Teachers and TAs do you actually find parent volunteers a help or hinderance?

[wanttomakeadifference]

I've read a few things in MN recently which have made me wonder about this.

I work four days a week and over the past few years have volunteered in DC's classroom for one morning a week.

I enjoy doing this, but the my main motivation is to provide some genuine help to the teacher, in any way that suits them. My reasoning is that, the more help the teacher gets, the more time they have to concentrate on the core aspects of their job. I've done loads of different things, from listening to reading to sharpening pencils.

I was planning on volunteering again this year, but would hate to think I was actually more of a hinderance than a help........

I would be really grateful for any thoughts from teachers TAs.

Thanks MyCatHasStaff. That is very helpful

I'm a teacher, and also a parent helper in my dc's school. I've been quite shocked that so many people on mumsnet are so negative about parent helpers. Why wouldn't you want your children to be supported by a variety of enthusiastic and caring people? Also, if a helper was there purely to 'spy' on their and other children, I'd like to think I could trust the teacher / other staff to notice this and take appropriate action.

Sorry, a bit ranty and off topic. As a teacher, I loved parent helpers and so did the children (familiar faces etc). As others have said, if you can commit to a regular time slot, it's better, but and help is better than none. I've always found that if you're worried that a child might be unsettled by having their own parent in the classroom, the parent usually knows this, and happily goes into another classroom to support.

Maybe some people are also unaware that in order for your CRB to stay up to date, you need to go into the school as a volunteer on a regular basis (can't remember the exact wording now) or your check lapses. And in the majority of schools, without parent helpers, activities such as cooking, nature walks and trips just can't happen!

I've been volunteering in my daughters reception class for the past year. I go in regularly one morning a week and listen to the kids reading. The kids are incredibly sweet and all of very different abilities (many are young, have english as a second language or are simply not interested yet). I'm always on time and on the few occasions when I've had to miss a morning I've told them a week in advance. I was asked if I wanted to go to the staffroom for coffee the first time and went, but I sensed I was cramping the freedom of the teachers to talk and moan, so didn't go back. At the end of the year the teacher thanked me profusely and said that he was extremely grateful that I'd been consistent and reliable. He gave me present and a long thoughtful card as well. I was very touched.
So... consistency seems to be key.

I love the fact the kids like me and wave at me and give me little hugs.

A good volunteer is worth their weight in gold.

Last year I had a lovely lady who came in to help - she alwasy turned up when she was meant to. She was always willing and cheerful, if I asked her to do something she wasn't sure of she would ask for clarification.
She was willing to try anything (and in a Primary classroom you can be asked to do some funny things).
She had a lovely manner with all the children (and she said lots of lovely things about my lessons).
I'm very lucky because she has asked if she can come back this year - hurray!

I also had a lady who critisised me - she went to the head to complain that I was teaching Maths when she would rather help with Literacy. She. contradicted me infront of the class, and during maths lessons wouldn't use the methods I was teaching.
She was also dismissive and negative with lots of the children. when I spoke to her about this her reply was that she was only interested in working with the high-flyers because she was one herself...
After 3 weeks I refused to have her in the classroom.

Hi 'banana' and other respondents -

I did five years as a parent (father) helper when my DS started school, hearing Yr 1 / Yr 2 readers at first, gradually taking Yr 6 for gardening activities, and running an after-school keyboard club with Yr 6 children.

As I was out of work at the time, I applied for TA jobs in other schools, and then was ten years in an Infant school, mostly with Yr 2, but at various times also Nursery, R, and Yr 1. As some children didn't have a male adult at home, I was possibly the only responsible, sympathetic but disciplined man some kids knew.

I ran lunchtime recorder groups, had a percussion club, and coached children on percussion for the annual 'production'. I also did touch typing with Yr 2, and ran a computer club with Yr 6 at our companion Junior school.

When I retired I continued to give voluntary help in Primary and Secondary schools.

Re 'skills' :
I would have thought that any specialist skill not normally practised to a high level by class teachers could be useful, and might be welcomed, eg, music, dance, drama, singing, sports of all kinds, arts and crafts, gardening and nature, cookery, languages. Of course, Primary teachers have to take singing, music and sports activities, but sometimes are not that comfortable with it.

It is very satisfying when you enable a child to understand something it was struggling with, or achieve something they previously thought they could not do.

I helped in my dd's reception class. When I arrived the TA would give me the teachers list of what I needed to be doing that week. As an ex teacher I didn't want to work directly with the children - found it difficult to know how far I could 'teach' and discipline the children rather than just helping IYSWIM? I did displays, backed work, laminated things (loved the laminating!) filed work, sorted out the book corner and ended up then helping in the library for the next few years.

I hope I was useful - they certainly seemed pleased to see me - and my dd loved the fact that I was in school sometimes.

I like the idea of helper being seperate class and diffrent year group even..

Theres on lady a guided reader retired not sure if her grown up grand kids went to the school but I have observed her not sure what job was before did wonder if education as shes wonderful and comes across as so professional.

Another reader is parent of child in my class.
Again she comes across ultra professional and teaches sunday school at the church.

But one reader last year constantly used slate the year 1 teacher calling her scatty, disorganised, not doing enough for her dd, always cornering her in the morning.

her motives were

too see where her daughter stood in the class .
To access the teacher
to be nosy
to be be seen to be seen so then she gloats about how she unselfishly gave up her time one day a week for few hours.

im baffled why the year 1 teacher dident say no dont want you as from the start I would have said she was unsuitable and wasent entirly happy with her helping out.

She spent all summer being really pushy with her dd and brought the entire set oxford reading tree off amazon and told me at the libary that her daughter must go up least 3levels in september.
She also missed point of reading challenge being for fun and they were school books not one sher daughter would choose talk about taking fun out of reading.

Im on pta and ocasionally have contact with kids but mainly through social events as we help run

parties
discos
filmclubs.-we have a teacher at film club as find kids better behaved and its hard for parent helpers non teachers to disipline kids.
sports day.fayres ect.

I guess this combined with meetings mean put in lot useful hours to benefit the school.

once helped year 2art club when daughter was in reception.

But sometimes i like a bit of distance between I hate it when parents are far too overfamilier and best freinds with teachers as feel it can present comflict of interest.

Trips-I have nothing in principle against extra helpers providing they responsible and wish school would do more trips .

I'm planning to ask to help out in my children's school from September, but definitely don't want to be in their classrooms or even year groups.

My mam was a dinner lady when I was in juniors I hated it! would get her teling me to pull my tights up.

Eldests preschool was a charity so once a term the expectation was parents would help. I did but chose to help on different day to my child was in as found it much easier.

I occasionally help out at daughters rainbows as they need helpers.

I have heard and seen bad things about parents involved with sports.

Useful skills can be all sorts of things - sport, music, art, ICT, or even very specific stuff.
For example one of our mum's last year was from japan and she could teach the children very careful art work involving some amazing paper folding stuff - the children loved it and the art work looked fantastic. She also did some Japnese with the children.

Another year a dad had been in the Amazon an during out rainforest topic he did a fab presentation with them, showing them photos and videos and describing all the real life stuff her saw.

This year one child's cousin was an Olympic athlete and was to compete this summer. She came in a few times and did some work with the children.

A friend of mine goes in regularly to her child's school to do science stuff as she is a scientist.

One dad comes in fairly regularly and does some ICT work.

There are lots of examples like this.

Some of these parents come in very regularly or at set times each week and work with groups on a rota, some come in less frequently.

Some helpers have no special talents at all, but are interested in the children, patient and helpful when a child is feeling wobbly or uncertain about something. enthusiastic and involved at an individual level.
That in itself is an invaluable talent.

As a teacher I would say the more adults in the classroom the better.
I volunteered as a parent before I got back into teaching-where ever I was needed, in their class or another-I can't see that it matters.
The problem is getting the parents to volunteer-most have jobs.

I think parents should not be allowed to 'help' in their own child's class. Same with school outings. Volunteer for another class sure, but going out with your childs class there will just be a conflict of interests. I would question the motives of a parent who would only help in their own child's class and not in any others.

The only parents in my DS's school that are volunteers are also the school gossips. As the parent of a DS with additional needs, who is behind in class and struggles socially, I really would rather not have the playground gossip in his classroom 'helping'. There are ones at my DS's school who also seem to relish being in the staffroom with the teachers and I often wonder what the teachers think of it.

I've helped in schools and nurseries as work experience as part of a course and think it's best if you go in willing to muck in any area (you sound like you are OP), and be upfront about your strengths and any areas you would struggle with.

Bored why would the problem of school gossips be helped if parents only volunteered in a class different to their DC's class?

I volunteer in DC class a few hours a week on my day off. I have never repeated anything I have seen or heard in class to anyone- not that anyone is remotely interested anyway.

I have also never been party to any confidential information about any child.

The only awkward issues I ever have are parents who ask me how their DC is doing or which stream they are in- to which I always say that I'm not sure. TBH although I'm aware of streams I really have no idea how any child is doing because I'm not a teacher.....

School gossips will gossip anywhere -they don't get any confidential information and I can't see why anyone would be remotely interested. 'relishing being in the staffroom' seems very odd - I can't say that I know anyone with such a narrow life. Extra pairs of hands are a good thing- don't get put off offering!

I don't see why a parent can't volunteer in their own child's class. It's worked fine with my child. I just don't read with her. She doesn't mind at all, but she really likes it that her class all know who I am. The most she does is occasionally give me a kiss when they are on their way to break. But some of the other children give me hugs at the same time too, so it isn't too disruptive.

Our smallish village school (100ish kids, 4 classes) welcomes most parent helpers - as others have said there are some who are there just to nose into book bags and compare reading levels etc. But mostly we are welcomed with open arms. A year ago I stood down after 12 years as a parent governor but wanted to continue to support the school. The head asked if I would be interested in reading with Y1/Y2 when DS3 was just starting in reception. I have built a good relationship with the Y1/2 teacher and after I'd been doing it a few weeks the head asked if I would be interested in going on a course with the TA. I did a 2 day course on the better reading partnership which I now implement in school - I really enjoy doing it and have seen some great progress with the kids I have worked with so it's really satisfying. DS3 will be in the Y1/2 class this year and I will continue to read with his class. Volunteering is what you make of it, if you are willing and discreet then you will definitely be a help not a hindrance - I spent a couple of days at the end of last term moving furniture, putting backing paper on display boards etc as two classes are swapping rooms. I've also gone on three school trips in the last year with reception and with the Y1/2 class.

I did a lot of volunteering about 4-6 years ago & I always felt extremely appreciated.
Last year youngest DC started nursery so I offered to volunteer in 2 DC classes. One teacher ignored the suggestion & the other one thought that DS wouldn't take it well me being there (DS is over emotional, he had a point). Was a bit disappointed, though!

I love being in DC classes because I can see how they are being taught & learning. Helps a lot with homework, for instance, and integrating other things from daily life into what they've learnt at school.

If I get completely turned down again this year, maybe I'll offer to volunteer for other primary in town, or even one of the village primaries.

I parent help - we are NOT allowed to do our DC's years and that is fine with me. The school had trouble a few years ago with competitive parenting and said enough - but they truly appreciate help in other classes.

I help with Y1 readers, with maths for the less able - counting and number bonds to 5 - repetition is the key, takes a lot of time and the teacher is very happy to have help with that one.

Also I go in early and set up for art, help control the children during their art and clean up after it - clay is my favourite.

I have been asked to help kids make pin hole cameras, set up science experiments (10 seeds x 60 students with all the pot/cotton wool/plastic bags etc take a long time to set up, I have cut out shapes for whatever project is being sent home (e.g. woven paper owls at Christmas) LOTS of laminating and sticking work into workbooks and supervising a table of kids doing RE or Science to make sure they are putting the right thing in their books, on the right page, the right way up.

And finally - the getting ready for school plays and photo days etc.

It is a wonderful privilege to be asked to help again each year as I gain much from helping, it feels good and right to be able to give something back.

I think it depends on the teacher. I love volunteers/parent helpers and always encourage them! Some of my colleagues seem to have a problem with having parents in the classroom. I'm not really sure why, perhaps they feel like they are being checked up on or something.

It can be hard if a volunteer isn't so confident. I had a very anxious helper last year who needed things going over many times and lots of reassurance. Sometimes the time this took meant that I could have finished the task myself more quickly or ate into time set aside for marking etc at lunch times but I didn't mind.

I have only every had one volunteer that I just KNOW only came in so she could compare her child to other readers. But she was good with them and helped them and I was grateful that someone would take the time to help out.

Of course I compare my own child to the other children. But if anything it's been salutory: She is not as ahead as I thought!

Reading with other children made me think, I wonder if I worked a little more with DS if he could pull ahead of average (he seemed about average). I helped because I enjoyed helping, still I couldn't help but notice how DS compared. What I observed wasn't really about any one else, it was me seeing how much better DS might be at reading.

I have just finished five years volunteering in school.

I find that if you are hard-working, ready to muck in, reliable and honest (and not interested in spying) then you are valued. Over the five years, I was trusted more and more and given more and more interesting things to do - but would still tidy, laminate, file work, sharpen pencils, if that was what made sense. I only ever complained about a teacher once, and I still stand by that particular decision. I never, ever gossiped about teachers or pupils.

I did go into the staffroom - our home is a long walk from school, so if I didn't, it would be a long time without a coffee or cup of water! When (under a previous head) we were allowed to take drinks out of the staffroom and back to class, I preferred that.

I think you can probably sense if you are trusted and valued.

I've alway loved having volunteers in the classroom - as someone else said, the more the merrier. I fondly remember one FAB lady who used to come and work in the school I taught at over 20 years ago, who couldn't read herself, but was one of the best. Another lady (at another school) was incredibly shy and didn't really have enough confidence in her own ability to work alongside any children, but was the neatest, most efficient worker you could ever wish for - she used to help out with all the preparation... she would photocopy, or laminate, or cut things out, or mount stuff, or she spent a week once completely clearing out and organising the main stock cupboard in school and set up systems for ordering new stock etc. She was another absolute star. However, as long as any volunteer turned up when they said they are going to, they would be welcome in my class. I could never understand the teachers who didn't want volunteers, but there were several I met over the years.