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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

arranging parents night out - good idea?

26 replies

tink123 · 10/07/2009 19:53

Hi, I asked about this last year but bottled out. My dd is going into yr 2 and is staying with her class to year 6. None of the parents seem close to each other (well maybe a few) and I am not one who strikes up a conversation very easily. I really want to arrange a night out over summer hols but do not know how to go about it.

I thought about getting invite put into childrens bag with my email/mobile number on so there is no pressure.

I do not know whether to suggest date or place to meet or whether to wait to see if there is interest.

anyone done it or have any advice?

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SingleMum01 · 10/07/2009 20:32

I think you're very brave! What about arranging for the kids to meet up over the summer at a park or something, then maybe the parents will get chatting. You could then suggest to the interested parents about going out one night?

MrsMcCluskey · 10/07/2009 20:33

I wish someone would organise a night out fo our mums!

SingleMum01 · 10/07/2009 20:38

Mrs McCluskey did you used to work in grange Hill?

katiestar · 10/07/2009 20:45

We have loads of mums nights out.I Would be inclined to give it out to parents personally and maybe back it up with a notice in classroom door/window.

Original poster

tink123 · 10/07/2009 20:48

If I give them out, i will bottle it. I am ridiculously shy at initiating things

would you plan a date? Kids day out won't work as dd will not go.

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Original poster

tink123 · 10/07/2009 20:49

Katiestar - do you get much attendance at nights out.

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bigchris · 10/07/2009 20:50

we did this

or rather someone else did

they sent an email out and out a note in book bags for those who dont have email

they gave 2 dates and we all said which one we could make

then the date that most people could make was used

Original poster

tink123 · 10/07/2009 20:55

bigchris - was there much interest. I am scared I will send them out and no one wants to come

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cthea · 10/07/2009 20:56

I think it's a good idea. Just fished out such an invitation from DS's bag. It's organised by 3 mums together for next week. I think it's best like this: we have a date, a place and it's not too long in the future either. Sometimes you can make plans and then get all worked up and make too big a thing of it. I like it that it's short notice. (It could equally be that DS forgot it at school for half a term.) Go for it.

Olihan · 10/07/2009 20:58

We've done a couple of nights out with the mums from ds1's class. It was organised via notes in bookbags and about half the mums came.

It was worth it, I met a couple of the mums of boys that ds1 talked about all the time and I've become quite good friends with 1 of them. It's quite easy to chat when you're in a big group and there's lots of conversations going on.

I'm quite shy but I did get to know quite a few people I'd never met before.

Go for it! Someone needs to take the initiative and I'd really doubt that no one would turn up. We did ours on a Thursday as it's a quiet night, no one could get too pissed because of work/dcs the next day and most people had a dp/dh to babysit or could easily get a babysitter.

cthea · 10/07/2009 20:59

I'm sure someone will turn up, tink. I plan to go next Wednesday as we only moved in the area recently and I don't do the school drops or pick ups and so only know 3 other mums from playdates. Thing is, though, if they're not at the bar, how do I know which people to approach? I'll manage something, I've been to MN meet-ups after all.

Original poster

tink123 · 10/07/2009 21:02

would a local pub be best, what time ish? I am doing invites now. I am quite social if i am out in a group but would not go upto someone in the playground.

would you invite dads aswell?

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Olihan · 10/07/2009 21:02

Oh yes, I agree with cthea about giving a date and a time and a place. That way you don't have to faff about who can come when, etc.

Why don't you do it for next Thursday as a kind of end of year night out? Nice, quiet pub closeish to the majority of people, from 8pm and see what happens?

The mum who organised the first one gave her mobile number so we could text RSVPs rather than having to phone which was good as I'm crap at ringing people I don't know.

Olihan · 10/07/2009 21:04

I would make it mums only for now. It gets complicated if everyone is trying to find babysitters.

I'd make it drinks only too, so it's very informal.

LyraSilvertongue · 10/07/2009 21:05

I organise nights our for DS2's class mums at least once a term and they've been very successful. Our end-of-year get -together is at my house next week, but we usually either go to the pub or, at Christmas, for a meal. The teachers and TAs tend to come too.
I'm not sure about doing it over the holidays though because people will be away and you may get a low turn-out.
What about arranging one for the start of the new term? You'll probably have more people coming then.

LyraSilvertongue · 10/07/2009 21:10

We tend to get about half the mums coming our for a drink, more at Christmas, and a few dads too.
It's a very sociable school - this year alone we've had two quiz nights, a 70s (fancy dress) disco, an Auction of Promises, a line-dancing night and a wine tasting evening.

bigchris · 10/07/2009 21:12

I think about 12 out of 25 mums went
I chickened because it was at a restaurant
If it was at a pub I probably would have gone because it's a bit more informal

Original poster

tink123 · 10/07/2009 21:25

FANCY A NIGHT OUT OVER SUMMER HOLS!!!
Since our children will be staying together for next 5 years, I thought it might be nice to try and get parents together for an occasional night out for a few drinks.

Two possible dates: Wednesday 29th July or Wednesday 12th August at 8pm

If anyone would be interested you can text me on...............or email.....................

how does this sound.

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bigchris · 10/07/2009 21:27

that sounds fab

can I come, lol

Original poster

tink123 · 10/07/2009 21:30

of course you can, do you live nr me

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paddyclamp · 11/07/2009 23:13

we do it at our school..i just put a note in bookbags then mention it to as many people as possible...tend to have a group of about 6 of us who go regularly but quite a few others who come occasionally...go for it!

Original poster

tink123 · 13/07/2009 17:19

have got them ready, will give them to teacher tomorrow. have not signed them incase it goes belly up. have invited 29 kids parents, prob no-one will come. Always the optimist

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hana · 13/07/2009 17:23

do your class reps for the pta not organize things like this?

have a fun time, we go out at least once a term, great bunch of mums

Curiousmama · 13/07/2009 17:24

Brilliant idea hope it comes off keep us posted

Curiousmama · 16/07/2009 13:26

you had any replies?

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