Voluntary parent readers

[user1486416586]

Hello,

I'm new to mumsnet as I cannot find any information on the Internet with regards to whether as a Mum I should be informed a parent is now in my child's classroom and being a 'voluntary reader'.

This was only made aware to me through my son's year group social media page last night, the woman said she had spoken to the children and they had told her what they need with regards to book changes etc.

I am fuming!! Why on earth has a parent who's child is in the same class as mine been allowed to have access to my child without my prior knowledge? I had to find out on social media.

The reason I'm annoyed is my son has sen issues. What right has a fellow parent got to know them issues? I have read many articles today and it is suggested schools have parent readers in classes different to their child. Why on earth have the school done this, what makes it worse is this child has tormented my child for over a year!

Clever thinking on her behalf but I'm outraged.

Does anyone know if a school should tell you if a parent helper is around your child? I'm led to believe by a good TA friend children under the age of 14 you have to be made aware.

Please help!!

[TheFirie]

You will receive far more response on this in the primary education section www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary.

A volunteer should never comment on any social media. My advice would be to do screenshots then show them to the teacher and ask that this parent should no longer be accepted in the classroom .

[user1486416586]

Many thanks!!

[user1486416586]

Sorry naturally frustrated and have never used mumsnet and in need of some advice. Thank you :)

[Mumzypopz]

Agree with TheFirie...School wouldn't normally have to inform parents they are using parent helpers or readers. Most schools have them. Must admit I didn't like it either when I found out, but little you can do about it. I always thought that if I read with my child a lot at home,they wouldn't need the help of a parent helper, and that the teachers might be more likely to send children who may need the help more.

[Starlight2345]

I only know who helps in my DS 's class if they have signed the reading record. I used to listen to children read. I had a lot of policies including confidentiality I had to adhere to.

What are the school doing about this child tormenting yours.

[Badders123]

A few things;
I'm a volunteer reader
I have an enhanced dbs check to do so
I am not on social media, but if I was I would not post about any child other than my own - that is a safeguarding issue and needs to be brought to the attention of the HT.
I think most parents are grateful that any child who needs extra help gets it tbh....

[WannaBe]

You wouldn't necessarily know whether a parent volunteer was going into your son's classroom but if she is she shouldn't be commenting outside the class anyway.

I used to listen to children read from my DS' class. There were about five specific ones who used to read as they needed extra reading time. But I had no influence on their progress etc and would never have talked about them outside the class. In fact I never even talked about my own DS because I knew where he was in relation to other children and it just wouldn't have been appropriate.

[JennyOnAPlate]

All schools use parent volunteers so you should pretty much assume your child will be reading with one.

Nobody should be posting about anyone else's child on Facebook.

[user1486416586]

When you know her children cannot be looked after by childminders because she cannot control her children and they are banned from every childminder setting due to the two boys behaviour. Including cutting a girls pony tail off. Then maybe you might think differently to who is reading to your child. Then the boy torments my son for a year and the mum then turns up at the school in his classroom to stop him being expelled as she's seen as I'm amazing.. it's a unique experience but she should certainly not be around my son!

[user1486416586]

Sorry it was the comment about how I would back on this an laugh that made me say that.

[Letseatgrandma]

Most schools have parent volunteers-they are a good thing.

Your opinion is that her children are badly behaved. That is not a reason to stop her listening to children in the school read as far as I can see.

What exactly did she say on social media?

[user1486416586]

But I cannot mention what her parenting is like due to confidentiality so I literally want to scream. All I want to know is why are parents not allowed to know who is around our kids at school?!

[user1486416586]

To the previous comment, I cannot go into. However as a previous childminder, I know what she is like, like many other childminders that refused her in my area. Now she's reading to my child...

[PerspicaciaTick]

You really think that the school is "hiding" the fact that they use volunteers? You do know that you can volunteer too, if you have the time and inclination.

I find it really revolting when people give up their spare time and energy to help the teachers and children in a school, only to face a knee jerk condemnation from other parents who don't volunteer.

She isn't parenting your children, she is changing their books once a week.

If you have an issue with her mentioning her role on social media, then take it quietly and calmly to the HT who will deal with it appropriately rather than screaming and ranting about conspiracies of silence and other people's children.

[TataEs]

i am a parent helper.
i was dbs checked and and in view of a teacher the whole time.
i have no idea about any of the children's SEN.
i know one boy has a one on one, but no details from the school have ever been shared.
the teachers tell the kids to pick the appropriate band book and they bring it to me and we read it. i tick against their name in the book.
that's literally it.
the school rely on parent helpers to get the kids that extra one on one reading time.
i'm not sure what ur problem is tbh.

[Redlocks28]

You are massively overreacting!

[DorcasthePuffin]

Yes, I'm afraid you have no right to know about volunteers working with your child. I often do reading at the school, the etiquette as I understand it is that I can acknowledge that I'm doing it, but I would never talk about the individual children or their progress. If one of the parents says to me, "x says you read with her" (as they often do, as this is Y6 and I know the kids and the parents very well by now) I'll say something like, "Yes, what a lovely friendly girl she is, I always enjoy reading with her." That's it.

If you have reasons to be concerned about a particular parent reading with your child, then you should talk to the school. Obviously there are sometimes situations where a particular parent should not read with a particular child. But I wouldn't go global on the principle: explain why in this case you are not comfortable with what is happening.

Best of luck.

[TheFirie]

If you have doubts about the integrity of a parent helper and IF they are commenting on social media, you have grounds to approach the teacher.

But I cannot mention what her parenting is like due to confidentiality if you have information about anything endangering for the children, you should share it unless your are her lawyer or vicar, which you are not because you told us you worked as a childminder. If, via your work , you have been made aware of behaviours having brought the involvement of SS or police, you are the right to NOT wish your child in contact with this mother.

Ask for a meeting with the teacher and express your concerns, possibly with proof and not gossips.

[FourKidsNotCrazyYet]

I've always been a parent volunteer at various points in their lives. I have to be police checked but isn't it just common knowledge that it happens? Unless she's put detailsnof your child on Facebook then I don't really understand why you're so upset. Schools need all the help they can get imo.

[FourKidsNotCrazyYet]

• my children's lives!

[PortiaCastis]

Really, her son cut off a girl's pony tail. Well I never