how much time do you help out at your childs school?

[sillyme]

Just been thinking that if I wasn't a SAHM I would miss out on so much of school life/activities. However, helping out at school, this seems like a nice opportunity but amazed at how much some SAHMs seem to spend at school, they almost seem like staff. Do you help out and if you do how much time and do you enjoy it etc? I've been helping now and again so amounts to little, can't say I enjoy it and don't get to see much of what goes on in the classroom but I don't begrudge it just expected that when ds at school I would have all the time to be a SAHM at home!

[hmb]

None at all, but I am a teacher so it would be impossible, even if I wanted to. That said, I don't want to anyway (bad mummy). I see enough of other peoples kids every day Dh is on the PTA.

[jampot]

Spent years doing the PTA thing - now don't do anything really constructive. I help out once a week in my ds's class (dd thinks it too uncool to have mum helping out).

[Galaxy]

message withdrawn

[roisin]

I listen to readers in school once a week (2-3 hrs). I really enjoy listening to the children read, getting to know them, and seeing them progress.

I also appreciate the opportunity to see the school from the inside ... I find out loads about the place and the staff that I wouldn't do just at the school gate.

[roisin]

I also view the time I spend in school as a justification for not being involved in the PTA, who drive me bonkers

[codswallop]

loads of us are governors

very time consuming but good for allt he goss and I prefer it to pta

[roisin]

Dh is a governor Coddy, which is great - I still get all the goss, without the time-consuming bit

[JJ]

why does everyone hate the pta? I'm a part of our school's pa (it's a social organization and does fundraising for the school, but doesn't deal with teachers or school "issues" and it's fun. But we're small (35 kids, about 26 families) and an English speaking school in Switzerland.

Just curious, really, because it's a big part of our school -- would help to know the other side!

[JJ]

argh, inadvertant smiley there.

[roisin]

Do you really want to know JJ? Warning I may start to rant ...

Our PTA is run by the same people who have been running it for 10 yrs .. they don't even have children at the school any more. They know everything that needs to be done, but don't have any notes, and are not great at delegating ... it's easier just to do it themselves. But they don't do it with good grace, and complain that others don't get involved. Suggestions from other people are largely ignored ... "we tried that once before and it didn't work". Meetings are often changed at late notice - which drives me barmy if I've been keeping that space free in my diary for weeks (I don't bother now). Also meetings don't start on time, and are not run efficiently. ... Erm I could go on, and on, and on. But I won't!

[Slinky]

I help out with KS2 kids once a week - taking groups of children from Years 1 and 2 out of the classroom into another area where they are free to play with stuff like sand/water play, painting/colouring, roleplay, construction toys, and junk modelling.

This happens every morning and we have a rota set up.

As I'm planning an OU course starting next year which requires me to be working in either an Early Years setting or primary school, I have already requested more hours for me to help out. DD2 starts Reception in Sept. the teacher more or less bit my hand off when I offered more help

I thoroughly enjoy it (more so than my old job in the nursery).

Although not a member of PTA, I do help out with setting up fetes/running a stall occasionally.

[Slinky]

Sorry, meant KS1 kids not KS2 - can't imagine the Year 6s would be overly impressed with sand/water play

[blossomhill]

What is a governors role? TIA

[Kayleigh]

Am on PTA at ds1s school and really enjoy it. Joined when he started in reception and he is at end of year one now. Everyone very friendly, helpfule etc. Met some great people, made friends and have a laugh. All while raising money for the school. They aren't all bad!!

[kid]

I work in DD's school (Classroom asst) so I'm there for 3 days a week anyway. I always volounteer to go on any trips with her class and help out if I can with summer fayre. It is always the same parents that help out and that is usually only 3 or 4 including me.

[sillyme]

interesting.

I would like to help more but being a SAHM I put my home and family first leaving little time for me which I am beginning to try to get. The school recently requested a volunteer for 2-3 hours each week in an area which means you wouldn't get to see the children, I think this is pushing things much too far but can well understand their need and so have been tempted but not enough to volunteer! Always left wishing there were more hours in the day. Tried PTA and HATE it. PTA often think they are IT and no-one does as much as them according to the heads end of term speeches

[blossomhill]

Tried it out and didn't like it TBH. Also, every time I had to leave ds would be in floods of tears and I found that upsetting. Also found it hard once when the teacher shouted at ds for something really petty and really had to hold back saying anything.

[roisin]

Our school have a policy that you can't help out in your child's class, which I approve of.