Are you allowed to help out in your own childs class ?

[mumto2andnomore]

Im a teacher and my head has just announced that parents will no longer be able to help out in the own childs class (for reading, helping with crafts etc ) Just wondered how common this is ? Seems daft to me, its not like we have had any problems before.

Cant see us getting much parental help now !

I agree with Clary. I just helped where needed, sometimes it was DCs class, sometimes not-it really didn't matter. I remember doing a lot of cookery with yr 6 when DS1 was reception.If you only want to help with your own DC's class perhaps you should question whether you really want to help. I don't ever remember hearing readers-I don't think it is the best way to use a parent helper.

At dd1's school you are allowed to help out in your childs class, and I help in dd1's class. I don't however help her ability group; I am with other groups in the class iyswim.

I have to say I don't see any issues atm, but I can understand there could be issues with leaking info etc.

My friends' ds's school has just introduced a policy of not being allowed to help in their dc class.

I have to say, I wouldn't come in to school if I could not be in dd1's class.

I wonder if any school has guidelines they issue to their parent helpers? I think we could do with some. I sometimes find myself alone with the children if the teacher has popped out for a mo and never sure if I can raise my voice if they are mis-behaving.

Clary - lots of mums do only want to help in their own child's class though. Have heard this first hand a few times where I work. It is sad that they'll only help out in a specific classroom though.

Hula, yes that is sad.

Like they are only doing it because they care about their little ones.

I like to think that I am helping xxxx and xxx's mum is maybe helping my DS.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Seems its pretty split.

I think parents should be allowed but should have to sign something that says they will not gossip about things they see in school, I know most dont but you do get some that do !

I really value parents coming in to help, another pair of hands is so useful, the children can do things they wouldnt otherwise be able to do.

It is allowed in our school but I don't think its a good thing .Last year I helped in the R/Y1 class which I didn't have a child in every week.This yr DD2 has started i reception and I don't want to help.I don't want other parents to think I am snooping or trying to get rownie Points for my child.Also you almost inevitably at some point are going to see things that are wrong or that you would rather not know about. Also I think it really helps them develop independence.

We are not allowed to help because ( as others have said ) there was a problem with parents talking about other kids reading levels etc and using reading help as a way of seeing where there kid was in class. There was a big row about it at school and now parents are not allowed except for art projects. Shame

It is allowed at our school but I had to stop helping as non of my DCs wanted me to help in their class and as its a smallish school with mixed year groups there wasn't anywhere that needed me that I could go to.
We've recently been reminded that all parental help is much appreciated but I can see people would object to parents in their own DC's classes.
When I did help out I often felt awkward if I'd seen something in the class that I, as a parent, would want to know about but felt that it wasn't my place to say anything. There was one teacher who seemed to have a real downer on the child of a friend of mine and the poor child could do nothing right for the teacher and was often shouted at. This was a few years ago now and I do sometimes wonder if she (the mum) ever knew what a hard time the child got.

piscesmoon - I don't think it is necessary for you to criticise me for helping out with reading or my childs school for asking me to help with reading.

Of course there are many ways to help out in school. I was asked to do sewing once in reception (not my forte!).

My DS likes the fact I go to his class, it brightens up his day that his mummy comes into help. It is nice to have a snapshot of the class at work as I pop back in to get the next reader. I enjoy getting to know the other children in my childs class.

Obviously it is wrong when parent helpers are indiscreet and start chatting out loud about what level everyone is on. It is these parents that are wrong not every person who helps in their child's class.

Parent helpers are volunteers not TAs therefore I think it is a bit much for schools to stop people helping in their own childs class.

I have also contributed in other ways to the school as a whole by being on the PTA etc.

The school in question is very successful academically and always oversubscribed so I don't think parents helping with the reading in their own childs class is doing too much harm.

To be fair i am sure most parents know what books other people's kids are on anyway !

They do ? How ?

I helped in DS's class on Friday afternoons for 2yrs.

In reception I'd help with arts & crafts, last yr when he went into yr1 I helped with reading, computer lessons & filing. I hardly got a chance to work with my own DS apart from if I volunteered to help out with class visits.

At the end of last term I was asked by his yr1 teacher if I would help out with her new class this term which I've started to do & thoroughly enjoy.

It's good to know I can make a difference even if i'm not helping in DS's class.

I have absolutley no idea what any child in my kids classes are reading. I am genuinely interested in how other people know.

I agree with Minty - unless your child is able to remember what books everyone else is reading or you do a playground survey how could you know ?

I wasn't criticising happywomble-lots of schools use parents to hear readers-I just, personally, don't think it is the best use of the time.

It often works very well, but I expect that there is a problem with some parents and that is why they have the rule. If they are obsessed with reading levels then it might not be a good thing. I have been surprised on here to see posters who look in the DC's friend's book bag-it had never occurred to me that another DC's reading skills were relevant to my DC.

In the school I work at I actually do think parents being used to help her individual readers IS a good idea. Several of our children are heard very infrequently at home, if at all. And IMO, in order to become a good reader, you need to be doing a lot of individual reading, with an adult guiding and talking about the story (comprehension type stuff). By using out parent helpers in this way it can make a great deal of difference.

We have a lovely lady, in her 80s, who comes in one afternoon a week and does individual reading with some of our children, and they both enjoy it immensley, and the children definitely benefit.

Other ways we use our parent helpers is for support with art and cooking activities.