Parent volunteers

[Tigersteeth]

What jobs do you give parent volunteers in your primary schools? Since the publicity about budget cuts we've had a lot of offers, but I'm struggling to think of genuinely useful jobs they could do...
Maybe sticking in?
Obviously the old classic of 'hearing readers', but is that really helping anyone?!

Honestly, there's not many jobs where completely unqualified people turn up and expect you to find them work and be grateful! Politically, it's hard to turn them away though. Any good ideas?

Maybe produce a volunteer application form?
What particular skills can you offer?
Tick which jobs/tasks/activities you would prefer to do
Any other jobs/activities you feel you could run/do?

I have volunteered as a parent in two schools:
I have read with children who don't get read with at home.
I have read with children who need more practice.
I have played Maths games with children who need more numeracy practice.
I have played games with children who need social skills support (ie 1 or 2 children who needed help, plus 1 or 2 more to model behaviour).
I have read to groups.
I have been used to challenge and extend very able children.

I have also:
Tidied the library.
Sharpened pencils.
Done photocopying and laminating.
Tested spellings and marked them.
Taken down displays.
Put up displays.
Created themed play corners.

But I also committed to coming in for regular times on regular days every week, so that the teachers could rely upon me and include me in their planning. That way they could really make proper use of me, as well as give me substantial jobs and regular jobs.

The volunteers at our school run the library which is useful.
They also hear readers but we targeted it. The volunteers come in daily for a short burst with specific children who needed practice. They have an afternoons training each half term from the SENCO.
They also run some clubs like a lego club for social skills.

FlowerFairy yep and that's only Kindergarten to 4th Grade. There's about 140 kids per year (6-8 classes with up to 20 per class)

That sounds absolutely huge!! But 20 per class sounds better than here. Do they mix the classes each year?

This sort of comment makes me so angry. Apparently parent helpers are all in your eyes some uneducated numpty. How very presumptuous of them to offer their actual unpaid help to your school.
In my school we currently have people helping who are: qualified teacher who is not currently working and a number of now retired teachers. A qualified nurse who also works for a mental health charity. A lady who has fostered disabled children. A woman who teaches dance. An ex-librarian.
All these people bring their valuable time and skills to the table and might not be suited to whole class teaching but can carry out focused tasks as well as the various cutting jobs that crop up.
You are lucky to have volunteers

Don't be dense! Obviously I am perfectly able to make good use of volunteers with applicable skills, I'm not an idiot!
What I was asking for suggestions for were keen but unqualified members of our community, and how best to make good use of everybody''s time. I want to find a good role for them precisely because I value them, and want them to have a fulfilling and enjoyable time.
Obviously that makes me a terrible person not fit to be around children! I'll let my head know the verdict on my character tomorrow, and offer my resignation at once...

When I helped in school I photocopied, laminated, made play-doh, put up and took down wall displays, backed pictures, washed pots, prepared homework jotters, prepared resources, tidied up, found and put away reading books, filing, sorted out dud pens and glue sticks. I also helped the children particularly with craft projects but also other classroom work - it generally took the teacher a little while to judge how I coped with the kids before i'd get much of this (then I would do this about half the time). I generally helped in infants including reception and there wasn't a class TA. I did listen to reading some times. The school library was run entirely by parent volunteers (including transferring onto a computer system that involved entering every book by hand a few years ago). Trips require parent volunteers or they can't run (including going to swimming lessons). Having a lot of parent involvement in the school also increases ownership and fund raising. Quite a few parent helpers are qualified teachers. Some of the rest have other skills that are called upon for specific projects. Most teachers request a helper.

I had a conversation with another volunteer yesterday where she was bemoaning the fact that the reading sheets weren't always kept up to date and photocopied. I said well if I run out I just go and photocopy some more. She was horrified and said she was there to read, not to run around doing the teachers jobs.

Yes Fairy all the classes are mixed every year.