Parents’ evening can feel like speed-dating with teachers: brief, sometimes rushed, and packed with more information than you can process. Yet, it’s one of the best opportunities to understand your child’s progress, not just academically, but socially and emotionally too. Whether your child is just joining pre-prep or well into their senior school years, there are ways you can make the most of parents’ evening.
Here’s a guide to the real questions that can help you go beyond “they’re doing fine” and get to the heart of how your child is truly getting on at school.
1. “How does my child approach learning tasks in class?”
This goes beyond test results or grades. You want to understand your child’s attitude and behaviour toward learning: Are they enthusiastic or hesitant? Independent or easily distracted? Curious or passive? This gives insight into how they learn, not just what they’ve achieved.
2. “Are there any gaps in their understanding or skills?”
Many children are great at masking struggles. Teachers may not have time to highlight minor concerns unless prompted. Asking this question signals you’re open to hearing areas for growth and working on them together. You could even follow up with “What can we do at home to support that?”
3. “How does my child interact with their peers?”
Academic success is important, but so is social development. Does your child collaborate well? Do they have a group of friends? Are they kind, shy, or sometimes withdrawn? These answers can reveal how settled and emotionally secure your child feels at school.
4. “What’s something they’ve done this term that you’ve been proud of?”
This gives you a positive, specific anecdote that might never make it into a school report. It’s also a lovely insight into what the teacher notices about your child. It helps you celebrate progress in a more meaningful way than test scores ever could.
5. “Is there anything you wish parents asked more often?”
Teachers often have a unique perspective on what parents overlook—whether that’s reading habits, effort levels, emotional wellbeing, or how your child affects the wider classroom dynamic. This open-ended question shows trust and invites a more honest, helpful conversation.
6. “How can we work together to support their progress?”
This wraps up the conversation on a collaborative note. It shows you’re not just there to listen passively, but to be involved. Whether that means adjusting routines at home, encouraging reading, or building confidence, you’re reinforcing the idea that home and school are on the same team.
Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to ask your child what they want you to ask.
You might be surprised! Involving your child in preparing for parents’ evening builds their self-awareness and helps them take ownership of their learning journey.
Parents’ evenings don’t have to be awkward or vague. With the right questions, you can leave feeling informed, empowered, and ready to support your child in meaningful ways. Remember: It’s not about catching them out, it’s about tuning in.
*This is a collaborative post
