How often do you communicate with your schools/teachers?

[fourlegstwolegs]

I have two children (Yr R and Yr 3) and I am not sure if I am being proactive enough, but equally don't want to piss the teachers off.
Due to to Covid, there has been zero face to face interaction with the teachers for over a year. I occasionally email the teacher of my Y3 child (maybe once per month) to ask how he is doing. He's wildly bright but very complicated and I never know how much I should be trying to make sure he's got the right support/ensure things are going in the right direction.
My Yr R child is much more straightforward and I don't really email her teacher much at all.
I suppose I assume the school know what they are doing, and I'm sort of letting them get on with it, but I worry that actually by doing so it is almost benign neglect on my part...?!
It would be very useful to get a feel for what level of parent-teacher interaction is actually normal! Thanks!

At those ages pretty much only parents' evenings, unless there was a specific issue. Have you not even had a virtual parents' evening in the last year? That's pretty poor.

I wouldn't expect to randomly email just to see how my child was doing though (unless I had concerns).

@UserAtRandom

At those ages pretty much only parents' evenings, unless there was a specific issue. Have you not even had a virtual parents' evening in the last year? That's pretty poor.

I wouldn't expect to randomly email just to see how my child was doing though (unless I had concerns).

We have had virtual parent's evenings, but pre-covid at pickup the teachers would often grab a quick word about the children (usually once a week or so) but that's gone now.

As previous poster said parents evening only really unless there was an ongoing issue. I would consider emailing monthly to be a lot of contact (and if I'm being very honest if there are no particular concerns in either direction it is probably a PITA for the teacher, sorry).

We have had virtual parent's evenings, but pre-covid at pickup the teachers would often grab a quick word about the children (usually once a week or so) but that's gone now.

TBH (based on my experience and others I know) I think that was pretty unusual (particularly by Year 3 - in Year 3, the children were just let out at the end of the day and we never even saw the teacher from a distance). Is this a particularly small school/small classes as that seems to be a lot of extra effort to talk to each parent once a week or so? Although what about children who go to after school clubs or who are picked up by (e.g.) childminders or grandparents - their parents never see the teacher at pick up time? I'd say generally the rule is that you only talk to the teacher at ad-hoc times if there is something of particular note to talk about.

I think it would be very unusual to be emailing the yr3 teacher once a month. Imagine if all 30 children did that!!!

You may need to think about pulling back a a bit.

Normally its 2 parents evenings and a report here! School let you know if there's a problem. Not expected to email in at all.

Only parents evening and report card unless teacher had an issue

@SavingsQuestions

I think it would be very unusual to be emailing the yr3 teacher once a month. Imagine if all 30 children did that!!!

You may need to think about pulling back a a bit.

Normally its 2 parents evenings and a report here! School let you know if there's a problem. Not expected to email in at all.

There's only 14 in the class but I take your point

I'm starting to worry that I'm an a

I'm starting to worry that I'm an awful parent 🙈. I've only emailed the teacher twice since my Daughter started. I've often wondered if o am meant to email more. She's 3, nearly 4.

Just realised you said year 3 and not 3!! No idea if you should be emailing more around that age! Ignore me 😂

We don't have access to the the teacher's emails, it all goes through the secretary, poor woman.

Mine are in Y5 and I've emailed once, about an issue, and it was swiftly resolved. Certainly never got any interaction at pick up, only those who had had an issue that day ie they had been a PITA.

There's only 14 in the class but I take your point

That's probably why you've been used to more interaction that most parents. As I said upthread, it's pretty unusual to have regular "check ins" by the time they get to school age (more common in nursery/school age) and by Year 3 I wouldn't expect to need them.
Is this a private school (only asking as I guess the school may pride itself on an enhanced level of "Customer service").

nursery / pre-school age.
Sorry.

Moovinon - not at all normal to email the teacher! They will contact you if they need to. Many schools will still have all emails fielded by the office.

I would only email in with specific enquiry eg for the head or for the office regarding time off for hospital etc.

Occasional note to teacher in bookback/homework diary if needed "X needs a new book/X has appointment at 2 and needs to leave." But other than that no.

I'm a primary teacher and although I might find it a bit excessive I would still reply. Some parents need more reassurance than others. I'd usually only speak to parents if there was an issue or something needed to be raised or "X has had a really good day"

As I'm pregnant at the moment and in and out of hospital I've been emailing my DD's teacher to make her aware of things happening incase she says anything at school or behaviour changes.

Don't worry, you won't be the worst/most fussy parent the teacher has had to deal with. Trust me 😂