email - concerned of course! - so I'll see if that gets a response.

Oddly enough when I tried ringing the person on the other end didn't seem able to hear me although I could hear them fine... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I had never heard of private teachers using terms and conditions until I joined these forums; I'm starting to understand why they do now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[davidmackay]

You are in business, so t's & c's effectively exist already. What you should do
is put them in writing (ie a contract) in order that both parties are clear on
the terms of the relationship, and all eventualties (lateness, non-payment) are
considered. It protects both sides.

[barbara]

Feeling a bit depressed..

Yet again a violin pupil failed to turn up and didn't call me to let me know. I was left sitting in my flat for an hour wondering what was going on. When this sort of thing happens I end up thinking I must be a rubbish teacher that they don't want to turn up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I used to have pupils who went off on school trips etc without letting me know which is why I now charge for half a term in advance. You'd be amazed at the improvement in attendance.It has nothing to do with you being a rubbish teacher -its them!