Parents' Evening Checklist (Autumn 2026)

A checklist for planning and running parents' and carers' evenings, written for school leaders and the staff who organise them. Each row is one action, with why it matters and space for who does it and when.

What's inside

• Two weeks before: dates and format, booking, interpreters and reasonable adjustments, and a fixed finish time for staff
• The week before: court orders and contact restrictions checked with the DSL, separated parents, pupil information and a staff briefing
• On the evening, including what to do when a conversation turns difficult
• The week after: follow-up, debrief and reporting to governors
• References, including KCSIE 2026, the DfE's guidance on controlling access to school premises and the parental responsibility guide

Updated October 2026.

Format: editable Word document, 3 pages.

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