Successful parents' evenings

• Is my child happy at school?
• Does he get on well with his classmates?
• What are his strengths and weaknesses?
• Does he work to the best of his ability?
• Is he progressing at a reasonable rate?
• What will he be working on next?
• What are the expectations of his year group?
• What should I be doing to help my child at home?

At the end of Key Stages, you will also see his progress in relation to his peers and the national average, which can give you a clear idea of how he's progressing and his abilities.

In Years 5 and 6, when you are making decisions for your child's secondary school, parents' evenings are the ideal time to discuss the best options for your child. Be realistic and listen to the teacher's views on your child's abilities.

Often it's a lot to take in - especially if you have more than one teacher to see - so it's a good idea to take down a few notes as reminders for later.

Usually parents will be given the opportunity to look at children's work before meeting the teacher. Your child's work should have improved over time. If there appears to be little progress or work is rarely finished, try to find out why when you speak to the teacher. Make sure you single out things to praise him for afterwards.

What you can provide
You might also want to tell the teacher about any changes at home, things your child enjoys or finds difficult and any worries he might have. If your child is mad about or excels at a sport or hobby outside school, now is the time to make the teacher aware of this. Children can be surprisingly reticent at blowing their own trumpets and it's helpful for the teacher to know what they're like out of school, to see the whole picture.

Most of the time parents' evenings will simply underline what you already know - if your child groans about maths, chances are he's not going to get a glowing report from his teacher and if loves art, there will probably be some impressive work to admire.

Concerns
Occasionally a teacher's impression of your child won't match your own experience. It's important for both of you to try and understand what's happening. For example, if a primary school child isn't eager to join in class discussions, is it because he's shy, switched off because he's bored or worried about saying 'the wrong thing' and what can be done to encourage him?

If you are concerned about playground politics or bullying, now is the time to flag up any worries. Often teachers are only aware of what happens inside their classrooms, but mentioning your anxieties will mean they'll keep a close look-out and instruct other staff to do the same.

Feedback
Afterwards, make sure you give your child a thorough run-down of your discussion with the teacher: her praise and her criticisms, if any, and what the school and you are expecting from him now. If there is room for improvement, this might be the time to set up new home routines to encourage him to do his best.