There are four children. In January 2012, the eldest girl will be 15 and in Y10, the elder boy will be 13 and in Y8, the younger girl will be 10 and in Y6, and the youngest boy will be 8 and in Y4. The children currently attend their local state schools where they are doing well enough. The two schools involved have both permitted this break while the children remain on role as long as they maintain their academic progress and reintegrate smoothly into the school on their return for the summer term.

All four children are extremely curious and engaging with a wide range of interests and talents. Between them they play several instruments including piano, guitar and drums, and trumpet. The whole family leads a sporty and physically active lifestyle, and are keen surfers and skiers.

The children enjoy working with teachers that deserve respect because they are knowledgeable and interesting, but people who are also organised, calm, and who have with a sense of humour. More specifically, the eldest girl is diligent and hard working, and is keen to do well at school. She loves gymnastics and running and is keen to improve her Spanish. The older boy is top of his class but not being challenged and is keen to learn more at school. He enjoys most subjects, particularly practical Science. It will be important for one or other Tutor to have an excellent level of knowledge in this area so that he or she can answer all of the boy’s questions. The younger girl is a visual learner, arty, and fun. She is quiet at school but gregarious at home, and her parents think that there may be some minor dyslexia or aural issue. She can be easily distracted and struggles with Literacy, but some less than suitable teachers could just as easily be the cause. She particularly enjoys drama, dancing, singing and all kinds of performance but she could do with more self-belief. The youngest boy is such a keen reader that his school is holding him back so that he does not get too far ahead of his peers.

The Tutors will work with all four children five days a week on average, typically Monday-Friday, to maintain their progress relative to their peers while the family are in Costa Rica. The children’s schools in England have both given the family consent to be away for four months of each year but it is not known at this stage how cooperative their respective teachers will be regarding the provision of class materials. This means that, between them, the Tutors will need to be well-versed with appropriate learning targets across all the required key stages and subjects.

While the three younger children are not yet at a critical academic stage, the eldest will have started her GCSE course and it is therefore imperative that the Tutors can support a wide range of subjects in a home-school environment. Alongside the core subjects of Maths, Double Science and English, she has opted for Geography, Spanish, Art, and Graphic Products. This will mean that not only will the Tutors need to be able to get many of their resources from the local environment for such subjects such as Science and Geography, but that they will need to have the personal credibility to establish a good working relationship with her teachers in the UK and with the British School of Costa Rica who have agreed, in principle, to provide the resources for controlled assessments that take place during the January-April period.

There is a small local school in the area and the current plan is that the family will rent a room from the school for the teaching. The Tutors will teach the children following the timetable set by the local school, so that the children are able to join in socially with the other children in the school during normal breaks. The presence of this private tutoring arrangement in the local school is another area where the Tutors will need to be able to develop and maintain sound professional relationships, and it may be that some overlap with the work of the school, or some sharing of resources, will be possible as long as it is not to the detriment of the Client’s own children.

The successful candidates for this role will need to be upbeat and have plenty of energy. Ideally they will be competent with Spanish, enjoy a wide range of beach and water sports, play musical instruments or sing, be creative and imaginative. Teaching in the inspirational environment of the largely undeveloped Pacific coast of Costa Rica offers able teachers unparalleled opportunities to illuminate the standard curriculum and enhance the learning experience in ways that should make this experience for all four children something special that they reflect on fondly and look forward to with excitement.

The Tutors will therefore need to be well organised, flexible and adaptable. Although the family will try to maintain a routine there may be occasion where the surf is particularly good one morning, or a volcano is worth a visit, and the decision is made to adjust plans at short notice. Clearly, this role requires resourceful, intelligent and knowledgeable educators who are sensitive to the unusual circumstances of the position, relaxed and easygoing with a sunny disposition on the one hand while firm, encouraging and directed on the other. It is also important that the Tutors remember that although the working environment is relaxed compared to formal schooling in England it is essential they remain professional at all times, and respectful of the family’s privacy.

The Tutors should expect to work an average of about 30 hours a week, five days a week. Preparation time is in addition to this. The Tutor will be entitled to a minimum of three weeks paid vacation per four-month assignment, taken at times convenient to the Client, as per the Terms.

The Client will be responsible only for the first outward and final return journey for each 4-month assignment, and for internal travel in Costa Rica as required for their work.

For tutor-related purposes a car will be made available to the Tutors. The rest of the time, bicycles and mopeds are the best forms of personal transport, and these will be provided for the Tutors. For longer journeys to nearby cities for example, there is a reliable bus service.

The Client will provide separate, furnished accommodation with Internet for the Tutors, nearby the family home and schoolroom. This accommodation could be suitable for a committed couple or for two independent Tutors. The Client will be responsible for all bills on this property with the exception of any private phone calls.

The Tutors are responsible for their own meals. If hotel accommodation is required when the eldest girl takes her controlled assessments, the Client will be responsible for the Tutor’s out of pocket expenses.

It is essential that the Tutor is a non-smoker, someone who is fit and leads a healthy lifestyle, and in so doing sets a good example.

The family are based in a rural and largely undeveloped part of Costa Rica. Although it is a long journey by road to the nearest conurbation, it is just 40 minutes drive to the local airport and an inexpensive 25-minute flight to San José.

The Tutors will be responsible for arranging and financing their own travel and health insurance.