Hi parents,
Parents’ evening can sometimes feel rushed.
You sit down with a teacher, you have a few minutes to talk, and suddenly you’re expected to understand everything about how your child is doing at school.
Over the years, I’ve realised that the key to making the most of parents’ evening is asking the right questions. The goal isn’t just to hear grades or tick a box, it’s to leave the conversation knowing exactly how to support your child at home.
Before I attend any parents’ evening, the first thing I do is go through my child’s school report.
I carefully look at:
• His attitude towards learning
• Whether he is on track to secure or on track to exceed
• The subjects he is strongest in
• The subjects where he might need a little more support
In his most recent report from December, he was on track to exceed in most subjects, and only on track to secure in a few.
Naturally, those were the subjects I focused on during parents’ evening because I wanted to understand how we could help him move from secure to excellent.
Before the meeting, I usually remind myself of the key things I want to understand:
• How my child is performing academically
• Whether he feels confident in class
• How he is doing socially with friends
• What support teachers recommend we continue at home
Having these questions in mind helps me leave the meeting with real insight rather than just general feedback.
Questions I Ask Subject Teachers
One thing I really appreciate about his school is that parents can speak directly with individual subject teachers, not just the class teacher.
That means you get feedback from the people who actually teach those subjects every week.
Some of the questions I ask include:
• Is he participating actively in class?
• Is he confident when answering questions?
• Does he stay focused during lessons?
• What has been his favourite part of this subject this term?
• What specific things can we do at home to help him improve?
One piece of feedback that made me smile was when one teacher described him as very precise.
I think we all know where he got that from.
Questions I Ask the Class Teacher
Beyond academics, I also want to understand how he is doing emotionally and socially at school.
School isn’t just about grades. It’s also about friendships, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.
So I ask questions like:
• How has he been emotionally in school?
• Is he happy and settled?
• How is he getting along with his friends?
• Have there been any conflicts or concerns?
Understanding these things is just as important as academic progress.
I also asked:
“What areas would you like us to continue supporting at home?”
My One Parenting Fail This Term
Now let’s talk about the one place where I dropped the ball.
Apparently there is:
• A class assembly
• A Peter Pan production
• And both require costumes
And guess who has not sent in the costumes yet?
Yes.
Me.
Between work, business, school activities, and everything else happening this half term, I genuinely have not had a moment to sit down and breathe.
But what melted my heart was what his teacher told me.
Even though other children had already brought their costumes, he kept telling everyone:
“My mum will bring it. Don’t worry.”
The faith this child has in me.
So now I absolutely have to deliver.
Celebrating the Wins
I’m definitely having a proud mum moment tonight.
He is currently on his Kumon.
And yes, despite the glowing feedback, he will still read tonight.
But this weekend, I’m going to take him out to celebrate.
Because effort and progress deserve to be recognised.
If you’re preparing for your next parents’ evening, I hope these questions help guide your conversations with teachers.
Sometimes a simple question can lead to insights that make a big difference in your child’s learning journey.
What questions do you usually ask during parents’ evening?
I’d love to hear how other parents approach these meetings.
Have a lovely Thursday.
With Love,
Ayo ❤️
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