How (if at all) will taking a job at my DC's school affect my relationship with the school as a parent?

[letmehelp]

I applied not at all expecting to get it as hours are fab and there was loads of competition, but they've offered it to me

It's an admin job in the office and will suit me just fine- I also think I can do a good job for the school, but this afternoon a I've started to wonder how it will affect things if, for example, I had a grievance with a DC's teacher or some other matter that needed "sorting"

What do you think?

I don't expect to have a grievance BTW - could just as easily be one of the DCs getting into trouble or needing extra support with something.

I think you'll be fine.

Personally, I love teaching in the same school as my children attend. It means a lot of my childrens' teachers are good friends and I get real, honest feedback, not watered down, placatory teacher speak!

Thank you, maybe that's what I'm afraid of!

Both myself and my partner teach at the same school, and my daughter has just started there. In fact, because it's a good school, there are a lot of staff children there (normally at least one in each class). For example, I taught the headmaster's daughter last year and was 6th form tutor to the daughter of the nursery teacher who now teaches my 3 year old! In general it works really well. The timetabler is careful not to let you teach your own child, and the other children accept teacher-parents as something quite normal.
Issues can arise when your child gets put into a class with an unpopular teacher or disruptive children. Thankfully these issues are rare at our school, but I think it would be unprofessional for me as a member if staff to try and influence my childs' set or class because I have 'inside information'. I try to behave like a 'normal' parent at parents' evenings; we had our first one last term and it was very odd sitting the other side of the table!

If you are working on the admin side of things I guess you might also get access to confidential stuff like medical records, parental relationships, special needs info etc., so will have to be careful not to let this extra knowledge influence your relationships with your child's friends.

Is it your local school and do your friend's children attend?

it should be fine, just remember when you are being staff and when you are being mum. We have a number of mums who are TA's and they seem to manage just fine, one said it makes it easier if she has any concerns as she asks straight away and doesn't stew on what is meant or why something has been done as she understands the school policies and rules. Take the job and enjoy it, being in the office you will have much less to do with the kids and it will be easy to settle in and get to know everyone. Just remember not to hound teachers on how your darling is doing and be careful what you say at home.

Yes, it is my local school, less than 5 min walk from home. The only "friends" I have with children there are those I have come to know because their children are friends with mine IYSWIM

I work in my son's school in the office, it is great, convenient and I enjoy the work. However, it did get to a point where teachers, lunchtime supervisors sauntered into the office whenever to tell me what he'd been up to, usually when I was up to my eyes in work.
We came to an agreement that if they wanted to speak to me we'd do it at dropping off or picking up time and I'd do the same if I wanted to talk to them.

Now that's sorted it's fine. Nothing beats seeing ds waving through the window at me at playtime :)

You need to be careful talking to friends about "work" as you may know things other parents do not. Gets even more complicated when some friends also work in the same school and others do not....