There are four children. In January 2014, 17 in Y12, 15 and in Y10, 12 and in Y8, and 10 and in Y6. The children currently attend their local state schools where they are doing well. The schools involved have permitted this break while the children remain on roll as long as they maintain their academic progress and reintegrate smoothly into the school on their return for the summer term. This will be the third successive year the family have taken this winter break.

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, drums, and saxophone. 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, people who are also organised, calm, and who have a sense of humour. More specifically, the eldest girl is diligent and hard working, and is keen to do well at school. Like her three siblings she enjoys many sports and is keen to improve her Spanish.

The 15 y/o boy is top of his class and is keen to learn more at school. He enjoys most subjects, particularly practical Science. He is passionate about food and cooking in addition to sport and music. It will be important for one or other Tutor to have an excellent level of knowledge in these areas so that he or she can answer all of his questions.

The 12 y/o girl is a visual learner, arty, and fun. She is quiet at school but gregarious at home, and while there is clearly some auditory processing disorder and associated attention deficit, adjustments to teaching styles have, so far, provided sufficient compensation to keep her on a par with her peers. Hopefully the tutoring attention will give her an extra boost. She can be easily distracted and struggles with Literacy, and it will be important for the Tutors to pay special attention to this. She particularly enjoys drama, dancing, singing and all kinds of performance but she could do with more self-belief.

Although still young, the 10 y/o boy is a keen reader and enjoys most subjects. He will be taking SATs soon after the family return to England; while his scores are not of high importance to the family he will be keen to make a good showing.

The Tutor is one of two Tutors being sought for this role. He or she 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 have both given the family consent to be away and have agreed to provide the Tutors with accurate descriptions of the material to be covered by each of their respective subject teachers.

While the younger two children are not yet at a critical academic stage, the 15 y/o boy will have started his GCSEs, and the oldest her A levels. It is therefore imperative that the Tutors can cover a wide range of subjects. Alongside the core subjects of Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, the boy has chosen Geography, Spanish, IT, Music, Digital Application, and Film Studies. His older sister is taking A levels in Geography, Media Studies, Art/Textiles, and Photography. 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 from the school curricula.

This means 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 the teachers at home. It is essential that the tutors and schoolteachers share progress, disseminate information (such as changes to programmes of study) and address any questions that arise, for each of the children.

A private schoolroom with two classrooms (one open air) is provided.

The successful candidates for this role will need to be upbeat and have plenty of energy. Ideally they will be highly competent with Spanish, enjoy a wide range of beach and water sports, play musical instruments or sing, be creative and imaginative. Surf, yoga, Pilates, horse riding, mountain biking, running etc are all readily available. 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. Although the children's school largely governs the content of the curriculum, the Tutors should use the local environment as a resource wherever possible.

This is the third year the family will be away. Lessons learned from the past are important.

Although the role describes two Tutors and their overlapping skills sets, it is important that between them the full range, from the end of KS2 to the start of KS5 are covered, and that all the subjects and requisite levels are represented. It is envisaged that one of the Tutors will mainly be responsible for the oldest girl, with coverage of some of her 15 y/o brother's GCSEs. Both Tutors will be responsible for working with the youngest two children. At least one of the Tutors should be fluent or very strong in Spanish and able to support it at GCSE level.

The Tutors will 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. It is important to roll with these occasional interruptions, perhaps even to join in with the family, and certainly not to complain. Equally important is the need to remember that the role is based in a fairly remote location which, while indescribably beautiful, can make technology unreliable. There will be times when the printer breaks, or there's a power cut, or the Internet goes down… The Tutors need to be able to take these events in their stride and make allowance for them rather than getting frustrated.

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 a week and a half paid vacation per three-month assignment, taken at times convenient to the Client, as per the Terms. The Tutors should not expect to be able to have time off at the same time. In the past these periods of paid vacation have been either side of the tutoring time and it is likely that this pattern will continue.

The Client will provide separate, furnished accommodation with Internet for the Tutors, nearby the family home and schoolroom. This accommodation is suitable for a man or woman for either role. 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.

The Client will be responsible only for the first outward and final return journey (or equivalent cost) from London for each 3-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 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, taxis, or a short plane flight.

It is essential that the Tutors are non-smokers, fit and physically active, lead a healthy lifestyle, and in so doing set 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 health, possessions, and travel insurance.

It will not normally be appropriate for the Tutor to have visitors during this 3-month assignment.