AS more parents choose to engage the services of a home tutor to help give their children the best education available, a new North Devon service has been launched to make finding a suitable tutor easy.

Club ABC provides home tutors teaching a range of school subjects, all with current Criminal Records Bureau certificates.

Club ABC is the idea of Howard Sheldon, who started the business after 15 years working in his family's engineering company: "I wanted to strike out on my own and started Club ABC because it became apparent that with the power of the internet and social networking media we could promote all the home tutors in North Devon in a much more effective and professional way than the current more traditional method of word of mouth."

Based around the club-abc.co.uk website, the business uses its @Club_ABC twitter account and Club ABC Home Tutors Facebook page to promote its services.

Parents looking for a tutor can visit the website to browse the subjects available and then contact Club ABC to make a booking.

They can also talk to an adviser for more information or request a free home consultation to make sure Club ABC fully understands their requirements and provides a tutor to match these.

Club ABC arranges all bookings and payment for tutors, who can either tutor the child at their home or, if more convenient, at a library, community centre or other suitable venue.

Subjects currently available include maths, English, French, German, science and IT, with more becoming available all the time.

These are taught by teachers from across North Devon, whose qualifications and CRB certificates are checked to ensure their suitability.

Home tutors are not only suitable for students falling behind in a subject but can help children of every ability and research by London University's Institute of Education has shown that up to 27 per cent of pupils in state schools receive extra home tuition.

As well as working on a student's educational development, Club ABC's tutors help with their personal development, documenting progress from the very first lesson.

Tutors' performance is checked and regular feedback is obtained to ensure they meet their students' needs and work to the highest standards.

While providing this educational service to parents and their children, Club ABC is also creating employment for qualified teachers who are finding it difficult to obtain school teaching posts as the education system struggles with budget cuts.

"We are being approached by teachers because it's a difficult time for them," added Howard.

"With spending cuts and pay freezes everywhere, resources in schools are likely to come under pressure.

"Investing in some extra tuition is an excellent way to make sure that this new found austerity doesn't have an adverse effect on your child's education. Club ABC's aim is to provide first-class home tutors for North Devon."