AIBU To Expect a Bit More Notice From the school?

[chillikate]

I am a terrible mother. I work full time in a management role.

DS has brought a letter hime from school (hes in Year R) saying that they are holding a meeting about reading & writing on Thursday next week at 2pm and would I like to go. Of course I blooming well will, I try to support my son as much as I can. But I can't go. I have a Customer in for an all day meeting.

AIBU in thinking that a week and a day really isn't enough notice??

Yes as someone else said just ask the teacher. Just a polite note explaining you would love to attend but have work commitments. And could he/she at a mutually convenient time meet with you for 10-15 minutes.

I did this once when parents' evening was short notice and I was on a late shift.

I'm lucky that my DS school seems to do them 6-7pm. Most parents, even working ones, can make it then. I have the childcare issue but I'm lucky my close friend who lives a mile away has DD's in a different school. (large area and we are different catchments!). We now 'swap' children to attend these things!

Thing is though that the poor teachers have to stay at school until about 8pm these evenings after usually arriving between 7/8am so I guess the afternoon sessions may be for this reason?

My work would be fine with a weeks notice but understand why your job it is not OK.

chilikate there is loads of info on the net with help re phonic sounds. I attended a meeting at DS school and had forgotton most of it by the next day! It did make me appreciate how hard it is for them to learn it!

A week and a day is enough notice for most parents. If you tell them with a week to spare before the meeting that you really can't make it at that time, then I'm sure you will be able to arrange an appointment so you can get all the right information. At the very least they will be able to give you any handouts, or reccommend websites that encourage their methods.

Ask for another private meeting and discuss your exact concerns in a shorter more suitable time.
Meanwhile, if you have the money, find out what reading scheme the school uses eg, oxford reading tree, etc and buy the parents or teachers book.
I highly reccommend the Jolly phonics scheme and there are loads of stuff you can buy for this including a parents/teachers guide to the letter sounds/phonics. Find out what they use first though as its best to keep consistency.
Ask which sounds they will be covering at the start of each week and work through them at home too.

I got 1 day's notice for a 'year review' at the start of the year - 4pm start. Really compatible with a full time job.... And I would have thought this could have been organised sooner.....

YANBU - it's not like the teachers decide "let's have a reading review next week". These things are planned weeks (months) in advance.