Letter to School Asking for a Teacher Meeting
If parents have any issues they feel unsure or concerned (or even pleased about) regarding an issue relating to their child's education, it is absolutely acceptable to organise a meeting with your child's form teacher to discuss any issues. Any good teacher will have the child's interests at the heart of his or her education plan, and so will appreciate the opportunity to discuss any pertinent concerns with their pupil's parents. If a child is facing a difficult time at home, through family illness, for example, then it is a good idea to inform teachers and the school through organising a meeting. That way, if necessary the school will realise there is a reason if a child misses one homework deadline or is late arriving, and will be able to respond in a considerate manner. Likewise, if a child is struggling with educational concerns, there is even greater reason for parents to book a meeting with their child's teacher or teachers, since these issues are best addressed as soon as possible and a face to face meeting can be an opportunity for instant feedback.
Organising a Teacher Meeting
Normally this will be a very simple process with parents writing to request that the teacher meets them at a mutually agreeable time, perhaps immediately after school or before an after-school activity begins. It is a good idea to outline what you want to discuss at the meeting in your letter, as this will help the teacher to prepare a response, and get organised, and perhaps also arrange for other relevant staff, such as pastoral care workers or some of your child's other teachers, to be present.
This letter format laid out below shows parents how they can write to a school to ask to organise a meeting with a child's teacher; this letter gives the reason as the opportunity to discuss problems involving the child at home and how the school can best support the child through those problems.
The School House
School Lane
Schoolville
England
Family Home
Anytown
England
18 January 2008
Dear Form Teacher
Our daughter, Kelly Williams, currently in year 11 at The School House, is going through a difficult time. Her dad is currently not very well and home life is a bit turbulent as a result. Kelly is currently doing well, and I think the focus on her schoolwork and the opportunity to get out of the house for the school day helps her to think about something other than worrying about her dad, but obviously this does affect her and she is very upset. As a result, I am writing to you to ask whether it would be possible to arrange a meeting between myself and you as well as any other of Kelly's teachers who are able to attend. I would like to talk about how we can help to support her through this period, allowing school to be a distraction from her problems but not an added stress to add to her sense of anxiety. Obviously year 11 is also a big year for exams and I wondered if we could talk through the implications and possibilities for exam preparations.
I look forward to hearing from you. You can contact me, Mother, on 0131 2343 9049 or 0723422342, or email me at mother@parents.com, and hopefully we can meet as soon as possible. It might be easiest if I popped into the school during one of your free periods, as Kelly is concerned about being seen as 'different' and does not want me to come in after school so everyone sees.
With thanks for your time and best wishes
[signature]
Mrs Williams, mother of Kelly
