Parents helping in their own childs class

[mrsshears]

I'm interested to know how common this is and if it happens in your dc's school?
thanks

[SystemofaDowny]

I've done it in the past and will probably doing it again this year.

[Themumsnot]

Quite common, I think. It does happen in my child's school although when I did it I chose to help in a different class. It should not be an issue as long as parents are properly briefed on confidentiality etc. The vast majority, in my experience, behave sensibly.

[GobblersKnob]

Quite a few mums help out at our infant school, some inevitably help out in their own childs class.

One of my friends is a TA and ended up in her dd's class which she said was a bit odd.

[jennycrofter]

At the DDs school, you only get to help out in your own child's class.

[ByTheWay1]

Ours - you can help but not in your child's year - so preventing the competitive mummy thing..... now I just wish they'd stop parents helping on their child's trips - there are 2 in DD2's class who just "know everything" and push their child to the fore all the time

"Do you remember when we visited the pyramids and saw the originals of such and such artwork...... oh little Jimmy can tell you all about the Aztec - when we went to Peru/Mexico/Chile..... oh look, the picture of the Himaaaaaaaaalya is just like the day we took the elephant trail up from Kashmir" (teacher set them in adjacent groups once and the oneupmanship talk was astonishing!)

[Leeds2]

It wasn't allowed at my DD's primary, although parents were welcome to go and help on their child's school trips.

I think a school would probably have less volunteers, if the volunteers weren't allowed to help in their own child's class although, personally, I wouldn't want to do.

[lljkk]

I've offered & they don't want me!
Quite enjoyed in past, get to quickly understand what they're learning, & modern teaching methods.

[Beanbagz]

Quite a few mums help out at my DCs school but they are never put in the same class as their child. Same goes for trips. You might be on the same trip as your child but never in the same group.

[insanityscratching]

It's up to the parent themselves at dd's school tbh. I help out in the lower school because I enjoy the little ones and dd (y5) has her own TA supporting her so I'd feel in the way. Other parents choose to help in their child's class though.

[BlueSkySinking]

Yes we do and it's fine.

[lopsided]

Yep, they do at my child's school in fact in a class of 21 last year they had 6 regular helpers (a morning a week for the entire year).

[beingagoodmumishard]

I have always helped in my DS's class, although he is at quite a small school so only one class per year. He knows that I come to help the class and not be with him.

I do quite abit of group work within the class but never help with the group that my DS is in, well I did once and that experience has never been repeated . Also on school trips they try and keep parents separate from their own children, although some parents complain about this.

It has been lovely to watch all the children in the class develop from YR to Y3. However, I assume by the time my DS reaches Y6 he won't be too impressed if I come into the class to help As I enjoy being a parent volunteer I am hoping that I will still be able to help with the younger classes

[korvonia]

Blimey if I offered to help I would want to help in dds class - they'd hate me to be on school but not with them.

[Hulababy]

I have done it at DD's school when she was smaller. Was not an issue at all.

At the school I am at we allow parents to volunteer in their own child's class. If we didn't we would have fewer volunteers in our experience. But tbh it has never been an issue in the time I hve been there.

[SizzleSazz]

i do in both dc's classes

[exoticfruits]

Very common- if you want to get volunteers. As a supply teacher I didn't care - it was just nice to have help.

[freddiefrog]

I volunteer in school and sometimes end up in my own child's class, as do other volunteers. Just depends where they need the help and who has volunteered for that day.

I don't usually go in DD2's class as it upsets her to see me, but I regularly help in DD1's class

[Iamnotminterested]

Hello, OP. It seems that different schools have different rules (hey, assonance, DD 2 is heavily into it at the mo) I volunteer at my dc's school and have been put into DD2's class, didn't ask to be, it's just where a gap was and i filled it. I abide by total confidentiality in what i do there, if a child says to mum in the playground "mrs iam heard me read today" i'm obviously not going to deny it as that would just be mad but i also keep everything between me, the teachers and the t.a's. Have volunteered again for this year, a different year but a natural progression on what i was doing last year if you get my drift.

Dd3 has just started r and tbh i would not want to help in r as i don't want any of the first time mums thinking i.am helping to suss out their dc or establish a ranking, they are new to the whole school shebang and want to distance myself from any nonsense tbh.

[PiedWagtail]

Yes, happens in our school, and I have done/do it in both my dcs' classes. Why do you ask?

[alcofrolic]

I'd prefer a parent to help in a different class - some judge (not good!), and some compare their dcs (also not good!).

[alcofrolic]

Can I just add that 'some judge' could mean 'some get completely the wrong end of the stick'.

[Devora]

At our school they don't put parent helpers into their child's class. Makes sense to me, though does reduce the number of willing volunteers.

[Startailoforangeandgold]

Small school with combined year groups so you do tend to help your own DCs.

No problem with trips and craft, DD1 tended to wander up and say hi. DD2 did the teen act and ignored my existence. She's a very sociable soul so I know most of girls in her class anyway.

Hearing DD1s Y2 class read was very depressing. DD1 is dyslexic and, although it took school until Y6 to acknowledge it, it was very obvious she was miles behind.

DD2's class had someone else and that was for the opposite reason she'd write really glowing comments and, discreetly, say how good she was.

I guess we are such a small school that between what you pick up from your DCs, at the school gate, from play dates and PTA. We all know the majority of the pupils abilities so helping in class doesn't show us a lot we haven't already guessed.

I could see it being an issue in a bigger school, especially on that sets.

[rumncoke]

i help im my sons class once a week, did not ask to be put in there was just free once a week. i get snidey looks at pick up times from mums who clearly do not like me being in there but i let it go over my head now. I am not there to compare abilities, i wanted to help for a possible career change in the future and want the experience. I love it and wont stop because of them. More parent helpers=more free time for teachers to teach.

[Ragwort]

Not encouraged at all at my DS's last three primary schools, I always asked not to be in my son's class - thank goodness those days are behind me, he's just started at secondary school.