What to Expect from Parents' Evening
If your child started school in September, you will probably get your first parents’ evening or teacher consultation either before the October half term or just after. If you have never had one before then here are our top tips on what you can expect.
- Reception parents' evenings will mostly focus on how your child has settled into school. The focus of the first weeks of school is on the PSED (Physical, Social & Emotional Development) element of the curriculum. The teachers will discuss with you whether they are independently playing in the classroom, if they are building relationships with their peers & if they are happy and generally settled into classroom routines and school life.
- It is important to remember that it is a two-way conversation & as time can be limited it is a good idea to jot down any questions you may have in advance. You might like to ask about the following things:*
- Are they happy?
- Are they making friends?
- Who do they play with?
- What do they play with the most?
- Is there anything that can be done at home to support them?
*These are just some suggestions & you know your child best
- There is no need to take notes but if you want to feel free to bring a pen & paper
- Time slots can be very short & can go by quickly so if you feel you have an issue or concern that may take longer, you can request to have a longer meeting with the teacher. This will possibly take place on a different day.
- The teachers may discuss your child’s strengths and areas to build upon & might set targets for them. However, the focus is on how they are doing personally, socially & emotionally so many schools will not do this yet.
- Each school has different approaches to parents’ evenings & many will still be doing phone calls due to Covid. However, if your school is welcoming you in, some will be happy to have your child with you & others may not- It is good to check in advance.
- And of course, remember to fill in your parents’ evening page in your copy of The Tale of Starting School or add some notes to The Tale of My School Adventures!
