to think that people who help out at school,

[TheIIlusiveShadow]

are just there to spy on the kids.

[ChippingInNeedsCoffee]

Of course some of the people who volunteer to do these things are nosey parkers who do it to see what reading level all the other children are on, but you can't tar everyone with the same brush.

[Labootin]

They also pinch the children to make them cry and scribble on books and blame the child.

Just saying.

[Labootin]

And one of them always blocks the loo with paper

And steals themstaffroom biscuits

And is sleeping with the pe teacher

[HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer]

I would love to spy on my kids at school! I'll definitely be joining the volunteering rota when my youngest starts

[nowittynamehere]

yaweebitU i volunteered at school when mine were in primary but i was never in their class i was doing other things that nobody really wanted to do as it didnt seem glam enough IYSWIM cleaning out cupboards or sorting the library , so I never came across my children that much , but yes you do get some who go in for a nosey and a chat with the teacher about their child , but not everybody is like that ,

[HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer]

LOL @ Labootin!!

[Labootin]

And they get front row seats at the nativity
And there childs ticket always wins the grand prize in the raffle

Just saying

[MerrilyWatkins]

I help out because I am a trained teacher who is trying to return to teaching. There aren't any jobs so I may as well make myself useful.

[FourEyesGood]

YABU. And a bit crackers.

[piprabbit]

[nowittynamehere]

In fact they are a rare breed the nosey precious mums you are on about , most just want to help the school out as some things really need parent helpers ,

[IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll]

Getting to spy on the other children (and the teachers) is a big bonus of helping in school! I'd call it 'getting to know' rather than spy though.

I started off helping for helpings sake, but I soon realised that it was a great way to get to know my children's classmates and teachers better, and that definatly helped me to carry on doing it.

I'm not ashamed to admit that, I don't believe there are any completely selfless good deeds.

[hellsbells99]

It's to spy on the school, not the kids - how else do you find out what goes on ;) Don't have that problem as DCs in high school so don't know what goes on at all nowadays! Just cross my fingers and hope for the best.........

[Labootin]

No wonder the loos always blocked..it's sodding kitchen roll.

[nowittynamehere]

hells mine are in highschool and i dont know squat what goes on dont think i could go into a high school im not that keen on teenagers

[Haberdashery]

I help out at school. I really like my child's class teacher and TA and have a good laugh with them. I also enjoy getting to know the other children, and my DD is lucky enough to be in a class where every single child seems really nice. I have, however, been mortified to discover that my child's behaviour is about 500% worse when I am present.

[TheIIlusiveShadow]

My interogation of the local mums - and it is all mums, suggests

Retraining as classroom assistant
Returning to work
Genuine warm heart
Wanting to check out the other children and encourage friendships with only the naice clever ones
Enjoy the gossip side, 'Little Arthur whacked Jimmy in he playground, his parents need to.....'

[Hassled]

You're right. That is exactly why I go in each week - for all the spying.

I'm not even kidding. I have too much time on my hands at the moment and I like to know what's going on. Plus, it's fun. Building a teepee with some bamboo canes, a roll of sticky tape and some A4 paper has been the highlight to date.

[GrahamTribe]

No, they're doing it to spy on the teachers.

[TheIIlusiveShadow]

I'd be in the naughty corner for smoking in the wendy house and running with scissors.

[LucyDevenish]

Some do, most don't. Most parents wo help, whether via the friends of the school or by helping with reading do so because they understand that without help, the education of all the children suffers.

Whenever I helped with reading, I never read with my children. I also help out in a year group that neither of my children are in (but that's in capacity as parent governor).

[nowittynamehere]

hassled is your teepee in playtime when all the children are outside so you can play on your own , I used to work alongside a lovely but gossipy teacher she was just part time as she was retired , ooo i got to hear all sorts and we all like a bit of goss dont we

[TheIIlusiveShadow]

See I'd love to build a teepee with too much sticky tape and tiny paper, I just would n't want the kids getting in the way.

[Hassled]

There is a lovely slideshow they play to prospective parents coming in for open evenings of "a day in our school" which features several shots of me with bamboo in one hand, sticky tape in the other, in slightly too tight and a bit grubby jeans which have sticky tape stuck on them, wild crazy hair, wild crazy eyes. I think it must deter at least some of the parents from choosing the school.

Seriously - if you have time on your hands like me I really recommend it. I've got to know all the kids, I know the teachers way better than I otherwise would and it is a laugh.