Starting Out Guide For Newly Qualified and Trainee Teachers

Meet the parents

Meeting parents can be a daunting experience – presenting another set of expectations and dynamics. However, it helps to remember that they actually don’t know if you have done this once or a hundred times! Some major worries for teachers at parents’ evenings are:

• Parents’ perceptions of them as professionals.
• How to discuss a pupil’s weaknesses without being disparaging.
• The fear of parent aggression.

Treat a meeting with a parent as you would any other meeting. Try and answer the following questions in advance of the meeting to make sure that you are fully prepared:

• What is the purpose of the meeting?
• What do you want to share with them?
• What are your concerns?
• What are theirs?
• What is the desired result of the meeting?

Try to be confident – you are the professional. You know their son or daughter as a class member and you have information to offer to them. Even if you are nervous, make sure you take charge by leading the discussion. Stand up to greet parents, maintain good eye contact, sit up straight and don’t fiddle – this may sound trivial, but confident body language can make a big impression and inspire confidence.

Make sure you have evidence of work to support your judgements. This makes the discussion less subjective. If there are areas for development, always sandwich this between positive aspects of the child’s work, this can soften the blow. It’s important not to get drawn into comparisons too and keep the conversation specific to the individual child.

Bear in mind that you can help parents and help yourself at the same time! Some parents may have had a negative experience of school; they may be defensive or anxious on school territory. If you are calm and resolute, they will have confidence in you.

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