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What should I ask at parents' evening?

Quick answer

Parents' evening is usually a short slot, often about 10 minutes, so it helps to arrive with two or three questions. Ask how your child is getting on compared with what's expected for their year, what they find hard, how they are as a learner and friend, and one thing you could do at home. Ask how to keep in touch if you want to follow up.

By the TapLearn team · Updated 30 October 2026 · Facts checked 30 October 2026 · For England

Before you go

  • Ask your child first. What do they enjoy? What feels hard? Is there anything they'd like you to mention? Children often tell you things in the car that they won't say at the table.
  • Look at recent work that comes home: reading records, spelling lists, homework. Note anything you're unsure about.
  • Pick your two or three questions. The slot goes quickly, and the most useful conversations stay on a few things.

Five questions worth asking

  1. "How is my child getting on compared with what's expected for their year?" Primary schools often use words like working towards, expected and greater depth. Our guide to what those words mean explains them calmly.
  2. "What do they find hardest at the moment, and what is the class working on next?" This gives you something specific, such as a times table or a spelling pattern, rather than "maths".
  3. "How are they as a learner?" Do they ask for help, keep going when something is tricky, join in? This often matters as much as marks.
  4. "Are they happy, and do they have friends to play with?" Teachers see playtimes and group work that you don't.
  5. "What is one thing we could do at home?" Ask for something small and regular. Ten minutes of reading together or practising one times table helps more than a big push.

Questions by subject

  • Reading: Is the reading book at the right level? Do they understand what they read, or mainly read the words? Which phonics sounds are they working on?
  • Maths: Which number facts should they know by heart now? Which method does the school use for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing, so we can do it the same way at home?
  • Writing: What would make the biggest difference to their writing this term: ideas, sentences, punctuation, spelling or handwriting?
  • In a check year: In Year 1, ask about the phonics check. In Year 4, ask about the multiplication tables check. In Year 6, ask how the school prepares children for the SATs.

If something is worrying you

Say so, kindly and plainly: "I've noticed she gets upset about spelling tests. Have you seen that too?" If ten minutes isn't enough, ask for a separate meeting. If you think your child may need extra support, you can ask to speak to the school's special educational needs coordinator (SENCo).

Afterwards

  • Tell your child one good thing the teacher said, first.
  • Pick one thing to work on together, and keep it small.
  • Note when you might check in again, for example at the next report or the spring parents' evening.

Questions parents ask

How long is a primary school parents' evening appointment?

It varies by school, but slots are often around 10 minutes. If you need longer, ask the teacher for a separate meeting.

Should my child come to parents' evening?

Some schools invite children and some don't. If yours comes, ask the teacher to start with what is going well, and keep any worries for a follow-up conversation.

What if I can't make parents' evening?

Contact the school office or the teacher. Most schools can offer a phone call, a video call or another time.

Is it all right to ask how my child compares with others?

Teachers usually won't compare children with each other, but they can tell you how your child is doing against what's expected for their year, which is more useful.

Sources

Related guides

Written by the TapLearn team for parents and carers in England. Schools teach in different orders and ways, so your child's teacher is always the best person to ask about your child. Spotted something out of date? Please email us at [email protected].