How do you feel about parents acting as TA's?

[Orinoco]

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unknownrebelbang - yes, definitely. Lots of issues there. Really no happy there now, despite actually enjoying my job (when I get to do it) - want out. Just need to find a suitable job, with suitably flexible hours to fit in with school. 3 month notice is pants to work round though.

Confidenetiality issues like tht need sorting or the volunteer should be dismissed IMO. I do see the reading record books. I right in them after a child finishes reading to me, and sign it. Parents know that I do. But then ours aren't used to communicate other messages to the teacher, that ould be done in erson or by letter. I don't talk about other children;s reading or ability lessons regardless; that would be wrong.

If they are "helping out", it's extra not instead of what they could expect from a teacher
So long as they are well directed and not improvising flamboyantly, I wouldn't have a problem

our school has policy of TA's/teachers not being allowed to teach/be TA in their own child's class, but parent helpers are allowed to help in their own child's class.

I see very little of my ds when I'm in his class - he is doing whatever it is he's supposed to be doing and we don't interact (I'm not there as his mummy I'm there to help out) and if me being there ever became an issue then I would have to not help out in his class.

There was a parent last year who helped out in class (same one on my "sending your older child away at birth of new baby" thread) who used to go in and then come out and give running commentary on individual children. You would think she'd been made head judging by the way she used to talk about everyone/claimed to have a deep insider knowledge of what went on in the school .

I READ IN RECEPTION AS A VOLUNTEER I LOVE IT

BUT WHAT GOES ON IN CLASS STAYS IN THE CLASS .

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Orinoco- i think your issue is how the volunteer parent is being used.
There should be a clear understanding by all members of staff about what is, and isn't appropriate employment of such volunteers

However, any class lucky enough to have such volunteers, as well as a teacher is likely to benefit in lots of ways. There are a lot of year 3 classrooms with simply a teacher. I would rather my child got a little additional help from a well briefed parent helper than no help at all.