How to get the most out of parents evening

[RainbowInACloud]

I wondered if anyone has any tips? DS is in reception and I found the last parents evening not very enlightening. It was a list of objectives with either 'achieved' or 'working towards' outcome and the teacher just read it out to me really. I felt she didn't know DS very well.
He has a tendency to faff and hold back from things but I'm not sure how the teacher could change this.
What kind of things do you ask and what do you expect from a parents evening? Thanks.

My priority list:

Top

• behaviour
• happy, friends

Then

• any issues I am concerned about re Maths, Reading, Writing
• is school happy with progress

Finally and only if time left

• find out what 'next steps' are for Maths, Reading, Writing

In reception the Top ones really are key.

So in your case, discuss the faff and hold back from things issue and make sure he is being asked to do things, rather than the teacher just asking for volunteers.

Generally for parents evening have at most 3 key things and make sure you get answers to them.

I like to get more details so I'll ask to see examples of work - they usually have exemplar books. And then try to get an understanding of what the building blocks are. It's easy to understand their ability level for reading books because of the stages, but not so much so for spelling, writing, phonics - so you can ask for the phonics programme phases for example.

Also don't be afraid to ask for an APP grid (or other assessment framework marking tool). They may not being using levels, but they will at least be using the objectives by year group for the new curriculum.

If your child is in reception they will be using the foundation stage Early Learning Goals (ELGs) so not an APP grid, but you can ask how they are developing towards the 17 ELG - there are 7 areas - I think - including one for literacy and one for Maths so you can ask if they will be projected to be at expected, exceeding or emerging by the end of the year - if they are exceeding it usually means they are working towards Literacy or Maths for Year 1 objectives.

Thank you, that's really useful. I'll try and memorise those things to ask to make sure it doesn't pass in a blur like last time.

I write questions/concerns down and bring a notebook - you would to any other meeting so why not parent consultations?! Hope it goes well!

I thought of taking a notebook but wondered if the teacher would think I was bonkers! Or recording everything she said or something.

A notebook is fine. Recording her is probably rather off putting.

Haha. Yes that would mark me out as 'that parent'

Just read it back- when I said recording I meant writing down what she said briefly. God actually recording audio/ on camera her would be off the scale.
Although it did make me chuckle to think about it.

Oh good. I was trying to be tactful. Audio or video recording would indeed be off the scale.

I'd have no problems with a parent bringing a notebook. Quite a lot of parents bring a few notes about what they want to discuss.

The only thing is that if you have a major issue, then please try and meet with the teacher outside of parent/teacher interviews. There is only so much time allocated per parent, there are plenty of other people milling around, so if you want a very in depth discussion about particular issues, then parent/teacher night is not the place to do it. Make a separate appointment time for that when you can really discuss that issues.

Possibly not very helpful but I go with four questions...

• What's going well?
• What's not going so well or could be better?
• What is he/she working towards next? (What are the targets?)
• What would you like us to do to support him?