Parents evenings / reports

[storminaworm]

Hi everyone, my DD is in year 1 and we're feeling a bit out of touch with how she's doing at school. So far this year we have had one parents evening. This was about 3-4 weeks into the school year so obviously the teacher hadn't got a chance to know DD so it was more of a meet the teacher type of thing & a chance to let them know a bit about DD rather than finding out how she's doing.

Since then we haven't had any communication about how DD is doing and I just wasn't sure if this is normal? I assumed there might be a parents evening this term (there was last year), but there's been no communication about one. Though there might be a report I guess.

I don't want to go nagging the teacher if this is totally normal. We don't have any huge concerns and she is happy, but we're not really sure how she's getting on. We have her reading record, but the teacher has never written any comments in it. She just has a sticker saying her book band. Obviously we get a pretty good general sense of how her reading and maths is at home, but I don't really know if this is where it's supposed to be, or if there's anything she's struggling with and could use more support with at home, aside from what she mentions. I'd just love to get a sense of how she is in class (she's pretty shy, so I'd like to know how she is with the other kids and whether she's at ease in the classroom, or on the quiet side, just things like that really).

There was more communication last year, but obviously I understand there's a difference between reception and year one. I just wasn't sure if it was normal not to hear anything?

DD is in year 1. We have had:
Parents evening in Oct
Target sheet sent home - a sheet with a list of targets in each area and one highlighted for DD so not hugely personal but a useful guide of how to support her
Parents evening this week
We will then get a report in July.

It sounds a bit light what you are getting. I would consider emailing and asking if there will be a parent's evening soon, and if not, can they update you on whether she is settled in the classroom. Hopefully there is a plan for a parent's evening soon.

Something we identified at a recent governors' meeting is that parents whose first/only child has started school in the last couple of years can't be expected to know what the school was like pre-covid. If I were you, I'd drop by the school office (or email them) and ask if there is another parents' evening coming up, or any sharing days, and what sort of report you can expect from Y1 (and when). Just explain it's all new to you!

Thanks @BendingSpoons, that's useful for comparison. I think I'll drop them an email like you suggest and hopefully there will be something soon!

Thanks @BlueChampagne you're definitely right, it's definitely all new to me.... It's good to know I'm not the only one though and it's common for parents with kids who started during Covid!

We’ve done 2x virtual parents nights, one Oct the other last week, plus termly targets/learning experiences sheet sent home. I’ve also spoken to almost all the parents by phone or email at least once, many of them several times.

We did a parents evening in autumn term and have just finished writing reports to go out at the end of this term.

Legally, there should be 3 points of contact between parents and teachers over the year. Most schools do 2 parents evenings and a report spread out over the 3 terms.

However, as a teacher I would have no problems with a parent asking for a meeting/phone call/ catching me at the end of the day just to ask how they are getting on at any point of the year.

Just to add,.our school would normally do 'Book Looks' when you can come in and look at your child's work just before pick up. That hasn't happened since COVID.

PPs are right. Let the teacher know you would like some feedback and they can advise the best way.

DD is in Yr2 - so far we've had a face-to-face parents consultation back in October & another last week. We also had a f2f meeting with the teacher & all Yr2 parents about the upcoming SATs. We'll get a further written report later in the summer term (late June or early July).
We can also chat to the teachers at drop off or pick up, or meet/call them at an agreed time or email.
It does sound like you need to contact the school & find out what to expect.

Year 3 DD here.

We have
October Parents Evening
January view their work event
March Parents Evening
May view their work event
June/July report

and can email the teacher and have chats between times. I also have half termly meetings due to the DD having SN and get to see her books then too.

@Bakingwithmyboys

We did a parents evening in autumn term and have just finished writing reports to go out at the end of this term.

Legally, there should be 3 points of contact between parents and teachers over the year. Most schools do 2 parents evenings and a report spread out over the 3 terms.

However, as a teacher I would have no problems with a parent asking for a meeting/phone call/ catching me at the end of the day just to ask how they are getting on at any point of the year.

That's not quite accurate. There's a legal duty to produce one written report on the child, typically at the end of the year. There is also a separate legal duty to allow one point during the year for parents to discuss their child's progress with their teacher. The minimum a school could do is to have a parents' evening (either in person, digitally or over the phone) at one point during the year and issue out a written report at another. However, most schools do more than this.

My school do three written reports spread across the year with a parents' evening mid autumn term and another at the end of the spring term. Parents are invited into school to discuss anything on the child's final report but no-one ever takes us up on that. For SEND students, we have one written report and one parent meeting per half-term so that parents are more regularly updated about their progress and needs.