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Original poster

Do you go in and help at private schools?

24 replies

bettiejane · 03/02/2011 16:11

I was just wondering if going in and helping in your child class is common at a private school?
I am thinking of putting my daughter in private school from reception and was wondering if it was common for Mums to help with reading or any other things?
Or does that not happen at private school?

OP posts:

LIZS · 03/02/2011 16:18

I did in Years 1 and 2. They requested help via the class reps and organised a rota for ideally between about 8-10 per class(some did more than once a week) so each child was listened to by either a parent, ta or teacher each day. Occasionally they'd ask for extra adults for trips, help with plays etc which was ok as you would already be crb checked for reading.

jumpingcastles · 03/02/2011 16:28

I havent seen any parent helpers at my school but i dont know if you can.

HildegardVonBlingen · 03/02/2011 16:31

IME, some private schools welcome parent helpers, and others don't. Some are crying out for them! I'd try asking the particular advance, if it's important to you.

HildegardVonBlingen · 03/02/2011 16:32

'advance'"? I think I mean 'asking the particular school in advance'...

MarinaResurgens · 03/02/2011 16:39

IME it does happen, but in a far more limited and specific way.
Our school welcomes input from parents willing to help with sports coaching or other extra-curricular activities such as helping out with trips, walking bus etc, but does not use them for regular classroom work such as reading.

CMOTdibbler · 03/02/2011 16:40

So far, the only request I have had is for help with getting them changed (reception) for swimming.

pagwatch · 03/02/2011 16:44

Never been asked for dcs school but tbh I don't think they need it. Dd in a class of 11 at year 1 and they had teacher and two assistant teachers. I don't think they like parents involved in teaching. Having listened to a mutual friend gossip about the awful lack of ability in some children at her dcs school I don't regret that decision.

They do ask for parents to volunteer for outings which is a laugh.

Lizzywishes · 03/02/2011 16:44

I'd say it would be unusual. There would usually be a full time classroom assistant anyway. Parental help is generally restricted to the odd day trip/away match.

Michaelahpurple · 03/02/2011 21:01

Very usual in my experience. I parent read weekly, we have a rota to help with dressing for swimming, one of my class mummies (Indian) has gone in twice to present on Hindu issues, the "Friends" group hosts an art event annually, where parents go in to help the children all work together on a big art project, various parents have come in and presented at assembly on things from playing the cello, to making television programmes. I love the access and involvement. Also helping on school trips. Hmmm, the list goes on.

blueshoes · 03/02/2011 21:56

Not with reading - agree this is a sensible policy for the reasons pagwatch stated.

Just parent volunteers for school trips. I have presented to my dd's class on Mandarin. The school also asks parents for careers advice.

Of course, there are all the fetes and events, but they are more PTA than school.

Litchick · 04/02/2011 08:00

Not with reading and such, no.

But I've helped with trips and hitory days etc.

Then there's the never ending request for help with xmas fayres/discos/feasts etc...but you don't have to contribute to any of this if you don't want to or indeed can't.

follygirl · 04/02/2011 14:20

I help once a week in my dd's school. I help the Reception children choose their library books and then read them a story. I enjoy it, and I find it useful knowing a bit more about how the school works.
There are no parent helpers at my ds' school so it varies.

janet41 · 04/02/2011 22:38

DD's school actively does not want parent helpers which i find a bit sad; later years you may get to help around sports and drama events (costumes etc) but parents absolutely not welcome in the classroom, on trips (except ski-ing and other very long distance trips).

Lizzywishes · 04/02/2011 23:39

Personally, I would not like parent helpers in my kids' classrooms. I would find it rather intrusive. I'm a teacher too ( secondary, though) and would be wary of the idea of any parental involvement in the classroom. One of the advantages of independent primaries is that they have sufficient well-trained staff to not need parent volunteers.

freshmint · 04/02/2011 23:43

no we have classes of 10 - 15 with a teacher and full time helper so not much help needed in the classroom
we do have parent helpers to help with riding lessons for little ones - one mum per pony

I know that sounds poncetastic, and I apologise, but its true...

onimolap · 04/02/2011 23:48

It varies from school to school: some keep parents firmly at arms length (I think Hill House is one such), others have them in for reading, trips, and specialist input (eg Chinese mothers coming in to talk about Chinese New Year, or a parent to talk about their job).

You could ask during a school tour.

Lizcat · 05/02/2011 16:43

We have one parent helper at DDs school who listens to pre-prep children read, however, she was a primary school teacher prior to children. She never worked in the same class as her own children when they were in pre-prep. Other than that individual parents are invited in if they have skills that can help particular topics hindu parents with dwali, myself a vet care of animals. Further up the school various parents with the young enterprise groups.

MollieO · 05/02/2011 16:52

Never been asked to help at ds's school. The only things parents do is help with charity fund raising and PTA events.

MollieO · 05/02/2011 16:53

Freshmint like the riding help. Ds wanted to join the riding club at his school but he wasn't eligible as he didn't have his own pony!

freshmint · 05/02/2011 17:17

they provide ponies at our school

(actually it is a riding school that comes in 3 days a week so the ponies are only there for 2 nights, they don't actually live there)

Earlybird · 05/02/2011 17:51

Parents in dd/s school are asked to come in once a term to help prepare class handout materials - photocopy, collate and compile worksheets, booklets, etc.

There are also many opportunities to participate in various fundraising activities - so the school can purchase 'extras' for the students (classroom equipment, library, sports/musical items, computers, etc).

pawsnclaws · 05/02/2011 17:54

I used to help at the dcs old school but not the current one. Just helping out with extra stuff like art and craft, cookery, that kind of thing (but never allowed to help out with your dcs own yeargroup). Also on school trips (own yeargroup fine for that).

JeffVadar · 06/02/2011 09:30

Funnily enough I got an email from DSs school yesterday asking for more volunteers to listen to children reading.

Parents also help out with sports coaching, music and school plays. They help with fund raising for school trips and sports tours etc as well.

Hulababy · 06/02/2011 09:44

I volunteered at dd's prep school. I wanted some exp in primaries and they welcomed me in. I listened to readers, helped with art lessons, displays, took small groups for activities, did photocopying, helped sort out library, etc. I did it for a year and enjoyed it. I am a qualified teacher but wanted to move into primaries on a support role so it was great exp and helped me get a job.

It was unusual in that they don't often have parent volunteers but did have lots of local student work exp people. Have since seen other parents going in. They have been sorting out the big library and have heard readers I think.

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