Private tutoring in Australia typically costs $55 to $99 an hour. A year of the Family plan costs $179, for up to four children.
Rates from Australian tutoring providers’ published prices, October 2026.
Help at the kitchen table, without doing the homework for them
Pencilwick gives your child a patient tutor that hints before it tells, and gives you a clear view of what they’re learning each week. You stay in control of what the tutor can do.
Lessons and unlimited maths practice are free for every child.
Mia’s week
- Mastered: multiplying by two-digit numbersAfter 4 days of practiceAC9M5N06
- Still working on: comparing fractionsNeeded 3 hints. A short practice set is waiting.AC9M5N03
Mastery has four steps: not started, familiar, proficient and mastered. Gold marks progress, and only progress.
What you’ll see each week
A short report, by email and on your dashboard, written for parents rather than for teachers.
Time and effort, in context
How long they learned, how many sessions, and whether they used hints or asked for full solutions.
Skills mastered and skills in progress
Named in plain English, with the curriculum code if you want to look it up or mention it to their teacher.
Where they’re stuck
The topics that took the most hints, with a practice set ready for them, so a conversation at dinner has somewhere to start.
Tutor conversations
For children under 15, you can read their conversations with the tutor. For teenagers, you see summaries, and safety alerts always reach you.
We ask for year level, not date of birth. It’s all the tutor needs to pitch explanations at the right level.
Your consent for under-15s
Australia’s draft Children’s Online Privacy Code says children under 15 need a parent’s consent. Here’s exactly how that works in Pencilwick.
Your child signs up
They choose their year level and state, and give us your email address.
We email you
The email explains what Pencilwick collects and why, and has a link to approve or decline.
Learning starts straight away
Until you approve, lessons and practice work, but the tutor and photo uploads stay off.
Your child is told
When you approve, your child sees a short screen explaining that you agreed and what you can see. Nothing about it is secret.
Teenagers aged 15 to 17 can agree to Pencilwick themselves. You can link to their account with their permission. You’ll see summaries rather than full conversations, and safety alerts always reach you.
Class accounts made with a teacher’s join code are covered by the school’s consent process.
Read how the tutor behaves with children, including what happens if a child seems unsafe.
A tutor, never a companion
Many children now talk to AI chatbots. Pencilwick is deliberately not one of those. It is there to help with schoolwork, and it behaves that way.
It sticks to learning
No role-play as a friend, no claims to have feelings, and no attempts to keep your child chatting.
It suggests breaks
After a long session, the tutor suggests a break. Streaks have a “freeze” for busy days, so nobody feels guilty about a night off.
It tells you if something’s wrong
If your child writes something that suggests they’re unsafe, the tutor stops, shows them who to call, and alerts you.
It doesn’t ask for personal details
If a child types a full name, address or phone number, the tutor reminds them not to share it, and it is removed before anything reaches the AI model.
Questions about your child’s account? Email hello@pencilwick.com.
Questions parents ask
Will my child just copy answers?
The tutor starts with a hint every time and asks what your child has tried. Full solutions are available when they’re genuinely stuck, and after a full solution Pencilwick gives them similar questions to try on their own. Teachers can switch full solutions off for set work.
Is it right for a child in Pre-primary, Kindergarten, Prep, Reception or Transition?
Yes. For Foundation to Year 2, Pencilwick uses bigger text and larger buttons, keeps sessions short, and the tutor uses short, simple sentences. Young children practise early number and reading skills with plenty of feedback.
How is this different from a human tutor?
Pencilwick is there every evening, for every subject, for about the cost of one or two tutoring sessions a year. It doesn’t replace a great teacher or tutor. Many families use both, and the weekly report gives a tutor something useful to work from.
Can I see what my child asks the tutor?
For children under 15, yes, and your child is told that you can. For teenagers aged 15 to 17, you see summaries, and any safety alerts.
Can I delete my child’s data?
Yes. From your parent dashboard you can download your child’s data or ask us to delete it. We act on deletion requests within 30 days. Read the draft privacy policy.
How do I cancel?
Email hello@pencilwick.com from the address on your account and we’ll cancel it the same day. No phone call, no notice period. We email you before a yearly plan renews.
One plan for up to four children
Family is $24.99 a month or $179 a year, with a parent dashboard and weekly report. Founding families keep their price for as long as they stay.