Eight questions to hold in your hand.
Print on card if you can, cut along the dashed lines, and keep them in a wallet or pocket. In the room, when your mind goes blank — and it will — you only need to read one out. Steady beats eloquent.
“What exactly is the concern — in plain words?”
Why it works: A vague worry cannot be answered; a named concern can.
“What needs to change, by when — and how will you measure it?”
Why it works: Turns opinion into a testable plan.
“Who is doing what, by what date?”
Why it works: Every action gets a name and a deadline — including theirs.
“What support are you offering us — not only what is required of us?”
Why it works: Plans are two-way; the law expects help, not just tests.
“Can you show me where that is written down?”
Why it works: Moves the conversation from memory to the record.
“Please record that I disagree — and my reasons.”
Why it works: Calm disagreement, on the record, is how errors get corrected.
“What would “good enough” look like to you?”
Why it works: The standard is good-enough parenting, not perfection — make them say what it means.
“When will I get the minutes — and how do I correct a mistake in them?”
Why it works: The minutes become the official history; you are entitled to accuracy.