Dear parents,
Parent-teacher meetings can sometimes feel overwhelming; with a bit of preparation, you can approach them with confidence. Here are four key tips to keep in mind:
Preparation is Key: Review your child’s schoolwork ahead of time and jot down questions you’d like to ask.
Speak Up: If you’ve noticed your child struggling in any area, bring it up. Your perspective is invaluable.
Discuss Learning Differences: If you suspect any potential learning differences, consider talking with your child’s teacher about an evaluation. Early intervention can have a significant impact.
View the Meeting as a Partnership: Remember, you and the teacher are working together to support your child’s academic success.
To make these meetings as effective as possible, EPCA has developed a set of tools specifically designed to help parents engage in meaningful conversations with teachers, formulate thoughtful questions, and set clear goals. These resources, including checklists and meeting tips, are available in this newsletter to ensure you feel fully equipped to build a positive working relationship with your child’s educators.
Recent events have highlighted the importance of maintaining open, two-way communication between home and school. This shared responsibility relies on parents actively participating in school activities, attending meetings, and openly sharing relevant information about their children. Building trust during positive times creates a strong foundation, making it much easier to navigate challenges when they arise. In unfortunate circumstances when challenges do arise, there are steps that parents can take - I refer you to two places to make sure you know about our complaints system: The National Student Ombudsman website and a recent blog post by EPCA on the subject. Finally, understanding the school’s complaints procedure is essential. While schools are responsible for informing parents about this process, it’s also important for us as parents to be familiar with it and to know whom to contact should any concerns arise.
Warm regards,
Katherine Korakakis
President,
English Parents’ Committee Association