If you missed your kid's parents' night because you were on a term time holiday, would you expect the teacher to allow another appointment when you return?

[Purpleturtle46]

Just that really. Parents night same week every year and parents informed 2 months in advance.

YABU-yes the teacher should arrange to see you at an alternative time on your return.

YANBU-no, you booked and holiday and missed it so that's on you!

Our heads of year often send 'round robins' requesting info eg behaviour, progress, attitude to learning, particularly if parents are trying to obtain an EHCP, for example, or parents aren't able to attend parents' evenings, but we do have to draw the line at completing dozens!

Parent evenings are offered, if you choose to go on holiday that's not school's problem

This CANNOT be a serious question.

Isn’t that about 50% of parents? So you’re expecting teachers to offer 50% more appointments slots? So say there’s 300 kids in the year, at five minute appointments slots for a parents’ evening you think each teacher should be offering 450 slots? And they should be doing that for every year group?

Its not just 10 minutes, is it?

You’re funny

No

And we wonder why the waiting lists are so long 🙄

It was in response to the Doctor explaining that the service offers both parents separate appointments.
Children's needs can only be met by separated parents if they both know & understand the child's needs in the health care sector

I agree. I am a primary teacher and I would try and accommodate, although it's not ideal. That said, I would never go on a term time holiday (teacher or not).

If you need to manage 30 x n amount of 10 minute slots, surely creating a document where parents can put their own name down for a slot rather than teacher allocating them and expecting everyone to bend over would give much better result? 🤷🏼‍♀️

I feel so sorry for teachers. The situation with too what some parents feel entitled to while putting in little effort themselves is out of hand at the moment and wouldn’t be accepted in most other scenarios.

Imagine you worked in HR and offered an interview slot to a candidate but the candidate decided to book a last minute holiday on that date, then messaged from their holiday asking for an alternative slot, then said ‘come on it’s just 10 minutes, can’t you spare 10 mins for me because I’m so special.’ What impression would that give in any other walk of life?

An what hope do those kids have when they reach adulthood if that is the behaviour being modelled to them?

I think every parent who requests an appointment on the parents evening should get one.
FYI it's a 4 minute online appointment for my child's school.

@LondonFox that's exactly what does happen

The parents should be making sure the child goes to school. I don't want to hear any bollocks about "making memories and once in a lifetime opportunities" . Education is still compulsory and working hours past your finish time is not.

Obviously not. Why should someone have to give up their time for my decisions?

No, it s set date so if you can't make it that's just unfortunate.

I agree. We don't do term time holidays.

It's the separated parents bit I don't agree with.

Abuse is clearly a different issue, but just separated parents - tough shit? Either take it in turns or suck it up and attend together? Not sure that parents’ domestic arrangements are the school’s problem

I might ring you but I’m not arranging to see you.
Parents evenings are part of a teachers directed time. Whether the teacher has goodwill outside of the directed time may well depend on the school.
I’m a teacher and I was also the kid whose parents couldn’t be in the same room. No abuse but a messy divorce. Having them together would’ve been agony for me. I’d make two appointments for that kid.

No. I'd still go on holiday though.

No. I don't think teachers should be expected to facilitate anything for parents who think holidays take priority over schooling. You make your choice to take them out of school, but that doesn't mean anybody owes you anything.

I remember queuing for my timed slot with dd’s English teacher.
Some cf parents would not shut up about their dc and eventually I had to give up and go home.
I gave dd a note for teacher to say sorry I missed her but she looked rather tied up and if everything was ok then not to worry.
She wrote a few lines on the note and returned it , job done.
Most parents evenings are just confirmation of what parents already know.

But it’s not 10 minutes. If 10 separate parents ask for it that is 100 minutes and which is a lot.

Separated/divorced parents are legally entitled to separate appointments. Not for us teachers to judge, but to fulfil our legal and contractual obligations on reporting to parents.
As for parents on a term time holiday - that’s a no!

"I think every parent who requests an appointment on the parents evening should get one"
And they'll be given one. ONE. ON the evening, not on a random night to suit your holiday plans.
Although, to be accurate, it's every child who is allocated the slot. Which parent attends it is up to you.