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Original poster

Missing parents eve due to childcare

35 replies

Alphvet · 21/06/2017 21:40

Anyone ever had to miss a parents evening due to childcare? How did school react? (We are both teachers, occasionally our parents eves clash)

OP posts:
DandelionAndBedrock · 21/06/2017 21:43

We arrange alternative appointments before or after school if there is a problem, but we also have parents who bring their children along if the issue is purely childcare based.

I have a parent who is a teacher so we tend to meet at 7:30 - I arrange to be ready earlier than I normally am, she gets to work later than it normally does... just call the office and explain/ask.

How would it work in your school?

DandelionAndBedrock · 21/06/2017 21:43

She, not it Blush.

Tillyscoutsmum · 21/06/2017 22:07

I've not had to miss it because of childcare but last year, it clashed with the open evening of the school I was going to the following year. We just arranged a different parent's evening for my class.

TheFallenMadonna · 21/06/2017 22:09

Primary or secondary? You couldn't organise an alternative whole evening for secondary really. Although you could offer to make appointments with any parents who wanted one. You would have a low take up. It is directed time though. Unless you are part time and don't work on that day.

DandelionAndBedrock · 21/06/2017 22:44

I just realised I misread which side of the parents' evening was causing the problem. Ignore me.

Original poster
Alphvet · 21/06/2017 22:50

Secondary!

OP posts:
NewIdeasToday · 21/06/2017 23:03

I think you need to find some childcare.

Parents' evenings are important right through school, but particularly by secondary. And it's a key part of the teachers' job

YogiYoni · 21/06/2017 23:06

Babysitter? Hmm

Dawnedlightly · 21/06/2017 23:07

Is there an good reason you can't use childcare? I'd be very unimpressed if you weren't at parents' evening, as a parent and as a former teacher.

Original poster
Alphvet · 22/06/2017 06:36

Ok thanks everyone. It's not an issue I've got yet but I'm problem solving for next year.

OP posts:
ASauvingnonADay · 22/06/2017 06:48

We generally get about 60% attendance (ongoing issues with parental engagement!) so you wouldn't be hugely judged if you really couldn't come. We have said no though to parents asking for an alternative evenings ppointment or for staff to provide them with updates if they haven't come because it's just not feasible.

MaisyPops · 22/06/2017 06:51

If there is an unavoidable clash then there's an unavoidable clash.

You could start your appointments early and then leave at 6? Or send a letter to each parent with information and then offer phone call appointments.
I'd be very unimpressed if you weren't at parents' evening, as a parent and as a former teacher.
You can be as unimpressed as you like. Sometimes things happen where anyone may need to be excused from something at work.
I missed a parents evening this year being unwell. A colleague had 2 poorly children she had to collect from school/nursery at lunch and her husband worked away. No childcare because they were in school wrap around.
We made alternative arrangements and that was that.

VintagePerfumista · 22/06/2017 06:55

When dd was small I asked a friend to have her for the afternoon/evening.

As a parent, I take a dim view if her teachers aren't there- it has happened- and everyone is always "can't even be bothered to turn up to speak to the parents"

So, from both sides of the fence, start to get your plans laid now!

UniversallyUnchallenged · 22/06/2017 06:57

How old is your child? Staffs kids just sit in Libary

Original poster
Alphvet · 22/06/2017 07:51

Thanks. 3 and 4. They are in wrap around care and my husband worked near where they are and I am about 30 mins away. Our parents are old and live away. We have the odd neighbour who could help.
I am a born worrier and moving jobs in sept so although I've missed one evening before due to clashes, I've been established in the school and less worried than I am now.
Just waiting for the calendars for next year to see if we have any that clash.
Thanks for your advice, it's not easy is it, kids and work! 😀

OP posts:
JustMumNowNotMe · 22/06/2017 07:54

Just hire a babysitter?!

BeyondThePage · 22/06/2017 08:01

It depends on the child. Ours are top set and make friends easily - we are lucky.

So, we don't tend to go to every one (2 a year each child). Work commitments often get in the way - remember when they say parents "evening" often it does not actually correspond with any definition of "evening" that I would use.

(3.30-5pm IS NOT EVENING!)

WinnieTheW0rm · 22/06/2017 08:01

You need to hire a baby sitter or emergency nanny.

I'm sorry if this sounds a bit dismissive, but it's what all working parents have to do when there is Stuff that clashes and what lone parents have to do for many things.

Original poster
Alphvet · 22/06/2017 08:05

Yea I'll look into getting a babysitter I think for these kind of occasions

OP posts:
BeyondThePage · 22/06/2017 08:06

I have never met ANYONE who would hire a babysitter to cover parents evening. Nothing at parents evening should be a surprise, teachers do not exist in some protected bubble with instructions to never let parents know how kids are doing - except for parents evening.

Some people seem to treat everything from school as some sort of compulsory summons - it is not. If it is not convenient don't go.

tinhead · 22/06/2017 08:20

Op is a teacher not a parent!

Original poster
Alphvet · 22/06/2017 08:24

😀 yes sorry. I should have made that clear at the start. I am a teacher

OP posts:
BeyondThePage · 22/06/2017 08:29

D-oh.... sorry Blush

DandelionAndBedrock · 22/06/2017 08:30

Maybe see if a colleague has a teenager who could sit nearby with your children? I think a babysitter is your best option though.

cantkeepawayforever · 22/06/2017 14:42

I did miss a -primary - parents' evening due to completely losing my voice.

It was simply rescheduled for the following week, with the same rota of parents coming to speak to me (they weren't all that happy, especially as those with siblings had had to come in on 2 separate evenings, but it was unavoidable)

As a parent, i have also encountered 'x is unwell and cannot be here - please e-mail for a summary of your child's progress' at secondary. I have found that irritating but not catastrophic for 'non core' subjects.

I would, (as a teacher but also parent with no childcare cover, and a DH who works away a lot, who ends up with extremely complicated arrangements for the childcare to attend my own, and my children's parents' evenings), be less than impressed by a member of staff whose job it was to do the parents' evening but who did not put in the effort to make similar arrangements. Sorry.