Parents evening

[readywithwellies]

Has anyone had experience of attending parents evening separately from the dcs father/mother? Has anyone had a request for separate meetings denied? I really do not want to go with exp and want to be prepared. If we have to go together I will take someone with me, but just wondered if anyone could shed some light?

I go on my own & ex makes his own arrangements. For a few years he used to come along to the timed sessions that I had been given, which was fine. Now he has started to make his own arrangements and goes on his own. Which is fine.

Be aware that a busy teacher struggling to fit you in may not give you 2 appointments as if they did this for everyone with separated parents it would be hours extra. If there is a genuine reason why you can't go together such as dv you need to explain this.

The school have to give you a separate appointment if you request it and you are separated and both have parental responsibility. Just ask.

With regard to taking someone with you, the school may not allow that person to be present at the discussion unless everyone with PR has expressly agreed.
The school is obliged to keep your child's personal information private and discussing it with someone who does not have PR may cause issues for those with PR if they do not agree with it.

Ex and I have been going to parents evening as seperate parent for many a year, over the years this has taken a few different forms. Ex and I have done seperate, where the same teacher has to see each parent. I've been away that week and organised the same dicussion with teachers over the phone. She's also brought her new husband to parents evening, however when it comes to talking with the teacher I didn't have to say anything, was just DCs mother and farther.

I think it's good if you can put your differences aside for quarter of an hour and listen to your DCs teacher and air any concerns infront of the other parent. Having said that, sometimes I think the Ex is taking the oppertunity to have a go at me, meh it doesn't bother me. Genrally I'm there to listen and ask questions not make some political point.

Sometimes it's even been fun as we look at the DCs work and laugh at some of the stuff a 9 and 10 year old write.

I do the same as I did when we were married ie go on my own and report back to xh !!

I'm a primary teacher and a separated parent. I will always make time for parents, whether it's during parents evening or before or after school on a different day or whenever concerns arise during the year. I don't know a school that would restrict access to teachers, because educating their child is a partnership. No reasonable request should be refused.

My ex has been to two parents evenings since our DDs started school. They are now in year 6 and year 9!! I don't even bother to report back any more, he's clearly not interested. I did photocopy their reports for him though when I realised that the schools had only issued one copy. When it's report time, I give two copies to the children whose parents live separately, one addressed to each parent.

Lilac, you sound like the sort of teacher I would appreciate.

The school has been quite good so far so I am hoping all will be OK.

EXp is sneaky so have already found out when it is in case he does not pass the letter on. stay one step ahead I say!

My ex-h lives so far away he couldn't go even if he wanted. I make notes and send an email report. Not sure if he reads it though (he's soooo busy...).