To demand a parents evening meeting when I next have to pick my son up?

[OnlyParentsAreReal]

I was informed today at pick up that it's parents evening tomorrow (first time I'm hearing of this) and my time slot is 7.15pm! I immediately said that wasn't possible as that is past my son's bed time to which they replied "oh well". There are a few things I've been meaning to bring up with them anyway and my son isn't in tomorrow. Would I be unreasonable to demand a parent's evening meeting next time Im there for pick up?

[HaudYerWheeshtBawbag]

I understand the meaning of the word demand even if you don’t OP, YABU.

Ask for a suitable appointment, to discuss your child’s education!! Yabu to think you can demand someone time!

[Dahlietta]

How old is this child? Primary age? What Primary School would expect pupils to attend parents' evening at 7:15pm?

[Noimbrianfromhull]

No you don't demand anything - have a conversation and make a request like an adult rather than a stroppy child.

[OnlyParentsAreReal]

This is the first time I'm hearing about it because it's the first time they are telling me. I didn't miss anything. It wouldn't make a difference anyway about the fact they are giving a time after most children are asleep

[Sirzy]

And if you have concerns to discuss anyway that generally needs a longer outside of parents evening meeting anyway, and generally that kind of meeting would be better without the child there surely?

[SandyDenny]

You sound a bit rude, who are you to demand a meeting? Why is it that you didn't know about the parents evening?

How old is your son, 7.15 is late for a primary parents evening though imo

[Sirzy]

So they only told all the parents that parents evening is tomorrow today?

[cantkeepawayforever]

Is your child at school, or pre-school (as you mention he's not there tomorrow)?

How old is he, and which year group is he in?

How do you usually find out about dates and events? Do you usually find out about things via this route in a timely manner.

The thing is, you have been given a parents evening meeting - you don't have to 'demand' one, one has been offered to you at 7.15 pm.

If that is not convenient for you, then you ask, politely, as a major favour, whether another time can possibly be arranged?

'Demanding' a time might be appropriate if everyone else had been given a time and you had not, or you had asked for one multiple times and it had been refused while all requests for others had been agreed.

It's not appropriate because the time that you have proactively been given isn't convenient for you. That's 'asking for a favour' time, not 'demanding' time.

[RedSkyAtNight]

Why isn't your son in tomorrow? Is he in Reception and you're still doing a phased settle in? It's a bit odd to organise a parents' evening (especially one that requires the DC to be there) for a day when some children don't go in.

[SandyDenny]

I find it hard to believe that a school organises a parents evening but doesn't tell anyone then assigns random timings the day before.

Do you really think that's how they do it?

[Ditsy1980]

YABU to demand.
YWNBU to ask for a different date / slot.

School are BU to give a 7.15pm time slot. At our school the last appt is 5.50pm. Parents evening is spread out over a number of days to accommodate everyone between 3.30-5.50.

I do find it odd that you are so insistent you were just told today though, I don't believe that there wouldn't have been a letter.

[MummaDeeDee]

It’s not the schools fault that you didn’t know about it and you have no idea what the teachers diary is like to assume they can see you on that day. Politely ask to rearrange for a mutually convenient time.

[BishBoshBashBop]

I find it extremely hard to believe that this is the first time it has been communicated.

[BackforGood]

Have to agree with everyone else.
Of course YABVVVU to "demand" anything.

Of course the school have publicised this before. Believe me, 2 of m 3 d have been a nightmare at handing over letters, etc., but, knowing that I have always made a point of checking their bags, checking the website every now and then, talking to other parents, and keeping my ears open generally. I can tell you for certain that no school have suddenly decided to have a parents evening tomorrow night and allocated everyone an appointment time today.

How old is your dc?
Do you normally drop off / collect or do you work / use childcare?

[Anasnake]

School's don't suddenly spring parent's evenings on people, that's nonsense. More likely you missed the communication / didn't read the email or text or didn't check the website. They probably approached you today as they were chasing up people who hadn't replied and letting you know what times were available.

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Why is DS not there tomorrow? If you haven't missed anything then they have communicated parents evening only by word of mouth the day before the event, which seems very unlikely.

[treaclesoda]

I don't know any primary age children (I'm assuming it's primary) who would be in bed at 7.15 so I think it's stretching things to say that that's a time most children would be in bed.

[sadiemm2]

I love it when parents demand things of me....
I cannot imagine that your child's school has organised PCs with 24 hours notice. You've probably been given the last slot as it was the last one left. Have you checked with Admin staff they have your correct text or email? Pretty much all our communication is via text or emails.
Primary schools offer a late night Consultation session for working parents who can't come earlier. I always used to book the last one, so I could attend after doing my PC evening.

[BrieAndChilli]

Our school
At the beginning of the year puts in the newsletter the dates for parents evenings

Several weeks before parents evening we all get an email asking us to contact the teacher if we have a preference of times or days out of the 2 evenings offered so that they can arrange appts
Then about 10 days before we get a letter with our allocated time on it, last min amendments can be made but it’s more parents swoping amongst themselves.

I find it hard to believe that this is the absolute first time the school have communicated info about parents evening to any parents 🙄

[Hmmalittlefishy]

So every parent was allocated a time slot the day before parents evening?
That's not how it works in any school and would be a logistical nightmare for the school.
I will assume you have a reception child as you mentioned that most children are asleep at 7.15 and seem to genuinely think you are right about it all
I would go into the office, or ring or email and explain you must have missed some communication about parents evening and unfortunately 7.15 isn't suitable for you and please could they try to help you to rearrange and to also check you are on the email/text system or whatever else it is they use to communicate with parents
And you need to check your child's book bag and stop demanding things

[mrsm43s]

I think it's great that Primary schools are finally offering parents evening slots that commuting parents can get to!

Parent's evenings are important, so either get a babysitter or keep your child up a little bit later - it's 7.15, not midnight!

I usually have to take a half days leave to get back in time for parents' evening. It's inconvenient, but I do it, because my children and their education is important enough to me for me to put myself out to make sure that I attend things like this.

[LIZS]

You seem very defensive. Apart from bedtime is there any there reason why tomorrow is not possible? How old is your dc?

[RavenWings]

You are absolutely ridiculous OP. Yes, yabu. Once contact time ends, most teachers can then dictate at what time they get their paperwork etc done. You could not take no for an answer all you liked, if you continued to harrass me in my class I'd refuse any meeting with you and you'd have to deal purely with the principal.

I simply don't believe that this was spring
on every parent in the class. You missed the note home/didn't read beginning of year pack/didn't look at the text. Shit happens. Teachers will understand that. But you can't turn around and demand that they bend over backwards to accommodate you on this.

[RunningOutOfCharge]

Yes, you sound very defensive op

Teachers are busy.... you can’t make ‘demands’ of them!