Can I ask a really silly thick question about parents evening?

[RatOnnaStick]

My son's first one is coming up next week (Yr R). Are we supposed to bring the children so they can show off what they've done or leave them with a sitter so teacher can talk to us in peace?

I can do either.

In Infant school the school didn't allow the children to come. During YR we had an extra room they could wait and some of the TAs played babysitter.

This room was converted into a classroom and we were asked to make arrangements with a sitter or friends/relatives.

Once a year (beginning of July) there was an open evening where the children could show us around, show off the work they had done in Summer term and we could see the new classroom and meet the new teacher.

Junior school - still without children but children can wait in the hallway and occupy themselves with books or gadgets.

Both schools offer a variety of appointments and are always open to make one outside the parent evening if the date/time is not suitable.

DH and I have nobody around and we always managed to come together unless one was ill or away for business.

My dc's school ask that we bring the children. I don't like it really because it's hard to talk about them with them sitting there!

DD's school asks for children to be there, but I was a teacher for many years and hated it when children came so I take her and she sits at the end of the hall, reading, and then I call her for the last couple of minutes.

Our school says no siblings but most take their children.. My Ds usually goes as a LP don't really plan to call in favours for what is a routine appointment

Most people take the children to ours.

Part of the appointment involves the children giving their own thoughts on how things are going. Other schools may have different structures and methods though.

Childcare is a massive bore but I don't see the point of a primary parents evening with the child sitting next to one. I can't think of any important questions I would want to ask with him there - surely it just ends up enough being an anodyne - oh isn't he doing well - session.

In my school children are not brought into meetings. We do have an SNA parked in the school hall with some colouring pages who will keep an eye on kids, if parents want to leave them there.
With older children I hold my own meetings with them to go through their targets with them, after the parent meetings. I would not welcome kids into my meetings as it makes it difficult to speak openly to parents.

Most parents don't at our school, I had to take mine once (no childcare) two young toddlers milling around the classroom was not all that conducive to having a decent conversation!

So much easier without.

Dd's school children not expected to attend for R KS1 but actively encouraged to be there for KS2 ( however this does seem to be creeping into ks1, especially for do with other siblings the children are not turned away)

Our school puts lego etc out for the kids if they have to come.

We take ds, they usually have a ta or pta parents on hand to keep an eye on children if parents need to speak to teacher without child there

Our school encourage you to bring your dc only if you want to so thry can show you their classroom and their work. You speak to the teacher alone the dc generally run about with their friends or can sit and wait on the seats in the hall then they can take you a little tour and see their stuff. My dc generally opt not to come they have a fee times but don't bother now.

Infants here have activities and a film on in the hall supervised by support staff. You can drop off kids and siblings (but I guess probably not babies).

Juniors have teachers seated around the edge of the hall and rows of chairs down the middle where kids can sit and be kept half an eye on. Toddlers are kept under control with mobile devices!

Teacher says no children if at all possible so thats fine, I'll get granny to give to feed them tea. She also agrees that reception parents could be given more specific information about these things.

I'm glad I asked.