School is driving me absolutely batshit with lack of comms - what can I do.

[Queijo]

Yes this is about world book day 😂 but also they are notoriously horrible at communication and it’s sending me slightly mad.

It really is a lovely school, but we got an email last week on Friday saying all costumes needed to be non-fiction. V annoying as most had already purchased something considering it’s this week. I emailed, nicely, to say please could we have more time to organise things is money is involved? Teacher agreed yes, and that children can wear what they like.

Cue today with kids pouring out of class crying because a TA has said NO THEY MUST NOT WEAR such and such because it has to be NF. Obviously they hadn’t been informed of wear whatever dialogue.

This is not the only time, we’ve had school trip money requests 12 hours before it happens, 3 days notice of Halloween requirements, having to pay for someone to come into to school to talk about something with half a days notice.

I know they’re busy, but this is ongoing and annoying so many parents I know. What’s the best way to handle?

Winston Churchill would be good.

Maybe Donald Trump?

Actually it could be hilarious.

Thanks all! Yes I’ll write a (not snotty) email to the head just outlining the communication problems and see what he says.

Dd is going as a suffragette tomorrow, but is still sulking about not being Amelia Fang which I’d already bought the costume for annoyingly. But I’m sure there will be another costume day they give us 6 hours notice for 😂

If you are going to raise the communication issue which appears dire from the school a suggestion for next year is how DDs school is marking it

Reading at home all week (no set time - do what you can)
Random sit down and read sessions in school
Take a book in that you no longer want to read and swap it for a new one (optional)
Wear something with writing on it on Thursday or pyjamas (optional)

No costume, no stress, completely inclusive and emphasis of the actual point of WBD which is enjoyment of reading

Dd is going as a suffragette tomorrow, but is still sulking about not being Amelia Fang which I’d already bought the costume for annoyingly

You should let her dress as Amelia Fang. I can guarantee that at least 80% of the children at school will be dressed as a superhero, Disney princess or a footballer. The teacher has already said she can dress in anything she likes, so let her wear the costume.

Your headteacher is using the PTFA as an informal parents/carers forum. This isn’t great as it means they’re only getting feedback from members of the PTFA. This is why some schools have a weird vibe where the PTFA memberships are seen a clique with the staff and favoured.

Many PTFA are registered charities and therefore have a strictly defined role.

It’s crazy that the school don’t (ours do) write home for others not to go to any expense and use something around the house or borrowed

Your headteacher is using the PTFA as an informal parents/carers forum. This isn’t great as it means they’re only getting feedback from members of the PTFA. This is why some schools have a weird vibe where the PTFA memberships are seen a clique with the staff and favoured.

Even if the head were to say 'this isn't the forum' (which they did say on occasions), if someone raised eg t world book day costumes, and there was clearly strong feeling in the room, the head can't 'unhear' it even if they won't discuss.

I think you have to credit headteachers with the intelligence not to act only on the info coming from the PTA - I used the words 'take the temperature' for a reason .

I’d think I’d let them trot in, in whatever I’d got for them. This is a confusing request - many people will get it backward.

it probably came from a good place by a teacher (who doesn’t have kids) being worried about parents buying costumes

I'd let her go as Amelia Fang personally. What a load of ridiculous nonsense!!

Oh god this post has taken me right back to a WBD trauma I put on my poor youngest daughter 8 or 9 years ago.

Our lower school in their wisdom decided they are different so would do the WBD dressing up on a different date. I didn't get the memo and poor dd2 went to school dressed as Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat, on WBD. Everyone else was in uniform, she had to put her PE kit on for the day. I had no clue! They did the dressing up a few days later! Poor DD still remembers it clearly, I am riddled with guilt and bitterness towards her old school for changing the day they recognise WBD for no discernable reason.

Yanbu, I have a massive bug bear about poor Comms from schools. The high school DD 1 and 2 are at now are awful. They also send out a lot of vague "your child" emails which is annoying when you have more than 1 child at the school. Do raise it with the head. They should make sure they are providing access to school events calendars etc so parents can plan ahead.

Is it mandatory (can't see how it could be)? Just don't participate then. The children and school can promote and celebrate a love of reading all types of books without enforcing a dress code surely

Yep. I got it the wrong way around. 🙈

I blame my slightly frazzled brain. Ignore my comment about non fiction but still go with the wearing of whatever your kids want!

Absolutely. But it will be a very rare occasion that someone will remember to let the support staff know!