Getting started as a parent

TutorCat is a homework tutor for children aged 8 to 18. As a parent or guardian, you see how your child is learning and you stay in charge of the important decisions: consent, screen time and their data.

You never have to set anything up before your child does. It starts when your child signs up and adds you.

#How it starts: the consent email

When your child creates their TutorCat account, they enter your email address. TutorCat then sends you an email with the subject A TutorCat account needs your consent.

The email contains two things:

• A link to review and confirm the request. This is the quickest way.
• A code, in case the link doesn't open. You can paste it into TutorCat by hand.

Both work only once, and only for 7 days. If you weren't expecting the email, you can ignore it. Nothing happens until the link or code is used.

#Do I need to give consent?

That depends on your child's age and the country they chose when they signed up.

• Below the consent age: your child can't use TutorCat beyond the sign-up screens until a parent says yes. While they wait, they see a screen explaining that a parent needs to confirm.
• At or above the consent age: your child can use TutorCat on their own. They can still add you, and once you confirm, you see the same things any linked parent sees.

#Consent age by country

When a country isn't on the list, TutorCat uses the strictest age, 16. It never assumes 13.

#Step 1: open the link and sign in

1. Open the email and tap the link.
2. If you're not signed in, TutorCat shows a Consent request banner: "A student asked you to be their parent on TutorCat". Make sure Parent is selected.

   

3. Already have a parent account? Enter your email and password and choose Sign in and review →.
4. New to TutorCat? Choose Create a parent account and carry on with Step 2.

#Step 2: create your parent account

While TutorCat is in its closed beta, sign-up needs an invite code. One code covers a whole family, and it's in the email we sent you.

1. Type your invite code. It has 12 letters and numbers in three groups, like K7QX-M2PD-9RTA. The dashes are added for you.
2. Choose Check code.

   

3. Under I am a…, choose Parent ("I'm setting this up for my child"). Parents don't need a date of birth.
4. Enter your Email. Use the same address the consent email was sent to, or the link won't match your account.
5. Choose your Country.
6. Choose a Password of at least 8 characters.
7. Tick I agree to the Terms and have read the Privacy policy. Both open right there if you want to read them first.
8. Choose Create account →.

   

#Step 3: review the request and give consent

After you sign in, the link takes you to the consent page. Take a moment here. This is the real legal step, and nothing is granted until you press the button yourself.

1. Check the name at the top: "[Name] wants to use TutorCat", and the line that says how they asked you (for example, as their mother, father or guardian).
2. Read the three tiles. Linked parents:
   • You can see their learning sessions
   • You set screen-time limits
   • You can withdraw any time
3. Read What we collect and why. It lists, in plain words:
   • account details (email, name, date of birth, grade, country), to set up and protect the account
   • homework questions, photos and chats, so the tutor can help step by step
   • progress, screen time and wellbeing check-ins, so you can see how your child is doing
   • safety checks on messages, so your child sees helplines if something worries us. If your child tells us someone is hurting them, that stays private to keep them safe (see Safety alerts)
   • no ads, no selling data, no tracking
4. Choose Read the full children's privacy notice if you'd like every detail.
5. Tick the box: I have read the children's privacy notice and I agree to it. I am [name]'s parent or legal guardian.
6. Choose Grant consent →. The button stays greyed out until the box is ticked.

   

On a phone, the same page scrolls. The agreement box and Grant consent → sit at the bottom.

Not ready yet? Choose Not now. The request stays open until it expires.

#Step 4: you're linked

You'll see Consent granted. Your child can start right away.

• Choose Go to my home page → to see your child's activity.
• Or choose Set a screen-time limit first if you'd like a limit in place before they begin. See Screen time.

TutorCat also sends you a confirmation email, You gave consent for [name] on TutorCat. It repeats what you agreed to and explains how to withdraw consent or delete your child's data later.

#If the link doesn't work

Links stop working after 7 days, or once they've been used. If that happens you'll see This link doesn't work any more.

1. Find the code in the same email.
2. Paste it into Paste the code they shared.
3. Tick I have read the children's privacy notice and I agree to it.
4. Choose Confirm and link →.

If the code has expired too, ask your child to send the request again from their account.

#Linking from your home page instead

You can also paste a code straight into your parent home page.

If you have no children linked yet, your home page shows Waiting for your child's request?

1. Paste the code from the email into the code field.
2. Tick I have read the children's privacy notice and I agree to it.
3. Choose Link.

If a request is waiting for you, your home page shows a Needs your answer card at the top, such as "Ivy Rahman asked you to be their guardian on TutorCat".

1. Choose Review request →.
2. Tick the agreement box.
3. Paste the code from the email.
4. Choose Confirm and link →.

The same agreement box appears on every path. TutorCat never links you without it.