Parents’ evening: the annual event where you get a snapshot of your child’s school life in a five-minute meeting, sandwiched between someone who’s running late and a parent determined to discuss every piece of homework their child has ever done. It’s fast, sometimes frantic, and can feel like a blur, but with a little preparation, you can walk away with the answers you actually need.
I’ve spoken to teachers who are also parents to gather their best advice – here’s what they had to say.
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask the Big Question: “Are They Where They Should Be?”
A good teacher should tell you where your child is at for maths, reading, writing, and spelling. But if time is short or the teacher is inexperienced, they might avoid going into detail. If they don’t offer this information, ask outright:
👉 Is my child working at the expected level for their age?
👉 If not, what areas should we focus on at home?
👉 What support is in place at school to help them?
Beware of vague comments like “Yeah, they’re doing really well”—that doesn’t tell you much. Ask for specifics: How are they doing well? What are their strengths? Where are the gaps? If you know your child is struggling in certain areas but the teacher is all sunshine and smiles, dig deeper.
2. If Your Child Is Struggling, Set Up Follow-Ups
If your child is falling behind, ask for more frequent updates or short meetings to set small targets and track progress. This helps ensure they don’t slip further behind and gives you clear actions to support them at home.
3. Come with Questions – and Write Them Down
It’s easy to forget what you wanted to ask when you’re sitting across from the teacher, so jot your questions down beforehand. You don’t have to ask anything, but if you do, make sure you get the answers you need.
4. Know That Every Parent Is Different
Some parents barely say a word, while others expect the teacher to work miracles and secure their child’s future at MENSA, Oxford, or Cambridge. Try to strike a balance – use the time wisely, but don’t feel pressured to cover everything in one go.
5. Ask How You Can Support at Home
A great question to ask is: What can we do at home to help? Teachers can often recommend specific online resources or books that align with what’s being taught in class. Taking their advice can make a big difference, and it shows you’re invested in your child’s learning.
6. Check If Their Behaviour Matches Up
Ever wondered if your child is the same person at school as they are at home? Give the teacher a quick description of how they behave at home and ask if that’s consistent in school. Sometimes, children show different sides of themselves in different environments, and this insight can be really helpful.
7. Treat It Like a Team Meeting
Teachers and parents are working towards the same goal: helping your child succeed. Instead of seeing it as a one-way information dump, think of it as a strategy session. Ask what you can do at home, what’s working well, and what needs improvement.
8. Bring Reports and Ask About Progress
If you’ve been sent any reports, bring them with you and ask questions about them. If your child’s progress has stalled, ask why and what can be done to help. You’re looking for real answers, not generic reassurance.
9. Stick to Your Time Slot
Teachers often have a full evening of back-to-back meetings, and once one parent overruns, it throws off the entire schedule. Be on time, stay focused, and don’t be the reason for the stressed-out queue behind you.
10. Please, Just Show Up
The frustrating truth? Parents' evening is often full of parents whose children are already doing well – while the ones who really need to be there don’t turn up. Even if you think your child is doing fine, go. It matters.
11. Be Ready for Honesty (Good or Bad)
Not every child is a straight-A student, and that’s okay. Some subjects will come naturally, others will be a struggle. If the teacher has concerns, don’t take it personally – use it as a chance to work together on solutions.
12. End on a Positive Note
Ask what your child’s strengths are and how you can encourage them. Confidence is everything, and even if there are areas for improvement, it’s always good to celebrate what they’re doing well.
Parents’ evening is short, but with a little preparation, you can walk away with useful insights and a plan of action. And if all else fails? Smile, listen, and maybe bring chocolate for the teacher – they’ll appreciate it after a long night of back-to-back meetings!
What’s the best or worst experience you’ve had at parents' evening? Let me know in the comments! 😊
