Parents' evenings are a crucial aspect of the educational system, serving as a bridge of communication between teachers and parents. The role of teachers and supply teachers in planning and managing these evenings is essential.
As educators, especially those in primary and secondary schools, it is essential to effectively manage and plan for parents' evenings, and so we’ve collated our top tips on how this can be achieved.
Preparation is Key
Before the parents' evening event, teachers and supply teachers should take the time to prepare. Start by gathering information about each student's progress, academic achievements, and areas that need improvement. Reviewing the students' work and assessments will help you provide insightful feedback to parents. As a supply teacher or if you are in a temporary position, it’s important to gain an insight from those who also work in your classroom, such as teaching assistants, to ensure you have an accurate understanding of the children in your classroom.
Set Clear Goals
Define your goals for the parents' evening.
What messages do you want to convey?
What do you hope to achieve?
What do you need to do in order to achieve your goals?
Setting clear objectives will help you stay focused during the meetings and ensure that you communicate the most important information effectively.
Create a Welcoming Atmosphere
Make sure the environment is warm and welcoming. Arrange the seating in a way that allows for comfortable conversations between you and the parents. Provide some refreshments, if possible, to help create a relaxed atmosphere. Sometimes the decisions on layout and where parent’s evenings are held are made collectively by your school’s leadership team.
In instances where you can’t influence your surroundings or layout, be sure to create a welcoming atmosphere in any way you can; with accessories on your desk, welcoming initial questions and even your body language when calling the next set of parents to your table.
Be Organised
During the evening itself, time management is critical. Allocate a specific amount of time for each meeting and stick to it. Make a schedule and provide parents with a copy. Being organised will help the evening run smoothly and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to speak. There may be families who need or want to talk to you about more in-depth matters.
Remember, a parents evening is to update on progress, to understand any concerns and to determine expectations going forward. It is probably not the right setting to discuss more in-depth matters, but the perfect opportunity to book follow up meetings and gage an understanding of concerns. Don’t be afraid to steer conversation to organising follow up meetings rather than going over schedule.
Highlight Achievements and Progress
As mentioned before, one of the key reasons for a parents evening is to celebrate each student's achievements and progress, no matter how small. Parents appreciate hearing positive feedback about their child's efforts. It's also a great way to motivate students to continue working hard. This is especially important if difficult topics need to be discussed, such as concerns over progress or behaviour. Teaming such topics with positive feedback makes everything easier to understand and listen to for the parents and doesn’t become disheartening for the families.
Address Concerns Diplomatically
It's essential to address any concerns or areas of improvement with tact and diplomacy. Present the information constructively, focusing on solutions and ways the parents can support their child's development, and don’t forget there is always an option to organise follow up meetings away from the general setting, to tackle more in-depth matters and concerns.
A key concern for parents can relate to their child’s mental health, and this may be a topic brought up during parents’ evening, especially in cases where children have experienced bullying or learning difficulties. Head to our blog on supporting children’s mental health in primary schools if you need more information on this matter.
Communicate Effectively
This is probably one of the most important aspects of a parent’s evening, especially if you have been previously unknown to the parents before this night. Ensure that you are clear and concise in your communication. Use simple language and avoid jargon. Encourage parents to ask questions and seek clarification if needed. Effective communication can help strengthen the teacher-parent partnership.
Offer Resources and Support
Share information about resources, workshops, or tutoring services available to support students. Parents may not always be aware of the various tools and programs that can aid their child's learning.
There are some great resource recommendations for parents via podcasts aimed at education staff (here’s our go to list of podcast recommendations) classroom resources (head here for useful resources for secondary school teachers).
Take Notes
Jot down key points during each meeting, especially if parents have specific requests or concerns, or wish to book a follow up meeting. These notes will help you follow up and ensure that you address any issues discussed during the evening.
Follow Up
After parents' evening, it's important to follow up on any commitments you made. This may not be a new meeting, it may be actioning something agreed during the parents’ evening or sharing resources that parents had expressed an interest in. If you promised to send additional resources or updates, make sure to do so promptly. This demonstrates your commitment to the students' wellbeing and keeps the lines of communication open.
Teachers and Supply Teachers Can't Forget...
Parents' evenings are an invaluable opportunity for teachers and supply teachers to collaborate with parents and support students' growth. Effective planning, communication, and organisation are essential for a successful evening.
And don’t forget, if you are looking for a new role in education in the areas of Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire or Suffolk, we are on hand to support you and find your dream primary or secondary school role.
Head to our Jobs Board for the latest vacancies or contact us today for more information.