Several ideas are being considered for how to develop future plans. The contract will probably start on a part-time basis, with the children in school for three days of the week and home-schooled for the other two. In the short term, the tutor’s time will be split with another family who are planning a similar approach.

The clients are planning to move home to a more rural setting within New England, though the actual date of the move is not yet certain. When they move, it is probable that the children will be entirely home-schooled, allowing for much greater flexibility and educational freedom.

At some point, the children will likely be re-integrated into full-time school. It is not known where this may be, and all options will need to be kept open. It could be a US or UK school following a standard curriculum, or one following the International Baccalaureate. Whichever school is chosen it will be vital that the children have the requisite skills already in place. It will be necessary, therefore, to keep accurate records and examples of work, to show which learning objectives have been met, in all the subjects, and across the US, UK & IB systems. This means that the tutor will understand a range of teaching systems and be meticulous in their record keeping.

Home-schooling will not be bound by any particular syllabus, indeed it is hoped that the tutor will facilitate a student-centred, experiential environment that fosters a love of learning itself. The tutor should have a love of knowledge and abilities in breadth and depth across many subjects. The tutor must be able to teach a major European language, preferably Spanish (otherwise French). The ideal tutor will also be musical, able to play an instrument, preferably piano.

The family want a tutor who is physically active and creative, with many varied personal interests. The boy loves golf and tennis, the girl loves arts and crafts and horses, and the whole family are very keen skiers. The family has dogs and will be getting horses, so the tutor must be comfortable around animals. Home-schooling will put another responsibility on the tutor – the need to ensure that there is plenty of opportunity to develop appropriate social skills through sports, and working with the children of other families.

The tutor should expect a great deal of travel - including some extended visits to Kenya, several times a year - and will need to develop learning opportunities that take advantage of this. The tutor will need to have an unflappable and calm disposition, and remain organised and flexible. The tutor will need to be extremely resourceful, ‘entrepreneurial’, and able to operate independently. The tutor will need to be comfortable asking for help and seeking support whenever needed and wherever possible. Our client will consult from time to time, but it is expected that the tutor will think and act on their own - perseverance and persistence are vital.

While staying abroad, the children will be out of their normal social environment and the tutor must ensure that alternatives are found and developed. The tutor will need to find and take the children to after-school activities, and the ability to meet, cultivate and engage with other home-schoolers will be of utmost importance.

While travelling as part of their work, the expenses of the tutor will be covered by the family, other than purely personal outgoings. During these trips, and at some other times by arrangement, the tutor should expect some light childcare duties.

A fully furnished apartment will be found for the tutor. The family will pay the tutor an additional monthly sum sufficient to cover the rent and the bills on the apartment, excluding personal use of the telephone. The tutor will be responsible for managing the running of the apartment and for paying all bills on time. (The accommodation will be suitable for a single person, or a couple.)

A car will be provided by the client for the general use of the tutor, for travel to and from work. (Any personal use of the car will be at the tutor’s expense.) The Tutor will need a current driving licence, and should expect to have to get a Connecticut driving licence soon after taking up the position.

The position will suit a single tutor, or a teaching couple. In the event that a teaching couple take up the position, it is hoped that the spouse may teach some of the subjects, and that in their free time may be interested in taking on some household management duties – the details to be agreed at a later stage – after the family move to their new home.

It will not be usual for the tutor’s partner to travel with the family even if the partner offers to pay their own way, but it is hoped that this may be possible on some occasions, during which both the tutor and his or her partner should anticipate additional responsibilities regarding the education and care of the children.