How does your school communicate with you? Especially around the trickier stuff?

[beansprout]

There have been some challenges at ds1's school in recent years inc some v poor SATS results. A new head came in 2 years ago but the current year 6 are not on target to achieve more than last year's so we are still facing some difficult times. This is compounded by a high staff turnover etc.

Currently, the school has a weekly newsletter and teachers, inc the Head are good at meeting on a one to one basis with parents, if requested. However, it feels like there is something missing. The school was criticised for not responding to its position in the local league tables (bottom) and it feels to me that they could be a bit more proactive in communicating with parents to acknowledge concerns and outline strategies in place.

How does your school communicate with you and do any of you have any suggestions about what might be useful? I know what we would do at work but recognise that schools are different and this is a new area for me!

Many thanks in advance if you are able to respond.

[Tamarto]

How does your school communicate with you?

Urm badly. Sorry can't be much help as your school does way more than ours does.

[beansprout]

Ok, sorry to hear that.

Anyone else?

[cece]

So you would like a copy of their action plan so that you can see how they are tackling the problems they have? Is that what you mean?

[Cranreuch]

Communication through newsletter, plus through being involved with the school - I am involved in fundraising and the parent council. The HT has a coffee morning monthly for parents too - which is informal, but you get discussions about lots of different things there.

Parent Council has organised information events with the teachers involved too.

I think some class teachers at the school are good at communicating - through hw diary - or coming out to see parents at the end of the day, but not all of them are good at that and it is a shame. I think parents want to see the teacher there at the end of the day, and it doesn't happen with the older children P4 upwards.... so information about hw can be a little patchy and it leads to confusion.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

We have a fortnightly enewsletter and monthly round table meetings with the head. There are generally termly information evenings about what is happening in the school, curriculum and buildings work. Email contact with class teachers works very well. We aren't in the UK though.

[wordsonascreen]

At the beginning of each term each teacher holds an evening meeting to discuss the ciriculum. theres also a letter sent out detailing this in case you can't make it.

School reports are sent out at the end of each term (Christmas/Easter ones are "mini ones")

Parents evening each term, one is where you can bring your child as well and they show you their work. The two others are formal sit down with the teacher.

School also hold an annual open day where parents are allowed to watch lessons and they put on termly maths/literacy days where parents are also encouraged to view/help out.

Weekly newsletter (this is emailed if you've signed up to parentmail or put in the book bag)
HT has an informal coffee and chat once a week.
Ad Hoc letters in book bags
Important messages are stuck on a board at the main gate.

Teachers/HT always say they are available for a chat before and after school or to make an appointment via school secretary .

I can't really think of ANYTHING else they could do to keep parents in the loop TBH.

[wordsonascreen]

Oh forgot every Friday they also have a achievement assembly where parents are invited to come along as well.

Crikey reading that back thats quite a lot of stuff !

[wordsonascreen]

Concerns are usually dealt with in KS1 by the teacher asking to have a quiet word.

They operate a red card system for bad behaviour (two yellow cards or a straight red and the parent is called in to speak to the HT)

[WeWantYourDoofDoofs]

If there is anyting that has kicked off at school that day, they inform us with Post it notes stuck in the reading diary

[wordsonascreen]

KS2 (sorry for multiple posts!) is usually a phonecall to the parent/letter in bookbag if theres a problem and they don't see the parent at pick up/drop off. (very local village school so KS2 children tend to walk on their own)

[muppetgirl]

Weekly newsletter that's emailed

weekly objectives stuck in home/school book

diary that's sent out to us in the post before term starts with all major/important dates

ad hoc letters when necessary

TV screen in cloakroom shows, birthdays, menus and important events. Also displays photos of school activities.

HT/DHT letters once a term (I think)

Personal (school) email to all teachers avaiable to parents.

Parents know they can make an app at any time (and do)

Curriculum matters addressed the beginning of each term with weekly obs being put into home/school diary

When your child moves up parents eveing to discuss/inform what expectations will be for the next year

Again, not sure what else they could do.

[beansprout]

Thanks everyone, there are some good ideas here (and a few things not to do!).

Cece - I am parent governor so know what is in place, but there are a lot of parents without access to the same information and I am looking to consider a range of options for communicating with parents in general.

[muppetgirl]

the TV screen thing is fab as you can update it/get older children in school to work with producing it. You can give access to all parents even the bilgual ones as you can address them directly and you can get billingual parents involved in helping to produce it.

Great way of increasing inclusion for all in school.

Put it in a prominant place so all can read it then jobs a goodun!

[beansprout]

Btw, what's Parent Council?

[Pitchounette]

Message withdrawn

[Cranreuch]

Parent council replaced board of governors in most Scottish school afaik.

[muppetgirl]

we get know news, results of matches, people can advertise on it -spare dog/babysitter etc. Also upcoming events and deadlines. All sent by email so no need for printing and putting in bookbags. Year 6's could do it frankly...

(I am a teacher )

[muppetgirl]

my last post was too Pitchounette btw!