Share what you know Teachers only see your child in the school environment, so your perspective can fill in important gaps. If the teacher describes behaviour that you don’t recognise at home, treat it as useful information and consider whether home and school need to align more closely on expectations. You can also mention relevant changes at home that could be affecting your child’s learning, behaviour or wellbeing if they would help the teacher understand what they’re seeing at school. Ask for clarification If the teacher uses a term or refers to something you don’t recognise, ask them to explain. Teachers can forget they regularly use education jargon that parents might not be familiar with! If they raise a concern, ask for a specific example too. Understanding when and where something happens can make it easier to work out what support your child may need. Stay calm when discussing concerns It’s natural to feel protective of your child, especially if you hear feedback you weren’t expecting. Give yourself a moment to process what’s been said before responding. As your child’s advocate, staying calm doesn’t mean staying quiet. You can raise concerns clearly without allowing frustration to take over the conversation. Remember that you and the teacher are working towards the same goal: supporting your child. The relationship may also continue for several years, so constructive communication matters beyond a single meeting. A simple thank you at the end can help maintain that positive relationship and set a constructive tone for future conversations. AFTER THE CONFERENCE: TURN TALK INTO ACTION Remember that the meeting itself is only a springboard to continued conversation between you, your child and their teachers. What you do next makes a huge difference. Focus on three simple steps: 1 Follow up on anything left open. If the teacher asked for a report or other information, send it promptly. You can also email if an important follow-up question comes to mind afterwards.
2 Tell your child how it went. Share the main points, including positive feedback and anything they need to work on, so they understand what’s been discussed. Keep the conversation balanced, celebrate the positives and plan action steps to work on the areas for improvement. 3 Agree on next steps. Whether that’s a follow-up call, an email in a few weeks or something to work on at home, a clear plan helps keep everyone moving in the same direction. Inform the teacher of any action steps you’ve agreed with your child. If clear goals weren’t set with the teacher during the meeting, suggest a date to meet or email again in future to check progress. Following through shows your child that home and school are working together to support their progress. It also gives you a useful starting point for the next conversation with their teacher.
BUILDING BETTER PARENT- TEACHER COMMUNICATION A parent-teacher conference works best as part of an ongoing conversation between home and school. Preparing beforehand, asking focused questions, listening openly and following up afterwards can help parents and teachers understand what a child. Keeping that communication going throughout the school year can give your child more consistent support both at school and at home. If you or your child’s teacher feel they need some extra support to cover gaps or regain confidence in a particular subject, contact TutorsPlus at +41 22 731 8148 or info@tutorsplus.com to book a free trial and secure the right support from an experienced tutor.
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