Does your DC school hold events in the evenings?

[Asleeponasunbeam]

Or only during the school day? I don't mean assemblies and things involving pupils, but talks and workshops?

DC school has just informed us of a sex ed talk for parents in two days time during the school day. This is to precede the workshops undertaken by the children the following week.

It is impossible for us to attend but I'd really have liked to. I'm sure an evening one couldn't be organised now, so is it worth me even mentioning it to the headteacher?

I'm sure they don't deliberarately exclude working parents, but it really feels like it sometimes.

Our school has on occasion held sessions in the evening for parents, like internet safety and improving maths. It seems unfair that a talk as important as sex ed is only available through they day, however our school didn't even offer one. I had to ask what kind of things they would cover so I could be prepared with DD1.

The ones at dd's school are always immediately after school which is a nightmare

Evening events so far (DS only in Class 1)-
Easter Fair x 2
Summer Fair
Christmas concert (afternoon performance too)
Summer concert (afternoon performance too)

Is it worth me saying anything?

DH wants to send the attendance slip back with some strong words about 2 days notice - he needs to give 8 weeks notice for time off. I'm a teacher so can't get any in term time. I don't want to annoy the head (in case I ever apply for a job there!).

Dc primary school hold exactly these type of talks in the evenings, they know there are too many parents that couldn't attend during the day.

Is the school nearby? In my previous school the head would sometimes allow cover for a staff member if something was important. A fair few staff had late mornings for class assembly etc. We were lucky and had 2 HLTAs for cover though.
Could it be worth an ask?

Definitely can't do that, Rosie - especially as I had to have today off to look after a sick child!

Ask the school to send you the notes. DH could write that strong polite letter explaining that he couldn't attend because of the short notice but that he would like to understand the content of the children's sessions, please can he have the transcript of the meeting. There will be some sort of pamphlet they can provide and honestly, you won't have missed much.

2 days' notice isn't enough but I doubt may schools could give you eight weeks....

I doubt DH would want to go anyway! But he likes to make a point sometimes...

We're probably not missing much but I would like to know the general perspective of the school on SRE issues. So I will be asking for a transcript or notes. It's an outside provider by the looks of things.

Infants school - not many
Juniors - virtually everything.

TBH I think the schools got it spot on for their demographic- there were many more SAHP or those who worked part time at infants level, by the time children were at juniors virtually everyone had 2 working parents.

i'd suggest asking if you particularly want an evening event - it may be that the school doesn't realise there is demand.

Ours would occasionally - although tend to be a 6 or 6.30 more than 7.30, and really poorly attended when I've gone to something. I'm also very aware that the staff have been there since 7.30 already......

If it's something you feel they should do differently, then yes, you (or dh) should make a point, or will will just carry on ad infinitum if nobody ever says anything, but, I think I would save it for when they try to have something important like Parents Evenings in the afternoon, rather than a pre-sex education meeting, which isn't really going to tell you very much and won't matter at all if you aren't there.

I work in an infant school.

Anything involving the children - no. Our eldest children are 7y so it can be too late for them and from experience we know many won't come to things outside of school hours.

For parents - yes, we have some parents events in the evening.

I'd be cross if they were giving two days notice of anything.

No, nobody would come. Parent Eve is only thing, sometimes the PTA mtgs in the past (but they are not on school site).

Parents evenings are 4-7 so in theory at least one parent can manage it and often two (even if have to take DC to sit in a corner.).

For KS2 there are usually two performances of shows - one morning, one evening - have to have two anyway as not enough room in hall so makes sense except that means kids have to come back in. For KS1 they do one morning one afternoon as too late to do in evening.

SRE talks and welcome talks at start of each year are always daytime. Most workshops too but occasionally evening if enough demand. But they always do notes for those who can't attend. We can also ask to borrow the SRE video.

Whilst I agree that evening is better for working parents it's not fair on teachers to expect them to be there late too often - and in my experience evening meetings are badly attended.

I work locally so luckily can make most of the daytime ones - though always rush in at last minute and leave immediately while others stay and chat!

We have some events in the evening (plays, concerts, open evenings), but most information talks would be done after school. We always film it and make it available on the school website, so anyone that can't attend can always watch it later.

Remember teachers don't get paid overtime so you are basically asking them to work for nothing by expecting out of hours meeting, talks or events.

Of course many schools do this which is great and there are many times through out the year where teachers give their time for performances, discos, trips ect ect.

I've also witnessed how poorly some of these "talks" are attended on occasion which leaves staff feeling deflated and wondering why they bothered.