Current teaching methods

Talking to teachers

Want to talk to your child's teacher but not sure the best way to go about it? Here are some tips to help you.

Don't worry about what other parents are doing - find what works for you

• If you can't attend parents' evening or have a question or concern that can't wait, contact your child's teacher, either through the school reception or email them to arrange a time to talk. You can usually find teacher's email addresses on the school website.
• Don't be shy to ask questions. If teachers use unfamiliar terms, ask them to clarify what they mean.
• Let the teacher know of any difficulties at home which may be affecting your child. The teacher can talk to you about the kind of support the school can offer.
• Share achievements and successes from school and at home.
• If you think a teacher has done a good job, tell them – it goes a long way!

Parents' Evenings

You might only get a short time with your child's teacher at parents' evening. Think before you go about what you'd like to find out from them.

Here are some ideas to get you started. Include what is important to you and your child.

• Do they seem happy at school? Is their behaviour good?
• Do they get along with other children and who do they play with?
• What is their strongest subject and which do they enjoy most? These are not always the same!
• What is their weakest subject and how are they being helped to make progress?
• What is my child's attitude to learning?
• Are they making steady progress?
• Do they contribute to class discussions? Do they participate in activities?
• Are they at the expected level for their age group? If they are below or above, ask what is being done in school to support or challenge them?
• If your child is preparing for tests or exams, where do they need help? Are they on target to get the results they need?
• What can we do at home to help? Take this opportunity to talk about homework.
• If your child has any learning difficulties, ask what extra support the school is providing.
• If you have a written report, use the meeting to ask about anything you are not sure about.