Opinions needed on helping out at your child's school please.

[TimothyTigerTuppennyTail]

Do you help out at your child's school?

If you do, do you help his/her class or another class?

If you help another class, is it the same year group?

If you help another class, is it your choice or school policy?

If you help his/her class, would you still help out if you were told you had to do a different class, not your child's class? (I don't mean as a one off. No-one minds a one-off.)

TIA.

[Hulababy]

Do you help out at your child's school?

I used to last year when DD was in infants. I helped when she was in Y1 and Y2.

If you do, do you help his/her class or another class?

I worked with both the Y1 and Y2 teachers. Most often I worked in DD's class as it was the larger of the two classes.

If you help another class, is it the same year group?

No, there is only one class per year. So was the other year group (see above).

If you help another class, is it your choice or school policy?

My choice. No school policy.

If you help his/her class, would you still help out if you were told you had to do a different class, not your child's class? (I don't mean as a one off. No-one minds a one-off.)

No, was fine.


In the infant school I work at it is the norm for parents to help out in the class their child is in.

[smee]

A lot of schools don't let you in your child's class. I can see why, as it could potentially be fraught. Our school lets you help out with children in your child's class, but not directly with your own. eg: listening to reading etc, we get given a small group, but not including our own DC iyswim. I like it, as it means I get a sense of the school and also get to know some of the other children.

[mimsum]

Do you help out at your child's school? yes

If you do, do you help his/her class or another class? no

If you help another class, is it the same year group? different year group

If you help another class, is it your choice or school policy? school policy

It's school policy but I don't mind at all - if I were in either of my dc's classes it would be really disruptive for them and the other children - my dc wouldn't be able to get on with things as if I wasn't there, whether or not I was helping with their group

I really like it - I've been listening to the same group of children reading now since they were in y1 - they've just gone into Y4 - I listen to four, one at a time, and it's great seeing their progress, and giving a couple of them badly needed stability. Sometimes they don't do much reading, but just tell me about their lives (which can be quite chaotic ). I feel I"m doing much more for the school by helping in this way rather than by 'snooping' on my dc in their class

[MachinesAreGo]

I help in my dc's class. I could offer in another class, but I prefer to be an extra pair of hands that my child and her friends would benefit from. I don't do it to snoop, and don't tell tales out of class (although I have never had 'the talk' about confidentiality from any of the teachers).
I take individuals or groups, which may include my dc, and do whatever the teacher has planned for me, and then give feedback to her at the end.
I can see that for some children, having their parent in the class could be disruptive, but it has never been a problem for my dc. If it was, I wouldn't help in that class, but would probably volunteer for the other class in the same year group.
It does seem odd that schools seem to have VERY different views on the appropriateness of parents helping in their children's class .

[TimothyTigerTuppennyTail]

Thank you for these.

[choccyp1g]

I help in DS class at the moment, but used to do a different year group some of the time at infant school. The reason was that I stayed in the class, rather than moving with the children, as I had built up a bit of expertise on the crafts they did in that year.
I'm happy to help the school as a whole, not particularly the class my DS is in, so would help wherever I'm needed or even do office work, tidying the store cupboard whatever.

It is more fun doing your own child'c class, as you get to know the children that are not his particular friends.

My school has never given me the "confidentiality talk", but I have worked out when to keep my mouth shut, (nearly all the time) and some tactful responses when parents ask how their child is doing: "Well, you'd have to ask the teacher about that, but I always enjoy my time with [insert name of child]"

[happywomble]

Do you help out at your child's school? yes

If you do, do you help his/her class or another class? his class

If you help another class, is it the same year group? N/A

If you help another class, is it your choice or school policy? N/A

If you help his/her class, would you still help out if you were told you had to do a different class, not your child's class? (I don't mean as a one off. No-one minds a one-off.) NO....feel quite cross that some schools are adopting this policy.

If I am giving up my time to volunteer I would like to help in my own childs class thank you!! I am happy to help the school generally doing PTA stuff.

There was another thread on this subject last week...if you are able to locate it, it might give you some more feedback.

[Clayhead]

Do you help out at your child's school?
Yes, this is my fourth year of helping.

If you do, do you help his/her class or another class?
His & Her class

If you help another class, is it the same year group?
n/a (although there are other classes containing their year groups)

If you help another class, is it your choice or school policy?
n/a (no school policy on this AKIAK)

If you help his/her class, would you still help out if you were told you had to do a different class, not your child's class? (I don't mean as a one off. No-one minds a one-off.)
No, part of the reason I do it is to experience their class. I usually 'work' with a group that doesn't contain my child though, that is how I prefer it, but in the same room as my dc.

[melpomene]

Do you help out at your child's school?
yes

If you do, do you help his/her class or another class?
Help in dd1's class, help to start helping in dd2's class soon

If you help another class, is it the same year group?
They get streamed within the year for maths (yr 2), so I do help some children from the other class in dd1's year then.

If you help another class, is it your choice or school policy?

If you help his/her class, would you still help out if you were told you had to do a different class, not your child's class? (I don't mean as a one off. No-one minds a one-off.)
Probably would, but I much prefer to help dd1's class. It was an advantage that I already knew most of the children before I started to help, and many of them already knew me. I also like to see dd1's teacher in action and find out what they are doing in their class.

[TimothyTigerTuppennyTail]

Thanks very much everyone.

No issues with DS's school Jajas, I was asking on behalf of a friend. She's been told that the majority of schools have this policy about not helping in your child's class, but of all the people I've asked only one other school has this.

FWIW, I do help out at DS's school. It's his class, but I don't help him IYSWIM. There's no policy about helpers, they just seem to want as many parents as possible to get involved with the school. I think if I was told that I had to do a different year I would be very reluctant.

[bellissima]

(1) Yes
(2) Another class (and year group)
(3) My choice

Haven't we just had a thread on this? I can't understand why people can't see the benefit of reciprocal, neutral help for others.

Put it another way. Say that for a number of reasons (work, other DCs or other care responsibilities) you can't help at school. Who would you rather have as a parent helper in your DC's class?

(a) Someone who is happy to help out in any year/class group?

(b) Someone who will only help if allowed in their own DC's class?

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Bellissima, definitely option a. I'd prefer volunteers that didn't have a child in the class and dont think I would be happy with the school if they allowed parents to assist in the classroom where they had their own children.

Ours is a small school so dont need classroom help so its not cropped up. Parents do volunteer but its usually for trips, discos, helping with painting etc so no actual class work as such.

[hotpotato11]

I helped out in reception/Y1 for several years whether or not I had a child in that class,because that is where they need most help ! I absolutely am grateful to any parent helping out in my child's class.I think it is very small minded to say their motives are not altruistic an extra adult definitely outweighs any perceived drawbacks.I haven't come across people breaching confidentiality.Certainly not any more so than the staff do anyway.
the one negative as a parebt volunteer i would say is that you do see and find out things that you would have rather not known about !