When students fall behind in school, not getting the support they need can have lifelong consequences. Small group tutoring can help these students catch up and succeed in the classroom.

The Victorian government has invested $1.2 billion in the Tutor Learning Initiative. This statewide program funds schools to employ tutors to deliver targeted small group learning support to students who need it most.

The Victorian Department of Education has a responsibility to improve schools' delivery so these statewide programs achieve their objectives.

Key findings

• The initiative did not significantly improve students’ learning, compared to similar non-tutored students.
• The Department provided effective support so that schools delivered tutoring when students needed it.
• Many schools' tutoring practices in 2023 were not fully effective. When this happened, schools' tutoring was not well targeted and not well enough connected to students' classroom learning and their particular learning needs.
• The Department can do more to improve schools' delivery of the initiative. The department has the information it needs to do this but has not used it to drive improvement.