annual review question (parental contribution)

[chocisonabikinidiet]

we are having the AR coming up and there have been a lot of things I have not been very happy about in the last school year. school know this (I have been in numerous times to discuss various issues).

how critically are you in your AR contributions? I always try to be positive and keep a good relationship with the school whilst trying to get my point across iyswim but there is just a lot this year that needs mentioning and I wonder I will sour the relations with school if my contribution is too critical but on the other hand I don't want to leave things unmentioned

we live a bit in the middle of nowhere and there are not alternative schools for DD until she starts secondary and we are stuck with the present school for a couple of years more.

You do need to acknowledge what hasn't been so positive, but it's more important to go into detail about what needs to happen instead. So, if for example, your DC spends a lot of time confused about what they're doing because their language or auditory discrimination skills are a barrier, say that you would like a TA to check carefully that your DC understands the work, providing visual supports/written instructions (as appropriate to your DC's ability and preferences).

Of course, do mention things that have been good and mention how you would like to see these maintained and built upon (prevents anyone from sitting back and saying, ooh, little billy has made a friend, now, so we can forget about supporting him socially, any more).