ABOUT ELTI

The Enhanced Learning Tutoring Initiative (ELTI) is a high school tutoring programme coordinated by Queen Margaret University. It was set up in 2020 to respond to the educational challenges faced by disadvantaged and care-experienced young people during the Covid-19 school closures. ELTI has grown and developed over the past three years and continues to work in partnership with schools and community organisations to address the attainment gap.

ELTI provides tutoring sessions to eligible S4-S6 pupils in East Lothian and Midlothian, with over 300 pupils taking part each year.

AIMS

ELTI aims to help young people reach their potential by providing high-quality tutoring sessions and building positive, nurturing relationships. Our aims include:

Increasing pupil confidence
Increasing engagement in learning
Improving academic attainment
Providing equitable access to learning
Supporting positive destinations
Providing recent graduates with employment opportunities

OUR OFFER

N4 to Higher level
Focus on revising material already taught in class to help pupils get a better understanding of the subject
Development of study skills
Pupil-led sessions
Relaxed, informal and friendly environment

REFERRALS

We receive referrals four young people in S4 to S6 who meet one of the following criteria:

Young people who live in one of Scotland’s 20% most disadvantaged communities as defined by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD20).
Where a young person/family is entitled to: EMA/free school meals/benefits such as Universal Credit.
Young people who are care experienced. By this we mean young people who have been, or are currently, in care. This includes being looked after at home, foster care, kinship care, and adoption.
Young people who are young carers. By this we mean young people who care, unpaid, for someone who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

To discuss making a referral to the programme please contact the ELTI team: elti@qmu.ac.uk.

TUTORS

In 2022/23, ELTI employed around 40 tutors. Tutors are recruited locally and are either near peer (final year students and recent graduates) or professionals with a depth of relevant experience.

The near-peer model of tutoring has been championed by academics such as Professor Lee Elliot Major at Exeter University. It is not currently being delivered anywhere else in Scotland on the same scale as ELTI.

One of the challenges Elliot Major identifies with this model is quality assurance. ELTI has robust training and processes in place to ensure quality of tutoring provision.