English for Parents: Communicating with Your Child’s School with Confidence


For parents living in an English-speaking country, it can feel stressful to speak with teachers, principals, or school staff—especially if English is not your first language.

But you are not alone. Many parents want to understand how their children are doing at school, attend meetings, and give permission for school activities. With the right language tools, you can do all of this with confidence.

In this blog post, I’ll guide you through useful English phrases and vocabulary for school-related communication, and how I can help you improve your skills with personalized online lessons.

 Everyday School Situations for Parents

You may need to use English for:

  • Reading and signing permission slips

  • Understanding report cards

  • Speaking at parent-teacher conferences

  • Communicating with the principal or school office

  • Writing emails or notes to teachers

  • Asking about homework, absences, or school events

 English Phrases for Common School Situations

1. Permission Slips & School Trips

You may see forms that say:

  • “I give permission for my child to attend the trip.”

  • “Emergency contact information”

  • “Allergies or medical concerns”

 Useful sentence:
“Yes, I give permission for my son to go on the trip.”

2. Report Cards

Key phrases on report cards:

  • “Meets expectations”

  • “Needs improvement”

  • “Excellent progress”

  • “Reading comprehension”, “Math skills”, “Participation”

 Questions you might ask:

  • “Can you explain what this grade means?”

  • “How can I help my child improve in reading?”

3. Parent-Teacher Meetings

It’s helpful to ask:

  • “Is my child doing well in class?”

  • “Does my child get along with other students?”

  • “What subjects need more attention at home?”

You can say:

  • “I want to support my child at home. What do you recommend?”

  • “Thank you for teaching my child.”

4. Speaking to the Principal or Office Staff

 You might say:

  • “I’d like to speak with the principal, please.”

  • “My child will be absent tomorrow.”

  • “We are moving. I need to transfer school records.”

5. Email or Note Examples

To the teacher:

“Dear Ms. Johnson,
My daughter, Sara, was sick and could not attend school on Monday.
Please let us know if there is any homework to complete.
Thank you,
Mrs. Lopez”

To the office:

“Hello, my son will be late today due to a doctor’s appointment.”

 How I Can Help

In my personalized English lessons for parents, I help you:

  • Understand and respond to school documents

  • Practice real parent-teacher meeting conversations

  • Learn polite and clear email writing

  • Build vocabulary for school subjects and classroom behavior

  • Feel confident in supporting your child’s education

 Education is a Team Effort

Being involved in your child’s education is one of the best ways to help them succeed. Learning the right English phrases helps you be part of the school community—and shows your child that learning matters.

Book a personalized lesson with me

Get 30% off your trial lesson by clicking here!

Visit my website by clicking here!

 About the Author:

Jennifer S. is a certified English tutor with a Master’s degree and over 11 years of experience teaching.

 

Location: Ontario, Canada

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