How often are parents expected to attend assemblies etc?

[mamapink86]

My child doesn't start primary school for another year. However, I'm looking to possibly apply for a job at a school. The bonus would be I would get all school holidays off the negative would be I probably wouldn't be able to attend events at my child's school. I was just wondering how many events you have to attend during the primary school term on average?

Assuming you are just interested in events during the school day ...

At infants school it was probably 1 or 2 a term.
At junior school everything was in the late afternoon/evening apart from sports day.
Plenty of parents didn't go to them.

Our school each class does one class assembly a school year which parents of that class are invited to.

Parents 'evening' twice a year 3.30pm-5.30pm
Christmas carol service
1 x school assembly a year
1 x sports day

There were a few more during reception and yr 1 because they did a nativity and a couple of parents come to class afternoons.

You also may be asked to volunteer for school trips which are a couple of times a year.

My dcs are older but there was: a class assembly per year, Christmas performance and a sports day. Our school also did family time where you did crafts this was a couple of times a year. Lots of parents didn’t attend.
Also had 2 fairs per year straight after school, (Christmas & summer).

Only the nativity. Nothing else during work hours.

But, just because you work in a school, don’t assume you wouldn’t be able to attend things. I have attended every sports day and Christmas performance with both my DC because my head is big on family.

Usually an assembly, nativity/show, sports day a year, plus a couple of other things. Some parents don’t go to everything or anything so don’t worry too much.

Bear in mind that your term dates will be solar to your kids in a different school but there will be 5 INSETs that your kids get that you won’t to cover for childcare.

You don't have to attend any. I get the opportunity to do so maybe two or three times a term.

You're not "expected" to attend any. They know some parents won't be able to. It's just nice if you can but if you can't they won't really think anything if you don't.

We have a stay and learn session every half term, sports day, summer concert (2 performances at different times of day), nativity (reception), Christmas show (ks1), Christmas service (pm for Ks2), leavers show and service (Y6). There are also some information meetings but these are usually on teams and recorded.

Each academic year it’s sports day, Christmas nativity, Easter show, three interactive sessions, three assemblies, a display of their work, end of term finishing at midday and we get asked to volunteer for reading, crafting, cooking, walks etc.

I work in a school too but so far this year I have managed sports day (fell on my day off) and will attend her leavers assembly by leaving work early.

She's 11 tho, so she realises that it's better to have 12 weeks holiday with me rather than 4 or 5!

Her dad has been to a couple of things if I haven't managed and there have been things going on like sports after school that I've been able to help with - quite often football tournaments are 4-6 so I can go to those.

Maybe 3-4 a term at primary, between assemblies, learning events, school shows and sports day. At the end of term there is always more and we never get much notice either.

Never been invited to an assembly. At ours there's the Nativity, Sports Day and a thing called a drop-in zone where you can go to the classroom and see their books twice a year. The last one is annoying and pointless. Last time I snuck out of working from home for 15 minutes to do it (school is very close by) then DC went to after school club as normal.

I wouldn't have bothered at all but it's shit when you know your child is the only one without a parent turning up.

DH has taken the day off to cover Sports Day this year thankfully.

Loads! Celebration of work each term (half an hour before school pickup), class assembly each year, sports day, nativity for younger ones, random events during school hours (max one per term), and calls for volunteers for school trips. I’d say 2-3 per term easily.

It’s really common for teachers to have kids at other schools with other commitments. I would just be open and ask about how they support other working parents whose children have school things during the working day as you’d like to be able to plan in advance and attend as many as you can if that’s possible.

Our school does a school assembly once a year and sports day for an afternoon again once a year. They also do a Christmas tree lights on ceremony where the kids sing at Christmas. Nothing else for us to attend apart from parents evening but that's after school hours normally up until 7.30 pm ish so plenty of late slots

Reception aged child here.

We have been invited in twice for him receiving a certificate on a friday morning, once a term to look at his work again a friday morning, christmas nativity in an afternoon and sports day in a couple of weeks.

Also 2 parents evenings so far but these could be booked up until 6pm so didn't effect work.

Any you can, if you can. Some parents are there religiously every week (they are usually the ones on the parent council) some there is their child gets star/ student of the week (cause everyone has to get it eventually) and some not at all.

Every school is different. I would say the minimum will probably be 1 sports day and one class assembly. Most school run at least one early evening performance of their nativity for working parents, but some will be day time only. Some do termly class assemblies. Some will offer additional parental engagement sessions, such as book and biscuit etc. Your child may win a special award that is presented during a day time assembly which parents are invited to.

It's a balancing act. If a school offers nothing for parents to engage with, some parents will definitely complain. Offer lots and it becomes impossible for working parents to attend every session. The guilt is real.

My advice would be to keep an eye on the school calendar to clock these events as early as possible to make arrangements. Some schools are considerate to allow their staff a couple of hours release for one special event each year, if their child attends a different school (so a sports day, or nativity etc. As long as it doesn't clash with one of their own events which you're desperately needed for). If not, you'll hopefully have time to liaise with other family members so someone can book the time to be there (Dad, Grandma, Auntie etc).

It's a shame for children whose mum cannot be there, but most children will have someone. I know the guilt is real though. You can try to be present for at least one event, where possible, but it's impossible for working parents to do it all.

We have one class assembly per year, nativity and sports day. parents conferences can be booked at a time to suit yourself including after 5 until 7pm.
I only attend the nativity if my child's class is delivering it which is only around twice in the whole school journey.

Sharing the learning
Parents 'night' (later afternoon)
Various masses
tea and talks.

3-6 per term. We'd go to about half.

At DDs current school..

Parents evening is twice a year. Appointments from 3.30-7pm.

Award assembly... works out once a year.

Sports Day... once a year. Infants in morning, juniors in afternoon

Mothers day and Fathers Day... these are limited tickets and its a lottery.(4per class)

Plays... I'm not sure about the infants, but juniors ate evenings not during the day.

Random meetings... occasionally but all info is sent hone to those can't make it. Often at both straight after school and 5.30pm (when the ASC closes) as its for both classes in the year.

Random requests for help on trips.

I would say you get invited to loads and at first you feel terrible that you can't go. Over time though you realise there are plenty of parents that can't make these things and truthfully its the Christmas show/nativity and sports day that you'll want to attend.

But the payoff of having holidays off would be soooo worth it. Lots of working parents can't attend events in school but then also have to work the school holidays. I wouldn't think twice tbh.

For us is:

• Christmas service
• Easter service
• In-class event every term
• Sports Day
• PTA-organized events

Parent's evening is typically outside school hours. Then there are a number of workshops organized for parents, but they are entirely optional and children are not attending anyway.

None at all. Maybe sports day is the only one I can think of, but I never went. Christmas shows or summer shows were in the evenings.