Is it possible to contact head teacher during half term?

[elliejjtiny]

The local authority have refused to assess DS5 for an ehcp. Head teacher is not impressed and agreed to come to mediation meeting despite it being half term which we are very grateful for. I let the lady from global mediation know that he was coming 2 weeks ago and gave the school office email address as there wasn't one on the website for the head teacher. I explained that the only email address I had was the school office one but they can pass on stuff to the head teacher. Last week she asked for the head teacher's email again. I explained I only had the office one again. Now today she has said that she has emailed the head teacher via the school office but nobody is responding (understandably) because it's half term.

Meeting is on Thursday this week. I haven't got any ideas of how to contact the head teacher without resorting to things like contacting him via facebook which I am reluctant to do as it feels like crossing the line and something that would be too intrusive of me. I'm really nervous about this meeting going wrong though and don't want to jeapodise it because I was too polite. I've seen children be unsupported during secondary school. One attempted suicide, One caused a power cut at school and several others became school refusers. I don't want this to happen to DS5. He is really struggling and so is his teacher who is trying really hard and has the patience of a saint.

Any ideas on how to contact the head teacher? He already has the link for the meeting (it's virtual) so I'm wondering if what the lady from mediation wants to talk to him about and if she doesn't, will it really matter?

I think you might need to rearrange this for next week.

Unless the head's email is in the safeguarding policy, but even then it's very shirt notice now.

You could try head@whatever the school email is or first name.surname@ or initial.surname. He'll probably be looking at his own emails over half term, although the office won't be manned.

But I don't think it will really matter if they can't contact him beforehand.

If you cannot confirm that the headteacher is coming. I’d ask to rearrange.

Just make them rearrange the meeting. If they had plenty of time to invite him but left it until half term to do so that’s a them problem not a you problem.

Most schools have a caretaker number on the sign at the entrance. Try that?

No don't contact via social media, that is crossing a boundary. The head most probably won't be on Facebook for this precise reason.

Have you considered that he might be on holiday with his family so not contactable anyway. Just wait until Monday and leave the poor man alone during the holidays.

If HT has been sent link to meeting someone must have their email address

Fwiw, headteacher contracts don't entitle them to leave during all the school holidays. They are supposed to be on duty.

Ask on class whatapp group if anyone has contact details of parent governors. They maybe able to willing to forward your email to the head.

I'm on half term and have a meeting tomorrow (I'm not your HT!) I have agreed to attend, it's in my calendar, I will be attending. If someone tried to Facebook me to make sure I'm attending, I would take that pretty badly tbh. If they said they are going, assume they will.

Try the format of other emails addresses at the school - [email protected] or whatever you can glean from the website or emails you've had from other staff members, or try other SLT addresses on the website.

I wouldn't do FB.

The issue is the HT hasn’t been told the date/time of the meeting.

Do we know that for sure? The organiser asked for the email address 2 weeks ago, are we thinking they didn’t email then?

No one will be there to answer at half term though

To the people confidently asserting the head’s address will definitely be jsmith@ or head@ then the school address, my head is neither of these. Their address won’t be on the EHCP paperwork either, this is normally the SENCo’s contact details.

The LA will know the head’s email-ring them and try to to someone.

Did the head know the meeting time and date when they told you they would be able to come?

Their address won’t be on the EHCP paperwork either, this is normally the SENCo’s contact details.

In my area, it’s both.

Mediation is a waste of time anyway, just get the certificate and go to appeal.

Christ some of these responses!! Op I'll guarantee they've left it too late to email the head.. ask if they have heard back and if not that you would like to rearrange to ensure all relevant parties are able to attend.

Do NOT email a random address that you are guessing... do NOT find them on Facebook (completely inappropriate)... do NOT ring the caretaker as the caretaker should not hand over information etc!

Good look op for your DS!

I would email head@ with the subject line as urgent, the will probably check their email as at some point over half term (I know ours does but will only reply to urgent emails) but you could also contact those who have arranged the meeting and ask for it to be rearranged as you are unable to contact the head. Don't contact over Facebook, that would be inappropriate. Good luck!

The meeting will have to wait until next week. The headteacher either hasn't been contacted on time by the LA (likely) or somehow hasn't seen an email sent to his official address.

Put yourself in his shoes. I'd be really hacked off if I received a chasing email about work on my private social media channels.

If the head already has the link for the meeting, I'd hope that they will be there.

Would you be able to log on, confirm whether they're there or not, and if not, ask to postpone?

Ah, it’s not on any of the LEAs I work across. I presume the OP would have already seen it if so.

Last week she asked for the head teacher's email again. I explained I only had the office one again. Now today she has said that she has emailed the head teacher via the school office but nobody is responding (understandably) because it's half term.

I think this is reason enough to request a postponement, to be honest. Of course nobody is responding now, in half term-this should have been sorted out already.

unless the head teacher is away on hols with friends/family etc

OP's original post makes it clear they knew previously.

Not true, particularly with refusal to assess.