As a school, we follow this advice which can be found here, on the BBC website:
‘What is a classroom helper?
Classroom helpers volunteer to assist teachers on a regular basis, usually in primary schools. They help with tasks like listening to pupils read. Reading practice is very labour-intensive, and helpers can make a big difference to teachers and children.
Classroom helpers are often, but not always, parents of children at the school and are not the same as classroom assistants, who are paidstaff.
The role of classroom helper
Classroom helpers usually commit to spending regular slots of time in school each week. This time can vary from half an hour to half a day at most.
Many schools prefer not to put you in your child’s class because they consider it disruptive for your child, and possibly unfair to classmates whose parents can’t volunteer.
Classroom helpers make a big difference in improving standards. Even if you’re not helping in your child’s class, research shows that having a parent who volunteers improves a child’s experience of school. This may be because you’re more ‘plugged in’ to school and know what goes on during their day. It’s a great way to get behind the scenes.’
We are lucky to have a team of committed volunteers who work hard to support children in school and will always welcome more to join the team. Volunteers help with school visits and escorting children with swimming and other sporting events.
Currently, as our focus is on ensuring that all children leave our school as competent and confident readers, we also have a team of volunteers who read with children across the school. Our policy is that they don’t work with the same class that their child is in.
They have received training in reading with children, using this advice from http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/. The volunteers meet regularly with school staff to discuss the progress of the children they work with.
All volunteers are subject to a DBS check.