Parents’ evening is an excellent opportunity to get to know your child’s teachers, understand how your child is getting on with their education, and the many ways you can help support them from home.
What to Expect From Parents’ Evening
Parents’ evenings can differ for every school, but often you will be given a 5 or 10 minute slot with each teacher to discuss your child’s education and progress.
You will typically meet with the class teacher for primary school children to discuss every subject. Differing from school to school, it can be unusual to bring your child to parents’ evenings whilst in primary school.
For secondary school students, you will meet every subject teacher of theirs, and your child may go with you to hear the feedback from their teachers.
How to Prepare for Parents’ Evening
Consider the questions you would like to ask each subject teacher and note them down. This way, you can get through each question quicker, as you will only have a specific time slot to discuss your child’s learning.
Don’t leave any significant issues you would like to discuss until the end, as there won’t be enough time. Speak to your child’s teacher about those issues first and discover how you can support your child going forward. This will make it much easier for you, your child and the teacher.
How to Have a Good Parent’s Evening
Talk to Your Child
It’s crucial that home support and school work together to support your child, whether it’s with their homework or just their school experience. Before parent’s evening arrives, ask your child if there is anything they would like you to mention to their teachers. If your child is struggling with something, this is the perfect opportunity to bring it up.
Be Up to Date With Your Child’s Work
A great way to do this is by looking through their report or if you get an opportunity to look through your child’s work. Thoroughly review the report and note any concerns you may have; you can then bring these issues up with each teacher during parents’ evening.
Be Respectful of The Teachers
Your children’s teachers will want to be open and honest with you about your child’s education. It can help them feel at ease if they know you understand and value their opinion of your child’s progress and the support they may need in certain subjects.
What to Ask at Parents Evening
It can help to go prepared with a couple of key questions so you can keep the discussion focused and start setting any plans for your child’s educational development.
- Is my child on track for their age?
- Is there anything that is causing you concern?
- What can I do at home to support my child’s learning?
- What do you feel my child’s strengths are?
- Does my child seem happy at school?
- Does my child contribute to class discussions?
- Is my child on target to meet the grades they are capable of?
- Are there any areas my child needs extra help with?
If you receive feedback from parents’ evening that your child is struggling in some subjects, there are many ways to help with your child’s learning.
Here at St Peter’s Prep, an independent primary school, we value the partnership between a home and school support system. It allows your child to get the best experience with their education, knowing that they have a brilliant support system around them if they are ever struggling.
With our school calendar, you can keep up to date with all of the upcoming events and meetings so that you never miss out!
