"As a parent I had often wondered what really happened inside school, but with always having a younger child around, I never had the time to find out, that is until recently.

My youngest is now at the infant school, which means there are times when I am able to accompany the children on school outings, like the upper schools trip to Intech. I was very impressed! The children were a credit to the school, their behavior was excellent, always polite, and interested in what you had to say. I learnt a lot, from the children and from the place itself. Well worth a visit, with lots to play and experiment with. The teachers also really appreciated the extra adult help, as it meant that the groups of children could be smaller, and consequently they could each receive more attention.

I have also been able to help in the school classroom, with both maths and literacy, and have been given the opportunity to view the class from the inside. It really is a worthwhile experience, and I recommend it to anyone with a little time to spare, the teachers really appreciate it and the children love having the extra help and encouragement. It is so rewarding to walk in the village and have the children come up to you and talk to you as friends. I am now a parent governor, which brings extra rewards, like front row seats at school performances, but that’s another story!" - Dee Carr

"I have been living in Marchwood Village since 1987. Our three children attended the village schools, during which time my wife and I became involved in the schools as parent helpers. Spending time with the pupils is a very rewarding experience. It is both beneficial and interesting to get an insight into how your children’s school day is structured. It is fun to be a part of their busy day, and there is always something new to learn, no matter how long ago you left school yourself. We have always found the staff both grateful and appreciative of any help and time you can offer them. Even though our children no longer attend the village schools, I still like to find the time to help". - Rob Cambell

"I have been helping at the Junior School for almost four years, and I have found it to be a most fulfilling experience.Right from the start, the teachers made me feel very welcome and involved in what they were doing. They always showed their appreciation and encouraged the children to do so too.

Basically, my role has been to work alongside children in the classroom in any way the teacher finds useful. This could mean looking out for children who are struggling and going to sit alongside them to help, or sometimes it is to work in a group and get involved in whatever they are doing. Sometimes I have been able to take small groups of children into another part of the school, so that they can work on something that they find difficult at a pace that suits them better. I have also been on all sorts of interesting school trips.

I really enjoy getting to know the children, and being an extra adult that they can talk to. It has really helped me to see what school is like from the children’s perspective, but also to have a greater appreciation of what is involved from the teacher’s point of view too. I know that my own children have benefited from my presence in the school, and I have become a much more understanding parent. I would recommend volunteering to anyone!" - Joy Drake.