A parent–teacher interview is short, often only 10 or 15 minutes, and it’s easy to walk out thinking of the question you meant to ask. A little preparation makes a big difference. Here are twelve good parent–teacher interview questions for primary school, a simple before, during and after checklist, and what Victorian government schools must offer families.
What is a parent–teacher interview?
The Victorian Government describes it as “a meeting with your child’s teachers”, held to “meet and get to know each other”, “build a positive relationship”, “share information about your child’s interests and learning” and “talk more in-depth about your child’s student report.”
The Raising Children Network says: “These interviews are usually meetings of 10-15 minutes between you and your child’s teacher or teachers. Every parent is invited to attend at least one interview a year. At some schools, children take part in interviews too.” You may also hear them called parent–teacher conferences, or, when children attend, student-led or three-way conferences.
What Victorian schools must offer
In Victorian government schools, the rules are about the conversation, not a fixed meeting:
- Required: “Opportunities must be provided for parents/carers and students to discuss the report with teachers and/or school leaders.”
- Recommended: “Parent/carer conferences can be offered at least once each semester.” The Department recommends they follow the reporting cycle and focus on a student’s “achievement and progress”, “learning behaviours” and “next steps in their learning”.
- Not student-led: for those reasons, “the department recommends against student-led conferences.” Schools in other states and sectors may run them, and Raising Children describes them as one of the usual formats.
Reports typically come home at the end of Terms 2 and 4, and the Department recommends lining conferences up with that reporting cycle. “Your school will let you know when they hold conferences and how to register.” And you don’t have to wait: “You can also ask for a conference at other times. If you’re concerned about your child’s progress, contact the school to make an appointment.”
Before the interview
The Victorian Government’s checklist for families is short and practical:
- Read the report. “Read through your child’s report and think about what you want to discuss.” Our guide to reading a Victorian school report explains the levels and ratings.
- Write your questions down. “Write a list of questions you want to ask the teacher.” Put the most important one first.
- Ask your child. “Ask your child what they think the teacher is going to tell you.” Their answer is often revealing, and it tells them their view matters.
- Organise an interpreter if you need one. “If you need a translator, ask the school to organise this before the conference.”
- Bring the transition statement, for Prep. “If your child has started prep and has a transition statement, you may want to bring it along.”
Twelve parent–teacher interview questions to ask
You won’t have time for all of these. Choose three or four that matter most for your child right now. The first five are adapted from Raising Children’s suggestions; the rest are ideas of our own.
| Topic | Question |
|---|---|
| In class | What can you tell me about my child’s behaviour in class? |
| Friends | How is my child getting along with other students? |
| Homework | How much homework should my child be doing each night? |
| At home | What can I do at home to help my child with schoolwork? |
| Challenges | What does my child struggle with? |
| Strengths | What is my child doing really well at the moment? |
| Reading | What reading level or phonics set is my child working on, and what comes next? |
| Maths | Which maths skill would be most useful to practise at home this term? |
| Writing | How is my child’s handwriting and pencil grip going? |
| Feelings | Does my child seem happy and settled at school? Who do they play with? |
| The report | Can you explain this rating, and what would show progress next semester? |
| Next steps | What’s the one thing you’d like us to work on together? |
For a Prep child, the feelings and friendships questions are often the most useful. For older children, the next-steps question helps turn a conversation into a plan.
During the interview
The Victorian Government suggests:
- “If you want to ask about a specific thing, let the teacher know at the start of the conference.”
- “Ask about how your child is enjoying school and taking part in class.”
- “You and the teacher may create a plan with next steps.”
- “If you’re unsure about anything, ask the teacher to explain further.”
It’s fine to say “Could you show me an example?” Seeing a piece of your child’s writing or a maths task often explains more than a description. Teachers are encouraged to avoid jargon, so if a term comes up that you don’t know, ask.
After the interview
The conversation matters most in the weeks that follow:
- Talk to your child. The Victorian Government suggests you “talk with your child about what you discussed.” Lead with the praise.
- Agree who does what. Raising Children says: “If you make any decisions, it’s good to agree on who will follow up and when.”
- Check in later. “If you’ve agreed on actions at the interview, you might organise a follow-up phone call in about a month’s time.”
- Keep in touch. “Keep in regular contact with the teacher to follow up on your agreed plan.”
If the teacher suggests practice at home, keep it short and regular. Our posts on homework in primary school and phonics at home in 10 minutes a day have calm routines that fit around family life.
Questions parents ask
What questions should I ask at a parent–teacher interview?
Choose three or four: what your child does well, what they find hard, how they get along with others, what to practise at home, and what the next step in their learning is. Write them down and ask the most important one first.
How long are parent–teacher interviews?
The Raising Children Network says they are usually meetings of 10 to 15 minutes, and every parent is invited to at least one a year. If you need longer, ask the school for a separate appointment.
Do Victorian schools have to hold parent–teacher interviews?
Victorian government schools must give families the opportunity to discuss the report with teachers or school leaders. The Department recommends offering conferences at least once each semester.
Should my child come to the parent–teacher interview?
It depends on the school. Some schools run student-led or three-way conferences. The Victorian Department recommends against student-led conferences, so ask your school which kind it holds.
What should I ask my Prep child’s teacher?
Ask whether your child seems happy and settled, who they play with, how they manage routines like lunch and the toilet, and which sounds or words to practise at home. Bring your child’s transition statement if you have one.
Can I ask to meet the teacher at other times?
Yes. The Victorian Government says you can ask for a conference at other times, and if you’re concerned about your child’s progress you can contact the school to make an appointment.
Sources
- Student reports and parent–teacher conferences, Victorian Government
- Parent/carer conferences, Victorian Department of Education
- Reporting Student Achievement and Progress Foundation to 10: policy, Victorian Department of Education
- Parent-teacher interviews at primary school: what to expect, Raising Children Network
