Can parents email teachers at your school?

[OvernightOats]

A recent Ofsted inspection at my DCs primary school highlighted that parents would like improved communications. A parent-survey followed, which indicated parents would like to be able to communicate with teachers using email. However, the school responded that teachers don't have the time to do that during class.

How common is it for teachers to use email communications, and how does it fit into their working day?

[Sparklingbrook]

I can email teachers at my son's Secondary, but not at Primary.

I wouldn't expect an immediate response during teaching hours, maybe after hometime, before the end of the day. But sometimes if it's a quick yes/no I get one.

[MM5]

I would NEVER want that to happen at my school. We do not have time and I feel it is unfair for parents to think this is how it should be done.

[stargirl1701]

No. They can email a member of SMT who pass it on. Primary.

[OverAndAbove]

We have all the teachers' email addresses; they are freely available. But it is always made clear that the teachers wouldn't be checking their email during the day so we wouldn't expect them to see a message until after school, or the next day perhaps - and that's fine, because I would imagine they're much too busy during class? The school office usually reply very quickly, if you email about admin things.

[HippieInASecondLocation]

Yes. Very much encouraged. (Primary)

[Sparklingbrook]

Actually my son can email his teachers at Secondary-I just remembered. They have an internal internet thingy allowing them to do exactly that.

[ThreeLannistersOneTargaryen]

Primary: no. I can email the office, the head or the SENCo.

Secondary: yes, several of the teachers have emailed me and I can email each teacher individually. They usually reply within 24 hours. One of them said to me that she finds emailing a lot easier than trying to get hold of parents by phone. It means that the teacher can reply at their own convenience.

[saintlyjimjams]

Secondary - yes - and they are very efficient. I have emailed at 9pm or in the holidays not expecting a reply for 25 hours at least - and had a reply 10 mins later. I was very impressed.

Primary - no, but we can email the office

Special school - yes & we use email a lot, during the day if there's an issue & at weekends & holidays. Also just to catch up.

[Springcleanish]

Yes, much easier as a teacher to communicate with parents by email. By the time you find phone numbers and a phone free to use an email could be written and sent. Easy to send a quick email during gaps in the day when you don't want to leave classroom. Our school expect teachers to check emails every day and reply within 24/48 hours depending on urgency.
I like the fact there is then a written trail of the communication.

[Sparklingbrook]

For me it's usually stuff that doesn't require an answer-passing info on.

DS1 broke his knee recently. I needed to keep his Form tutor/head of house in the loop re what was happening. Hospital appointments, what he could/couldn't do.

Same email to both. Job's a good 'un.

I am not sure what I would have used it for at First School. But the problems we used to have with communication there are a whole other thread.

[OwlCapone]

Secondary, yes. Primary, no.

With secondary it is invaluable. However, I have never felt the need for it at primary because I can easily see the teacher face to face.

[MrsBungle]

No. We can e mail the office. I e mailed a message for dd's teacher via the office e mail address. It was about an incident where dd had been hit and kicked by a much older child. I wanted it in writing. The teacher called me by lunch time having done some investigations. I was impressed.

[ThreeLannistersOneTargaryen]

Why would you want to?

I have emailed teachers for these reasons:
To inform the form tutor of a family bereavement.
To enquire why an end of KS3 level was the same as the end of KS2 level three years previously, with no apparent progress made.

Teachers have emailed me for these reasons:
To inform me of last-minute changes to clarinet lessons.
To update me about progress when that teacher was unable to attend parents' evening.

[Igggi]

Saintlyjimjams - it makes me sad to think those teachers are emailing you at 9pm at night in their efforts to be efficient/professional/support your children. In these days of smart phones we need to be aware that work follows you everywhere. You usually don't know till you've clicked on it how important an email is, so you click, just in case. And then find you're thinking about work/doing work at a time when you should be thinking about family/sleep/mumsnet.
Most emails could be directed through the office with no great loss to parents.

[tumbletumble]

No, but we can email the office (this is primary).

[Sparklingbrook]

You would be deluded to send a teacher an email and expect a very quick reply.

[tumbletumble]

Also the head makes an effort to be visible / available (eg she is usually standing near the gates at drop off and pick up times).

[TroyMcClure]

Yes. Where i work and where thd kids go.

I'm a manager and I give some parents my mobile no because I cba to mess around.

[JaneParker]

Private schools tend to allow it. I deliberately just about never do as I know teachers are busy. I have sometimes emailed the school office.

Email can however sometimes save teachers at lot more time and be done at their convenience rather than a great long drawn out meeting with some long winded parent.

[TroyMcClure]

And agree that email takes 2nmins. Schools that don't are deluding themselves

[Sparklingbrook]

I email because the teachers are busy.

[TroyMcClure]

And yes. I email kids a lot. Very effective.