Parents’ evening is an important opportunity to gain insight into your child’s progress, both academically and socially. With limited time during the meeting, it’s helpful to go in prepared with a few key questions. This ensures you leave with a well-rounded picture of how your child is doing and how you can support them at home. Here are five valuable questions to ask, inspired by the teachings of this private school in Derby.
This is a collaborative post.
1. How is my child doing academically compared to expectations?
This question gives you a sense of whether your child is meeting, exceeding, or falling short of the expected levels for their age or year group. It’s useful to understand their strengths, as well as any areas where they may need extra support. Ask for examples of work or assessments that highlight their progress, so you can see where improvements could be made.
2. How does my child contribute to class and interact with others?
Academic performance is only one part of the school experience. Social and emotional development also plays a huge role in your child’s education. By asking about participation, behaviour, and relationships with peers, you’ll get a better picture of how confident, engaged, and cooperative they are in the classroom. Teachers often observe qualities parents might not see at home, such as leadership, resilience, or teamwork.
3. What can I do at home to support my child’s learning?
Parents’ evening is a great time to ask for practical advice. Whether it’s recommended reading, online resources, or strategies for building good study habits, teachers can offer tailored guidance that reinforces what’s being taught in school. This also shows your child’s teacher that you’re engaged and eager to work as a team to support your child’s progress.
4. Are there any areas where my child needs to improve?
It’s important to know not just where your child excels, but also where they might be struggling. This could be a specific subject, skill, or even an aspect of their attitude to learning. By identifying these areas early, you can work with the teacher to put support in place before small issues become bigger challenges. Try to frame this question positively so your child sees it as an opportunity for growth, rather than criticism.
5. What goals should my child focus on this term?
Ending the meeting with clear, actionable goals gives you and your child something concrete to work towards. These goals might be academic, such as improving spelling or mastering times tables, or personal, such as participating more in group work. Setting small, achievable targets will help your child feel motivated and give you a clear way to track progress between now and the next parents’ evening.
Parents’ evening is more than just a progress report—it’s a chance to build a partnership with your child’s teacher and ensure your child feels supported both at home and in school. By asking thoughtful questions, you’ll come away with a clearer understanding of your child’s journey and how to help them succeed.