Parents evening this week, suitable questions without seeming too pushy?

[cornishgirl1]

Hi my ds in in Reception. Its Parents Evening this week. And I'd like ideas for suitable questions? I'd really like to know how he's doing academically with reading and writing. I'd like to know if he's on target for the reaching all the goals end of year, without sounding pushy.
Do you think the teacher will be able to tell me if he' like top end, middle or bottom end or is that that the wrong thing to ask? I dont want to be seen as a pushy parent I just want to know how he is doing? Thanks

His teacher will tell you about his progress and if he's on track to achieve the foundation stage goals. Please try not to make comparisons with his peers. He is an individual and as long as he is steadily progressing forward, that's all that matters.
I form a pretty good judgement of my dd's progress from the reading and writing she does at home.
When I go to parents' evenings I am more interested in her social skills ie. does she join in well with question and answer sessions. Does she listen carefully? Does she mix well with other children?
Hope this helps.

I don't think you would be seem to be pushy OP, after all he is your child and they only get one chance at an education. However, as you said, I would steer the conversation along the lines of reaching targets rather than wanting to know where he ranks in the class - a teacher should not divulge this information anyway.

And ask how you can help at home with any areas that he may be struggling with, I think any teacher will be glad to know that a child is being supported at home.

let us know how you get on.

Thanks very much for your replies. I will definately ask if he joins in question and answer sessions thats a good one and if he mixes well with other children. Thanks Bronte.
Love cheese i wil ask if there is anything he is struggling with, thanks. 10 mins is not really long enough I hope i have time to ask. Can I ask why a teacher will not divulge where he ranks in the class??? thanks, just curious.

Because he or she would be betraying confidentiality if he/ she did.

As a veteran of many parents evenings I have learned that the majority of teachers have a prepared spiel - what the class is covering, how your child is responding to that teaching.

The only question I ever ask is: Any concerns? No - cut and run!

And never forget to say thank you for their time and effort with your child.

My DD's reception teacher showed us a chart with eyfs areas and where DD was currently in each area. Think average for end of reception is a 6.

I think that 'do they seem happy' and 'is there anything i can do at home to help to support you' are reasonable questions that i always ask (whilst wanting desperately to know where tehy are against the goals and their peers but knowing i'm not going to get that info as well as the answers to teh q's i do ask!).

It is completely irrelevant where your child is in the class - it could be a class of geniuses or a class of dullards.

Always good to ask how he gets on with other children and whethert he partcipates in class as these are things you can't judge at home.
Good luck - I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

WE also got shown where DD was against the eyfs areas - if you're not shown you could ask how your DS is progressing against them. As others have said, the teacher won't tell you whether he is top/middle/bottom in the class and tbh this information is not that helpful anyway as you won't know whether DS's class is average/above average or whatever compared to the norm.

Rather than asking where your child is in relation to his peers, I would ask where he is in relation to the 'national expectation'. By the end of YR/FS2, you are looking at FSP6 being the average-this is the most useful thing to ascertain.

Hi, well i had parents evening today. Went ok. Was a bit shocked though when the 1st thing the teacher said was ' I don't know why we have parents evening in Reception' and' did you have them when you were at school', Intially I felt as though she thought it was very unnecessary because it was too early to reporting back and it wasn't needed !!!!!

That aside it did go well and ds1 is doing ok. I get the impression that teachers are reluctant to say how they are doing academically and are more concentrated on confidence and interaction with peers etc.

I can see how this is very important but surely its a balance between their academic performance and learning and their social skills and behaviour etc.

I guess it will take me a while to get used to the school system. Probably by the time my ds3 is through the system I will be up to speed.! thanks all for your help.

Welcome to the world of school, cornishgirl!