To write to head of DS's new school re utter lack of information/interest in starting reception?

[herbaceous]

I'm currently composing a stroppy letter to head of DS's new school, about the fact that we have had no information about the start of school, such as term dates, inset days, rough timetable, curriculum, uniform, lunch arrangements, whether/when he'll do PE/music, what he needs to be able to do, what he needs to bring, or even when the school day starts. Their website is two years out of date, and thus useless.

This is shit, right?

There was a meeting for all new parents, at which you could buy the uniform jumper, but as there were 120 families, one person selling, and five minutes to do it in, no-one stood a chance.

We met his teacher for a grand total of ten minutes, and there was no chance to meet other classmates or for him to look around. It contrasts so starkly with some friends' experiences of home visits, information packs about stuff, organised picnics for new parents, etc etc. I just feel we're leaping into the void.

She's a new head, but the old one was there until the end of summer term, so there was always someone 'in charge'.

Sounds like a letter well worth writing!

Could you have been accidentally missed out of being mailed an info pack OP?

What year is your DS going into?

Website being out of date doesn't bode well :(

that does sound shit, the schools round here all seem to send home half a rain forest.

Is it possible the new head thought the old one had sent stuff out and the old head had left it to the new one? in which case writing to them would be a very good idea as they might not realise you haven't had anything.

Definitely write to them. That's crap. Although I imagine it maybe a genuine oversight. Do you know any other parents it's happened to.

So what was covered at the new parents' meeting if none of that was mentioned? At DC's school that was where we got all the information (and a chance to ask questions - did you not get the chance to do this?)

The new parents meeting had a welcome from the head, someone talking about phonics, someone else talking about the uniform, another one talking about social education, or something. Then it was off to see the actual reception classrooms.

It was hugely loud, with lots of children there, and I couldn't hear much of what was being said.

There was a chance to ask questions, but a) I thought such things like start time of the day, where they get lunch from, etc weren't the right questions to ask, as b) I thought we'd get an information pack with the blurb.

And also, if you don't know what you need to know, and what you won't get told later, you don't know to ask the questions, do you?! IYSWIM

I don't think YABU for writing to the head but I do think YABU for writing a stroppy letter.

Why not just enquire politely? You will have many years of dealing with this head, why make it difficult at the beginning? She's a new head, the lack of information is frustrating when you're trying to sort things out, so by all means ask the questions but at least give her chance to put things right before you go in guns blazing.

If its anything like my DC school they'll expect you to pick up stuff by magic. or ask your neighbours. It's unacceptable and I'd write that letter as maybe the start of a long list of stuff they don't tell you.

I think our children are going to the same school. Not a bloody thing,only have the date for the first day of term and that is it.

I would not write a 'stroppy' letter just now as it will not be a good start for you or your child at this school and i imagine you will need to be there for several years yet.

I agree with Hamsterjam!
It might be the secretary dealing with it not the headteacher!

You're all right, of course. I shall be helpful, with vague air of menace.

The head is new, but the old one was there until the end of last term, so someone should have sorted it all out.

I already hate the bloody place. It was our fifth choice, away from all his friends, and now this. Grr.