to ask why some parents have to speak to the class teacher every morning?

[MarysBeard]

Especially when the general rule is to communicate via the reading book, the office if a routine matter, or if you must, to speak to the teacher at the end of the school day, and if it's something that takes more than five minutes, make an appointment.

I would expect it in reception, but by Year 3 surely parents should know not to be standing around monopolising the teachers' attention in the morning, delaying the children getting into school. Also (apart from in reception) the kids are meant to line up and the parents stand behind some cones after the bell has gone. Yet some parents still hang around the lines of kids after the bell has gone, sometimes getting in the way of the lines of kids getting into school. It's always the same people you see doing both, in spite of repeated reminders in the newsletters. I often feel sorry for the teaching staff in the mornings & wish that some parents would just let them get on with it (as most do!)

Just assume they have really, really difficult children, OP.

I thinkit is a mixture of things.
One mum I know was catching the teacher every morning all through the year. I caught up with her socially and it turned out her dd was having some anxieties around school and was being assessed for SN.

But some other parents do just think their hold is more important.

And the parents who speak to sports coaches at every single training session are huge great big pushy suck ups [actual fact]

I sometimes have to have a quick word with the teacher as my ds has SEN, its never usually more than a couple of minutes and even then its usually with his one to one teacher anyway, not the class teacher. I spoke mainly with him in any meetings.

As others have said its always the same couple of mums. I'm just concerned their DCs have been getting lots of awards just to give the teachers some peace! Maybe I should try that tactic...

One of two reasons, the child has ongoing issues, or the parents are fusspots. At our school it would be easier to speak to the teacher in the morning, than in the afternoon when everyone crowds round the gate.

But what if all the children had ongoing issues?

I very much doubt if teachers even REMEMBER all these little trivialities later on in the day.

Annoys me too, the children can't even get to the door sometimes.

I am probably one of these Mums, my child has ongoing issues with school and has recently been diagnosed with a serious health condition. If there is something relating to that which the teacher needs to know on that particular day, then there is no point waiting until after school. I also like to talk face-to-face rather than contact book so that I know the message has got through (they don't always check the coontact books first thing) and sometimes the teacher may have something they need to say to me in response.

I would prefer not to be in this situation, and would love to be able to drop and run, but it is sadly not always possible. Do feel free to judge me though, instead of being thankful your child is not in this position!!

It's highly unlikely that they would all have ongoing issues.

How are these parents going to cope when their child gets to secondary school? Go on the bus with them? :)

I can't say I've noticed this. Which either means that no-one does it in our class or that I don't much care - either of which could be equally true.

i speak to dd1s teacher in the morning because that is when dd1 struggles, at the end of the day it would be pointless.

the chances of all the children having ongoing issues which need to be sorted in the morning is unlikely, but i guess if there were lots of parents needing to take up some of the teachers time then we would all have to work out a system which suited everyone.

How are these parents going to cope when their child gets to secondary school? Go on the bus with them?

who knows, maybe.

if the problems are still ongoing then they will find another way to communicate issues with the school, but 11 children are more likely to be able to talk to teachers themselves though in most cases.

I haven't noticed this either. I'm not sure why you'd bother unless you genuinely had something you needed to tell the teacher,

I speak to the TA before and after each day. DS2 has SNs and she is his full time 1:1 support at school although not a lot of parents will know that. I speak to her in the morning so I can relay any issues before school and she speaks to me after school to let me know how the day has gone.

She even brings him to me and hands him over. Have had a few snooty remarks from parents a bit like a few people on this thread tbh, don't alwaya assume the child is a problem child just because they come out accompanied by a teacher/TA.

My child has behavioural problems. I tend to chat a lot to the teachers in this way. A friendly warning of "she got up for the day at 2am again Miss TeacherLady" usually. Then at the end of the day I like to know how she did. We don't have a communication book though.

They know we have issues and seem to be fine with it.

People seem to be surprised I am making appointments for a teacher parent meeting because my DS is being fitted with a hearing aid, but I want to know how they'll ensure it doesn't affect his schooling, and to be sure his new teacher is still pushing him academically as he was way beyond his years ability level last year and I don't want the holidays to mean all that is forgotten.

HAve no idea, but they do! And it's the same few in Year 4 as ithas been all through the school! And they tend to be the ones who monopolise after-school clubs, teachers at activities, etc.too. Maybe their dc are just more imrportant than everyone else!!!!

A friend speaks to the teacher every morning. Her ds has aspergers and the communication is part of the home/school transition.

I would have felt the same as op with regards to dd's class teachers - barely spoken to them.

But I have had to have more communication with ds1's teacher. He is being assessed for SEN at the moment and has a more tricky attitude to school. So yes, sometimes I really do have to speak to the teacher before school to alert her to any issues that have arisen. After school is an option but then have collected ds and dd (who has the hearing of a bat) and is more difficult to have quick convo with them around than in morning when dd has gone off to her line and is 15 ft away at the back (always the back!) of the line.

5 -- sorry, I think I might have looked like I was making snooty remarks.(careless phrasing). In fact, I have the sort of children who often require a quick word; less so now, but it sucks.

5inthebed you explained that much better than me

I hate the comments from the other parents, it has absolutely nothing to do with them

I dont speak to DS's teacher as DS goes in via the office, but his TA and I have a quick chat every morning. Mainly things like 'he is in a good mood' 'not eaten any breakfast' etc

stanley, I'm sorry about your DC. You're right, people are very quick to judge. I honestly think people should just mind their own a bit more. I haven't noticed anyone monopolising the teacher that much, but if I did I'd just be glad that I didn't feel the need to. Clearly other people do feel a need.

Sorry, not just 'feel', but 'have' a need of course.

Does it matter? I don't stand and chat, but I actually think it's good to feel that a teacher can be approached if you need to talk before or after school - could be because the child has health issues, or the parent needs support.

If the teacher doesn't have time, then that's up to the teacher to make it clear. Just ask the parent to use the reading record etc, or to email.

I'm sure that teachers are able to work out who are the pushy parents, and who actually have a valid reason to stop and talk. I don't think it really matters to anyone else.