What kind of volunteering jobs are available for primary schools?

[heun817]

My kids is starting Reception coming fall, and I am hoping to volunteer so that I could get to know the school better and help adjust my kid better. What kind of jobs are usually available in primary schools?

Some schools have volunteers to help listen to children read, prepare art and craft materials, sort out the library, sit with groups etc according to aptitude or ability. You would need a dbs check. However, as an ex Reception teacher I don't think it would necessarily help your child settle if you were helping in the same class. It would be better to wait until after they had settled in.

Unlikely you could volunteer in your child's class. Depending on size of school , helping with reading, library, changing for pe, setting up classroom. Otherwise join the parent's association if there is one or become a governor.

Help with reading or keeping the library properly categorised.

We would never have parents help with changing for PE like a PP though, so would vary from school to school.

Listening to children read would be the most likely job. Some schools have different parents in every day for this. However, it’s unlikely that you would be in your own child’s class in reception as it may unsettlemyour child. It’s more difficult to get a child to listen to the teacher if their Mam is in the room!

We wouldn’t let a parent volunteer in their child’s class. It’s not great for the child.

I did this then got a job there! I'm a qualified teacher though.

Could be difficult at the moment as my school aren't taking on any volunteers at all due to covid19.

I volunteered in my child's class. It was absolutely fine, we left each other alone and I usually worked with other groups. He made a point if calling me Mrs Blue which was sweet. It depends on the temperament of your child (doesn't work if they are clingy) and the head's policy.

I haven't taught his class yet as an employee but it's a very big school.

You might be lucky if schools are going to allow volunteers in any time soon due to the virus restrictions.

At the moment volunteers are not allowed because of coronavirus. In normal times school are always looking for people to listen to children read. PTA always looks for volunteers too.

Without being rude though, your child will probably settle a lot more quickly without you there!

The school I work at doesn't let parents volunteer with their own child's class. They are asked to volunteer with reading, school trips, help with swimming lessons and on school trips but for a different year group.

Join the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) also sometimes known as Friends of Name of School.
All schools do volunteering in different ways though. Offering to help on school trips is usually a good one (although a trip with 30 5 year olds is the most exhaustingly thing you will ever do).
Really you need to ask the school what they need. Some schools do specific events where they ask for parents to join in - such as a Christmas Craft afternoon.
Has the school got a Facebook group? If so I suggest joining it and you can chat to other parents of the older children to find out what the school does.

We have parents listening to readers, sticking in worksheets and helping on trips. You would have to ask the school though, we don't have volunteers with children in nursery or reception (if they are regular volunteers with older children we sometimes make an exception but put them in year 6 as far away from their child as possible) and they don't help with their child's year group. This policy is because we found having parents in made it harder for the little ones to settle

Ask about becoming a parent governor. Collectively the biggest volunteer group in the country. You will get the most direct insight into what makes your school tick.