Connections

A connection is what lets a tutor see a learner's records. Families decide who is connected, and can end it at any time.


What it does

AltEd deliberately shares nothing about a child by default. A tutor or provider can only see a learner's profile, assignments, attendance, progress and portfolio once that learner's family has accepted a connection with them.

That means:

  • Families are in control. You choose which providers can see your children's records, and you can withdraw that at any moment.
  • Providers can't add themselves. Nothing a provider does on their own — booking a session, setting work — grants them access. Only your acceptance does.
  • Ending a connection is immediate. The moment you end it, that provider loses access to everything about your learners.

Sessions and billing sit on top of a connection: a provider can only schedule a tutoring session for a family they're connected to.

Where to find it

  • Navigation: ScheduleConnections
  • URL: /dashboard/connections

Step by step

Connect with a provider (families)

  1. Go to Connections (/dashboard/connections).
  2. Select Connect with a provider.
  3. Choose the provider from the list — they're shown with the headline they've written about themselves.
  4. Add a short message if it helps them place you ("Maya's maths, Tuesday afternoons").
  5. Send. The request sits under Waiting on them until the provider accepts.

Respond to a request

Requests needing your answer appear at the top of the screen under Needs your response, showing who asked and any note they sent.

  • Accept — they can now see your learners' records.
  • Decline — nothing is shared, and they're told the request was declined.

End a connection

  1. Find the provider under Connected.
  2. Open the menu and choose End connection.
  3. Confirm. Access stops immediately — the provider can no longer see your learners, their records or their portfolio.

Past sessions and charges stay on both sides' ledgers; ending a connection stops future access, it doesn't erase history.

If you're a provider

Families connect to you, not the other way round — this is what keeps children's records private by default. So:

  1. Share your name with the families you work with; they'll find you in the provider list.
  2. Requests arrive on your Connections screen under Needs your response.
  3. Accept, and you'll see that family's learners in Students, and can schedule sessions for them.

Make sure your headline in Settings says clearly what you teach — it's what families see when choosing you from the list.

What each screen shows

Connections is ordered by what needs doing:

  • Needs your response — pending requests awaiting your decision, with Accept and Decline.
  • Waiting on them — requests you've sent, with a option to withdraw.
  • Connected — everyone currently connected, with the date it started and a option to end it.
  • Declined requests — a quiet record of what was turned down.

Tips and good to know

  • Connect before booking. A provider can't schedule a session for your family until you've accepted, so do this first.
  • Connecting shares your learners' records with that provider — their profiles, assignments, attendance, progress and portfolio. It doesn't share anything about your other providers or your payments to them.
  • If someone asks to connect and you don't recognise them, decline. You can always connect later.
  • Ending a connection is not a judgement you have to justify, and it takes effect straight away.

Troubleshooting

| Problem | What to try | | --- | --- | | "You're already connected." | There's an existing connection with that provider — check the Connected list. | | "They've already asked to connect with you — accept their request instead." | Their request is waiting under Needs your response. | | "The other party needs to accept this request." | You can't accept your own request; the person you asked has to. | | A provider says they can't see my child | Check the connection is under Connected, not still under Waiting on them. | | I'm a provider and can't schedule a session | The family hasn't accepted your connection yet. Ask them to connect with you from their Connections screen. | | The provider list is empty | No providers have joined yet, or none have completed their profile. |

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