Teachers & tutors insurance

A straightforward guide to protection for teaching work

Teachers and private tutors face everyday risks that are easy to overlook. A pupil trips over your laptop cable, a parent alleges your advice harmed exam prospects, or a tablet is damaged during a home visit. Insurance for teachers and tutors exists to absorb the financial shock from these moments so your career and income can stay on track. This guide explains the core covers, typical costs, and how to compare policies with a level head.

In Great Britain, insurance is not usually mandated for solo tutors, but it is strongly recommended. Professional indemnity can protect you if someone claims your teaching advice caused a loss. Public liability can step in if you accidentally injure someone or damage property while working. If you employ staff, employers’ liability is a legal requirement. These protections are particularly important for private tutors who do not benefit from a school’s insurance. Where you are centrally employed by a local authority or a maintained school, cover is generally arranged by your employer.

Typical public liability cover for tutors starts from roughly the cost of a few coffees each month, with limits often set at £1 million or £2 million. Professional indemnity limits commonly start around £250,000. Policies can be tailored for face-to-face, online, and home-based sessions. Insurers may need to know if you teach vulnerable children or deliver sessions outside the UK to ensure the wording is suitable.

Insurance can offer real financial protection, but only when you understand what is covered - and where the gaps are.

Read on for a clear, practical overview so you can weigh the value of cover against the real risks you face, without overspending or buying features you do not need.

What is covered and how it typically works

Professional indemnity is designed to cover claims arising from your professional services - for example, if a parent alleges your advice or materials were negligent and led to financial loss. It may help with legal defence costs and any compensation you are liable to pay, up to the policy limit. Public liability addresses injury or property damage to third parties - for example, a pupil tripping over a power cable during a session at their home or accidental damage to a client’s furniture. Employers’ liability covers injury or illness to employees that arises from their work and is a legal requirement if you hire staff.

Policies usually set a limit of indemnity and an excess. The limit is the maximum the insurer will pay for a claim or across the policy period, and the excess is the amount you contribute. Claims generally begin with incident reporting to your insurer or broker, followed by information gathering, liability assessment, and either defence or settlement. Insurers often require that you do not admit fault before speaking to them. Keep lesson plans, communications, and risk assessments, as good records support smoother claims handling.

Exclusions vary, but common ones include deliberate acts, criminal activity, and known issues not disclosed at purchase. Some policies exclude work outside the UK unless declared, and you may need to notify insurers if teaching vulnerable children so appropriate safeguarding considerations are reflected. Equipment cover and business interruption are not always included but can be added where needed. Being open about your work pattern, subjects, and venues will help you avoid gaps.

Who benefits most from this cover

This insurance is most useful for private tutors, small tutoring agencies, and teachers delivering sessions in homes, libraries, or online as self-employed professionals. If you handle exam preparation, SEN support, music lessons, or practical subjects that involve equipment, your exposure to claims and accidental damage may be higher, making cover more valuable.

Teachers employed by state schools or local authorities are usually protected under their employer’s arrangements, so additional personal cover may not be necessary for those duties. However, separate insurance can be sensible if you take on private clients outside your employment. If your tutoring income is minimal and you work only occasionally, you may choose lower limits or a basic policy to control costs, provided the cover is still fit for purpose.

Choosing your cover - clear options explained

1. Basic - Public Liability only

   • Typical use: ad-hoc tutoring, limited face-to-face sessions.
   • What it includes: third-party injury and property damage during tutoring activities.
   • Limit examples: £1m standard, option to increase.
   • Consider if: you need essential protection for in-person risks at a low cost.

2. Standard - Public Liability plus Professional Indemnity

   • Typical use: regular tutoring, structured programmes, exam preparation.
   • What it includes: public liability plus cover for claims alleging negligent advice or materials.
   • Limit examples: £1m-£2m public liability, £250k professional indemnity typical.
   • Consider if: you want balanced cover for both physical and professional risks.

3. Comprehensive - Add Employers’ Liability and Equipment

   • Typical use: small tutoring businesses with assistants or multiple tutors.
   • What it includes: legal requirement if employing staff, plus cover for owned teaching equipment.
   • Limit examples: employers’ liability £10m standard in the UK, equipment limits vary.
   • Consider if: you employ staff or rely on laptops, instruments, or specialist devices.

4. Optional add-ons

   • Personal accident: lump sums for accidental death or serious injury, and weekly benefits if you cannot work.
   • Cyber and data: protection against data breaches or cyber attacks affecting online lessons.
   • Overseas extension: cover for sessions delivered while travelling or working outside the UK.
   • Legal expenses: support for contract disputes or debt recovery linked to your tutoring work.

Cost, pricing and what shapes your premium

Who can apply and what insurers look for

Most UK-based tutors, peripatetic teachers, and small tutoring businesses can apply, whether operating in person, online, or both. Insurers typically ask about your subjects, session settings, client age groups, safeguarding processes, annual turnover, and any employees. You may be asked to confirm professional qualifications, provide a DBS status where relevant, and declare previous claims or legal issues. If you work with vulnerable children or plan to teach outside the UK, you may need to request specific wording or extensions so the policy fits your activities.

Applications can be declined where there is non-disclosure, a history of frequent or severe claims, unmanageable risks in the work setting, or where requested cover does not match the actual activities undertaken. Clear, accurate information at quotation stage is the best way to secure appropriate terms.

From quote to claim - the simple path

1. Outline your tutoring activities, subjects, venues, and any staff employed.
2. Choose cover types and limits that reflect real risks and budgets.
3. Provide accurate disclosures and supporting documents when requested.
4. Review quotes carefully - check limits, exclusions, and excess amounts.
5. Purchase the policy and store certificates for clients or venue requirements.
6. Keep records of lessons, communications, and risk assessments for evidence.
7. Report incidents promptly and follow your insurer’s claims guidance.
8. Review cover annually and update details when your business changes.

Advantages and trade-offs at a glance

Key checks before you commit

Before buying, read the schedule and policy wording closely. Confirm the public liability and professional indemnity limits are sufficient for your client base and fees. Check excesses and how they apply to different claim types. Look for exclusions related to overseas work, practical subjects, or working with vulnerable children, and request extensions where needed. Review equipment cover if your laptop, instruments, or specialist kit are crucial to your income. Ask how renewals are priced, whether premiums can change mid-term after a disclosure, and what documents you must keep. Good recordkeeping and honest disclosures will reduce surprises if you ever need to claim.

Alternatives and related protection

1. Home business insurance - for tutors working from home who need cover for business contents beyond a standard home policy.
2. Cyber insurance - for online tutors handling personal data or relying on video platforms and digital materials.
3. Life insurance and critical illness - to protect family finances if you die or become seriously ill.
4. Income protection - monthly benefit if illness or injury stops you from working for a period.
5. Personal accident standalone - a simpler option if you want defined benefits for accidental injury.

FAQs

Q: Is insurance legally required for solo tutors in the UK? A: Public liability and professional indemnity are not legal requirements for sole traders, but they are strongly recommended. If you employ staff, employers’ liability is compulsory by law.

Q: How much cover do tutors usually buy? A: Public liability limits of £1 million to £2 million are common. Professional indemnity often starts around £250,000, with higher limits chosen for complex subjects or higher fee exposure.

Q: I only teach online - do I still need insurance? A: Yes, online tutoring still carries professional risks, including allegations of negligent advice. Public liability exposure may be lower, but professional indemnity and cyber cover can be relevant.

Q: Does my school’s insurance cover private tutoring on the side? A: Usually not. Employer policies typically apply only to your contracted duties. Private tutoring outside your employment generally requires your own policy.

Q: What if I tutor abroad during holidays? A: Many policies cover UK-only work by default. If you plan to work overseas, ask for an extension and confirm territorial limits and jurisdiction before you travel.

Q: Do I need insurance if I only teach family members? A: If there is no formal employment and no payment, insurance may be less relevant. Once you charge fees or expand beyond family, appropriate cover becomes much more important.

What to do next

Take stock of how and where you teach, your client types, and any staff. Decide which limits reflect your real risks. Compare quotes side by side, focusing on cover wording rather than price alone. When you are comfortable, buy with confidence and keep documents handy for parents, venues, or agencies that request proof.

Important note

This guide provides general information only - it is not personal financial advice. Policy terms vary by insurer. Always read your documents carefully, disclose all relevant information, and confirm cover limits and exclusions before you buy.