Can kids attend parents evening?

[jswn]

I have a slot for parents evening later on today for DS aged 4 who's just started reception. My childcare has fallen through.

Is it inappropriate to take him?

In my child's school they like the children to be there. But either way I have no childcare anyway so they would have to come with me.

Children were encouraged at my kids schools.

Lots of children go and it’s fine

They have to wait outside/stay home at my dc primary. At the secondary they won't see you if the child isn't with you, you have to reschedule if they're ill.

We've always taken my son and it's never been an issue.

My kids school prefer you not to take them but if you have to it's not an issue. I can't remember that far down the school but generally the kids wait in the corridor where there are generally lots of people about including heads and the P7 pupils

Ours sit in the school library where there's usually Lego or something out to amuse them.

Depends on the school. Maybe just call the office and ask.

That's odd in the secondary. What if they have other plans? (Sports clubs, pt jobs?)

Not in DD's primary until Y6. They had an unofficial creche in the library with some TAs and books/toys but you had to ask for it and often they checked with single parents or parents they knew would struggle to come otherwise in advance to make them aware of it.

In Y6 they wanted to give the children a kind of send-off with some tips for secondary.
In secondary it was more that DD had to bring the parent, it was very unusual that you would see a parent without a child.

It's part of being a secondary school pupil. It's about direct feedback from your teacher in front of your parent and while it is often praise, they also are honest with where the child has to /can improve.

You see at least 6 teachers for 10 minutes each.

Parent evenings are once a year until Y11 in DD's secondary. I think missing a club once a year is acceptable. Also, they appointments were more afternoon than evening so most times DD didn't miss anything as her clubs didn't start until 6pm.

It depends on the school.
Some say no dc.
Some understand that if they want the parent there, they are going to get some dc as the parent doesn't have anyone to leave them with.
Some positively encourage parents to bring the dc.

So there is no "right" answer that fits all schools.

Our schools, primary and secondary, expect children to attend the appointments.

Completely depends on the school. I'm a primary teacher. My previous school encouraged that children attend and be part of the discussion. My current school does not allow children to attend (although would allow them to sit outside the room if no childcare is available). Individual teachers generally have no say, so contact the office to check. As a teacher, I personally think children should be involved and be part of the conversations, it encourages them to take ownership of their own learning and understand the connection between home and school, but as I said, I have no say in the matter.

Our primary school run a creche for £1 donation. Year 6 they encourage to go with you and same for secondary.
If you have no childcare i'm sure it wouldn't be a massive issue to take child.

Course you can take them. DS came to every one until he was old enough to stay home alone, I am a lone parent and don't always have people willing to do childcare for me.