School parent evening

[Fourunderfourx]

So DD has started reception and the school have advised there is a parent evening next week to provide information to parents, only problem is it's at 7 right when bedtime for my children will start, why does the school think this time is appropriate for parents of 4 year olds? My parents have offered to mind so we can go but my youngest will be needing to be breastfed and put to bed around then so not really fair on parents as she won't take a bottle. What do most people do? One parent goes and one stays? We bring the baby and keep her up late?

Only one of you needs to go

What do most people do? One parent goes and one stays?

Yes I think that's most logical where you have two parents.

If it was earlier people wouldn't be able to go because of work, there's isn't going to be a time to suit everyone.

It will be to accommodate working parents.

Its normal for one parent to go to school stuff.

If it makes you feel better OP, I'm sure the teachers who've been made to stay back until gone 8pm would much rather be at home with their families too.

Only one of you needs to go...

It’s equally tough for teachers who have young children at home. My parental information evening was timetabled for 7-8 which is my 1 year olds bed time but for one night I had to make it work.

If you feel you really want to be there then I would suggest that maybe for one night your parents could keep your youngest up slightly later or you try put them to bed earlier. Either that or you stay home and your partner goes.

It’s usually just a quick information evening in which they tell you about the routines for the school day, what the children will be learning and gives you an opportunity to ask a quick question.

Well it's simple really. One parent goes. In the same way that the teacher's partner may well be looking after the children whilst the teacher stays late for the meeting.

What do most people do? One parent goes and one stays?

exactly this.

this is a perfect example of when schools can’t win. Do it before 6pm and anyone who works potentially can’t get there and moans about schools not understanding about working parents. Do it after 6pm and non-working parents moan it’s too late 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oddly enough, @Fourunderfourx , the teacher would probably prefer not to be at school for 13 hours straight, either, but the school is offering the opportunity for parents who wish to to attend the parents evening after they have got home from their work.

Yes, normally one parent would go.
Or, in some families, no parents go.
Or, in other families both do go - if they are lucky enough to have on tap sitters.
Or, in some cases the parent has to take the dc along with them.

But many appreciate the fact the school is offering the opportunity and the fact that the teacher will be there 12 - 13 hours after they got to work, and will still need to prep for their lessons the next day. Oh, and some of them might like to see their own dc too

Well but that's the teacher's job, to attend the evening.

Op I would suggest that only one parent goes. You can't please everyone because this time accommodates working parents - if they did earlier then more parents wouldn't go. I imagine it's also to put you off taking children.

There will be lots of these evenings over your child's school career. One of you goes and feeds back. If you can't make it, sometimes there is a PowerPoint they can send or other parents can fill you in.

Now my children are a bit older (youngest is 4), 7pm is great. Left DH doing bedtime, went to the meeting and then at 8pm headed to the pub with a few other parents.

There is absolutely no need for you both to go.

Thanks, yes I feel it's unfair for the teachers who are staying too! The last time we had a parent information event it was at 1pm while the kids were having a taster session if the class which worked well but oh well, guess I'll send DH, baby will be very cranky if she's not fed until 8, she won't take a bottle

It might have "worked well" for you, but it wouldn't have worked well for all the parents who are at work at that time, would it ?

Our parent information sessions are always at 8am to accommodate working parents (school day starts at 8.30am, we bring the dc and they are supervised by other staff elsewhere). It works out for working parents and me who is at home with a younger baby. Parents evenings for individual children are from 3.30pm-7pm so I usually take an earlier slot so I can be there with my younger dc.

OP if we had a session at 7pm I'd want to be there so I'd be bringing baby along and take her out of her routine for one night. I'm bfing and she can usually cope if I bf and wear her in a carrier and she just sleeps through anything.

The 7pm accounts for working (majority?) of parents I'd imagine.
Schools will be criticised whenever they do it as it won't suit everyone

To come are lots of inconvenient events eg the discos at shit times with 45mins in between drop and collect. Hell on wheels for those with smaller kids and no other adult to help...
You have both the luxury of a parent and a partner to assist so it could be worse.?

7pm I'd be attending with all my kids as a single parent at a shit time of day after working all day 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think it did tbh, the vast majority of parents were there to bring their child to the taster session and collect them. I am normally working but on mat leave at the moment and I would prefer to take a short time out of work during the day than to struggle with children's delayed bedtimes and getting babysitters. If I was working now I would hate to finish work and then have to head back up to the school but maybe that's just me

You’re in a bubble of baby bedtimes and clearly a short commute. 7pm is a far better time for a parent meeting.

Also the schools usually provide the same info via PowerPoint or email anyway so you really can miss it without much impact.....

Sometimes there is no choice! I do look at the families with both parents attending with no kids present and wonder what planet they live on 😂

It isnt parents evening. It is an information evening. Send your husband.

I think it did tbh, the vast majority of parents were there to bring their child to the taster session and collect them.

They made an exception for it as it was linked to the taster session. Most working people aren't able to do that on a regular basis.

More parents probably work than don't. They're going try and sort it to fit the most people.

Just one do you. Or if it's completely inconvenient don't bother just ask to call or be sent important info.

*just one go

Or just push bedtime back a bit the world won't fall apart

If there’s a class whatsapp the gist is usually circulated anyway