to ask you for polite ways to reply to "I hear you"

[Londonmummy66]

I don't want to give too much detail as it might be outing but we are having a situation at DS's school at the moment which they have not dealt with well. As it is ongoing we don't want to rock the boat. However, the member of the SLT who is dealing with it is pretty useless and every time we explain (very politely) that the situation is not being managed well his response is "I hear you" which is a bit of a conversation killer and not very constructive.

So does anyone have any polite responses to "I hear you" that might enable us to move the conversation forward?

"I'm glad you've heard me, now I need you to prove to me that you've actually understood, and do something about this."

Great, so you'll do x and we'll meet again next week? Or similar?

Well that’s a start, now act on it.

I’m glad you agree. What do you propose to do about it?

I'd ask for next steps, in whatever wording felt natural at the time - "Great, so what's the plan now?" etc. It's good that he's heard you (if he actually has!) but he needs to take action, too...

@SomeoneElseEntirelyNow best answer! Also demands a response

I agree, I hear you is a bit of a condescending put down. I understand what you are saying is better. Both sound like theyare about to be followed by "but" and its the follow on that counts

@NoMorePoliticsPlease - exactly that - I feel that it is a very PA way of dismissing my concerns when in fact his management of the situation is awful

Thanks everyone - lots of good ideas here - will be memorising them to take into the next meeting.

"Great - so what's the plan of action moving forward?"

I'd be even more forthright.
"This has been going on since [whenever] and I this is the Nth time we have talked about it. I would like to know how you plan to deal with the issue and request a further meeting a week from today"

good, so what are we going to do about it

Good, but what will the school do about it