Meet the teachers

[LondonGrimmer]

Is it normal that invitations to meet your child's teachers are in the middle of the afternoon? We've been sent invites for 2.15pm for f2f (come to the class and have a look around and ask questions) or if we can't make it (nope, both at work) we can join via a video call... At the same time as the f2f?!

Would have loved to have met the teachers /looked around or joined a video call Are other schools more accommodating towards working parents? Tbf even 3.15pm would have been better as I finish in time for that. Know they can't please all parents, but surely the option of an evening call could have been made available?

Would neither of your works give one of you ten minutes to make a video call? Have you asked them?

Teachers are parents too. With children they need to collect from after school clubs etc.
They are limited to their working hours unless the head decides to devote non-contact time to in it instead of a staff meeting etc. Staff meetings don’t go on much beyond five.

Getting to meet the teacher is a lovely add on that not all schools do, if you. Can’t make it, you can’t make it. It is a shame but not the end of the world. What is your plan for school plays and sports days etc?

I think this is quite normal, especially as I assume this is year R. Most parents have to take the time off for the settling in period anyway where lots of schools do half days with kids in in the morning and parents’ sessions in the afternoon.

Totally normal. You usually have to take holiday from work to attend these things (or have a nice boss who will let you be a bit flexible). It’s a good idea to ask for a school calendar so you can forward plan for the must attend moments like school plays.

Please also remember that this is the teachers job - they can’t (and shouldn’t have to) fit their work around yours. Not just that, but cleaners come in pretty much as soon as school ends so it would mean adjusting their work hours too.

Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh but it’s a juggle all working parents have to do.

Normalish, ours did it at 3.15 for 10/15 mins - so at least suitable for those that did pick up. Never made that many, due to work.

We had a zoom session at 5pm one evening for the whole class at once.
No chance to look round the actual building at all.
DS started last week, full time from day 1 with no induction and was absolutely fine.

Thanks for your comments. Should have said, this is a Junior school (my kids are Yr3 and Yr6). I totally get it in Infants School.

Myself and DH have great, flexible bosses and have always been able to attend sports days and plays etc as a) I was a sahm for the first few years, and b) we had plenty of notice.

We've had less than a weeks notice and both have meetings on both appointments unfortunately. I just thought with the video call technology it would have made more sense to offer an evening-ish slot alongside the 2.15pm f2f. Never mind, not the end of the world.

I finish work at 3pm, as do some of my friends, so 3.15pm would have been ideal. Though the school day now finishes at 2.45pm (they've kept Covid shorter days/timings to accommodate staff with children).

@tigerwhocameforsupper was that Reception? So glad your ds settled quickly despite not being able to look around first

The short notice is rubbish and not at all helpful for working parents.

It's really normal but you can just ask for a different time. You can email and say unfortunately both DH and I have meetings at that time. Would it be possible to arrange a quick call / f2f with the teacher later that day or some other time soon?

It's normal, but IME these things are less well attended than at infants school (I seem to remember about 6 parents for the meet the teacher in my daughter's Year 6 class) precisely for the reason you mention - hard for working parents. I think you need to think of it more as a "nice added extra" rather than something more compulsory.

A meet the teacher meeting either in person or over zoom, while lovely, isn’t strictly necessary, so it would be unfair to expect teachers to give up an evening for this in the first week of term. They are offering it, it’s up to you to make it at the time offered or not. It won’t make any difference to your children or their education if you don’t go.

This is unfortunate but normal. My DC's primary head used to organise all sorts during the day, curriculum coffee mornings etc, and then write bitchy letters complaining when nobody showed up, "very disappointing to discover how little our parents care about their child's education. Can I remind you that parental support blah blah blah" etc. He was a dick though.

[quote LondonGrimmer]@tigerwhocameforsupper was that Reception? So glad your ds settled quickly despite not being able to look around first [/quote]
Yes reception.