To think that I shouldn't get a nasty surprise at Parents' Evening?

[ILoveAFullFridge]

If a dc is having problems, should the first I hear of it - despite regular contact with the form teacher - be at Patents' Evening?

Fullfridge, I know what you mean. It can be so demoralising to be hit with a lot of bad stuff. This year's parents evening was a bit like that for me, though I was prepared as his end of year report wasn't very good and he's had problems his whole school life.

What gets to me is when there are issues but the parents' evening is all (or mostly) sweetness and light. And you feel like, "Yes, but what is going to be DONE about the problems?" The encouraging stuff is nice to hear in the short term, but it won't help long term.