New school welcome

[ColdWindsOfSuburbia]

So we move house.

Phone school next door to ask to look around. They say "we don't do tours, because we're oversubscribed - and it would only lead to disappointment". Fair enough.

Letter from the council comes offering 4yo DS a place at the school. The week before we go in to return our forms & collect our uniform - the secretary says "do you know how lucky you are to get a place? We're very over-subscribed".

So we say - yes - we're very appreciative etc etc - can we look around now? Left it with them; they call up: please come five minutes early on the first day.

Five minutes early we come, stand like lemons in DS classroom - then leave.

Six weeks in I'm still needing to ask other parents for directions to eg school hall, I haven't a clue who is who other than DS class teacher (don't know TA name, for example). Haven't spoken a full sentence to DS teacher in the whole time. If I ask how DS is settling she says "fine".

Am I being a princess expecting a little more?

When dd1 was in reception in an infant school, I only knew the reception area and teachers. Once she moved to year 1, I quickly knew all the other teachers.
Reception is often quite separate.

It sounds like the school secretary has a huge chip on her shoulder but don't take her as being wholly representative of the whole staff. Schools places have to be filled and the school cannot choose who gets the place, this is up to the LA who hold the waiting lists. If the Secretary is pissed off that you got the place rather than Sally from number 3 then it shows how ridiculous she is. I doubt the HT or other staff would feel like this though.

With regards to ds teacher ask for an appointment after school. If you leave it open and ask 'can we meet one night this week' then that means she can set it up around staff meetings etc. Explain that you just want to check what the routines are like the reading journals so that you can support ds at home. Have a few questions about his settling in so she can't just say 'fine', e.g. 'Has he made friends?' etc. If she seems reluctant to meet then throw in a line about knowing how important home school relationships are in EYFS so you want to ensure you are supporting ds in the ways the school would like you too. If you still get nowhere ask to meet the HT and express concern about not being able to meet the teacher and your general lack of info.

I'm a Reception teacher and spend a lot of time meeting with parents. My HT would be livid if she heard I had refused a meet. We aren't able to always meet parents at the drop of a hat due to after school responsibilities but we arrange a meeting within a day or two of a request. I do refrain from discussing issues at the class door at home time purely because I want to concentrate on making sure each child goes with the right adult, but I set up meetings for later on. Schools are answerable to parents, we are being given the precious job of educating your child. This isn't to say parents dictate school life but the two way communication should be open and clear and imo it would be a very foolish school who doesn't accept this.

Totally YANBU. Every school I have taught at give a little tour of the school to the parents and child(ren) when it's a in year admission. They come round and are introduced to the class teacher and TA (briefly).

Sounds like the school think that they don't have to try very hard because they are over-subscribed. But then, most schools are over-subscribed.

Phone and insist on an appt. to see how your child is settling in and how you can support your DS at home. If you don't get a positive response, write a letter to the Head.

Good luck.

Think yabu bit u. Ring up make appt with teacher, ask her what you want.