Are private school parents expected to help with reading etc?

[mrsshackleton]

I'm thinking about moving dd1 from a state primary to a private prep at the beginning of Yr 2. Dd2 would start reception at the same time.

However, I'm put off by reading in the Good Schools Guid that parents help out a lot with sport, reading etc.

Surely a big plus point of private schools is that they don't have to rely on parents help to get the children reading? It's one of my main problems with dd1's school - they're learning to read at a snail's pace and forever badgering us to come in, which if you work or have younger children is not possible. Reading with your children at home is different, of course. As is helping out with the school in some way ie school fair, though I don't think any parent should be pressured to participate to ensure their dcs have a good education.

Anyway before I embark on this costly path I'd like to know how much parents are expected to be unpaid teachers at private schools.

Yes TJP you have got the wrong end of the stick

OP is talking about beign asked to go into the school and hear children read during school hours.

mrsS I went to a private school donkeys years ago and they never asked my parents to do anything except donate cash. I would be surprised if any did TBH I wuold have though the assumption is that most families have both adults working to pay the fees! Plus private schools are often further away than state - you can't really "pop in" a lot of teh time.

Maybe it depends on teh school. I would say ask them if you're worried but I'd be very surprised if they were expecting/asking this.

Litchick - as fluffyhamster says it is usually a 'request' but the word 'shirty' is definitley one I would apply as well.

Builde - a child in Y1, even one who can read, should IMO still be reading very regularly out loud both at school and at home. Reading out loud is a very different skill to reading in one's head, and should be encouraged for a lot longer yet. My DD is in Y3, reads well above her age and is still expected to read out loud at school at least once a week, and more frequently at home.

Hulababy - well, she reads with us every evening (out loud) and at school with someone once a week - that's probably enough!

But, what is the point of practising reading aloud when you can do it as well as an adult? At some point, you must be allowed to just do your own thing...

...and just to add - I've noticed that our children's reading gets better whether we sit down and ask them to read to us or not. It does make me cynical as to whether any of this worth parental effort is required.

In the old days, once we'd completed the reading scheme that was it(no homework, no reading to our parents) and it didn't stop either me or my siblings or dh going on to Oxbridge. I think that if you're bright you don't really need to put much effort in until secondary school; primary school skills just get absorbed during the school day.

But that is just my experience and I will probably get shouted down by everyone! But, as a high achiever with children who pick up academic stuff effortless, and not very earnest parents, I find it hard to worry about anything school related. As long as they have good teachers and an interesting and fun time, that's all I'm after.

However, I am aware that some of my friends put huge amounts of effort into their children's reading, and their children still don't read that well.

Quite a few teaching assistants at ds' school, they do the reading.

Absolutely no expectation or request to the parents to help out in classroom.

Would not go down well, plus there is enough reading at home, plus the school is quiet on where the students are comparatively - they probably wouldn't want the parents in the classroom.

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