What to talk to schools about

Talking to Schools You are interested in your kids education so you go to talk to the school. This serves 2 purposes:


 * Helps you to learn how well you kid is doing, what problem s/he might have, what you can do about it


 * Lets you understand things from the school's perspective - especially if there are issues with the other parent


 * Shows the school that you are an interested parent. Helps to dispell a negative image of you that the other parent may have painted

What questions do you ask ?


 * try to keep the agenda simple and focused on their comfort zone (i.e. what the school does, it is their "baby")


 * ask to go through some of your kid's school work books


 * see his/her scores


 * ask about his/her progress


 * what about SATS results


 * discuss the sports facilities and his/her interests outside of maths & english


 * ask about the curriculum


 * express that you want to be more involved and interested in parental involvement; how do they deal with parent reviews (parent evenings), when teachers talk through the child's progress each term ... will you do this separately, can you do it together (you get the same message, less chance of misunderstanding, you hear what she hears, and the school doesn't have to invest twice the time)


 * often interesting to ask about his/her school friends, any particular friends


 * ask about their approach to discipline ... etc., show that you trust them to do the right whilst he/she is at school, but ensure they can contact you - provide phone details


 * Ensure it is clear that they need to communciate to you directly as well as to the resident parent, since they don't give you any information.


 * Ask about Parents Assemblies, Sports Days, Open Days, etc, often these are opportunities for you to attend, and have "contact" that is not policed by the Court - but managed it positively, try to notify when you will attend.


 * get involved in the PTA, even if you just turn up to meetings - contribute to some fund raising, cake sales, cut the grass, consider anything that will show you to be positively interested, and give you contact ... something your child might be told about (e.g. "your daddy cut the grass at school again this weekend" - gives your child another positive connection to you)