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Original poster

Mums setting up class wattsapp groups?

236 replies

Glitterzzz · 23/11/2020 11:59

Hi

My little one has started reception in September. It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with schooling for this age group as my eldest is much elder

Anyways I have been notified a mum from each class has set up a wattsapp group for each class.. just wondering if this is the norm? With newsletters, emails, texts and the x2 daily school run what is the purpose of the wattsapp groups ?

Would you recommend joining or avoid ?

Thanks

OP posts:
Osirus · 23/11/2020 13:18

There’s not those!

Nipoleon · 23/11/2020 13:18

I would join as I'd worry my DC would miss out on party invites ect if I didn't!

Thegruffalohassparklesandfluff · 23/11/2020 13:18

I joined as it’s actually quite informative, but it can get pretty interesting from time to time! I rarely comment but it does provide some useful info if you have a good class rep!

satnighttakeaway · 23/11/2020 13:18

@UsernameChat

I think, unfortunatley, this is normal now.

Personally, I'd avoid this like the plague. Anything important will be sent via note from the school.

How has your school cracked the age old problem of letters not always making it home?

I was a primary parent for quite a few years and even with changes in class teachers and HTs there was never a fool proof system. Some form of parents group can be a godsend for missed letters

Fizbosshoes · 23/11/2020 13:19

I dont think any one has shared anything that there child has done, and I dont remember there being any photos (unless offering football boots etc)

MedusasBadHairDay · 23/11/2020 13:20

Depends on the other parents really, the whatsapp group for DS's class is much more useful than the ones for DD's class. Definitely appreciated it this weekend as it meant I knew DS needed a certain item for school this morning, even if he only remembered to tell me himself late last night.

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 23/11/2020 13:20

We have one for a new reception child, I'd say its more useful for the parents who don't have older children in the school but its used mostly for reminders the morning of i.e. mufti day etc.
You don't have to join if you don't want to!

Rae36 · 23/11/2020 13:24

Ours is really funny, it's like the school gate chat we are all missing out on. But I'm lucky, most of the people who post have a similar outlook to mine. There are lots of parents who don't post at all and that's fine. They probably find us all really annoying.

There was a funny chat last week about who gets what for snack, who can't open their crisp packet without spilling their crisps everywhere, who gets fruit and complains that every single other person gets a Mars bar, that sort of thing.

But then I am so desperate for any kind of chat since working from home, I have pretty low standards when it comes to what qualifies as interesting nowadays.

Join, see what it's like, mute it if it's annoying.

Bikingbear · 23/11/2020 13:26

@LegoPandemic

Join then mute. Ours is mainly about lost property, what is happening eg - what to wear, do they need PE kit, packed lunch etc and questions about homework. Not how to do the homework, more does anyone have the spellings list as x has forgotten his book. It was used more during home schooling. We also did a Lego card swap.
That sounds exactly like ours!
GameSetMatch · 23/11/2020 13:27

I avoid anything like class WhatsApp groups etc. More chance for people to bitch and dramatise minor events.

museumum · 23/11/2020 13:29

I don't really see anybody on the school run most days - our kids have to go in themselves from the area outside the gates and there are three different gates depending what direction you approach from so the most I see is a few parents to nod or 'morning' to as we pass.

School is a bit crap at comms. so the whatsapp is really useful. Our school seems to think that 5/6/7year olds can reliably tell their parents information (hahahahahahaha!!!)

MellowYellow101 · 23/11/2020 13:29

Yep, same with my kids. Totally normal now.

I muted mine as it got a bit gossipy then another mum pointed out this is a group to talk about school stuff and school stuff only. That same mum now sends us her Facebook selling page of personalised random stuff every so often, any selling opportunity. Quite annoying but she's the one you don't want to argue with!

I've probably contributed to the group twice in 5 years...Good to keep updated with stuff in case you forget (reminders for class specific activities as well as school wide occasions) but dont feel like you HAVE to be included.

RedToothBrush · 23/11/2020 13:30

How has your school cracked the age old problem of letters not always making it home?

The school email everything, and have taken to texting everyone to say "we've emailed you".

They have a policy of not sending home letters in bags unless absoluetely necessary (And then we get both an email and text about it anyway).

This still does not stop the 4 parents who went "When was the money for the christmas cards due in?" Despite it being on 2 newsletters, 2 texts, 2 emails and previously mentioned in said whatsapp chat.

This led to the whole school order being delayed so we will now probably get them about 2 days before christmas so they completely useless for this year.

I may be a bit pissed off about this. I also know exactly who to be pissed off at too

Bikingbear · 23/11/2020 13:30

How has your school cracked the age old problem of letters not always making it home?

Mine has - they email them. HT discovered how to do it using the Parent Pay system used for money.

But the mums group is still handy for the other stuff and the spelling words. DS discovered forgetting the words meant no homework- not any more!!

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 23/11/2020 13:30

I'm a member of one. Useful for lost spellings etc.

Thankfully our parents are just in it for the reminders, and are sympathetic and supportive (lots of morale-boosting comments when a school bubble burst for the second time in weeks). Also some parents generously offered their time to help with childcare when the outcome of that was uncertain back in September. There's the occasional complaint about the way some things are handled in the school but no personal stuff, no cattiness and no gossip. Also it's not a convert platform for PTA parents to sneak in constant requests to be doing things to help (which in a stressful FT occupation I don't have time to give).

We are fortunate to have a supportive community in my village, and if some people are into each other's business, I'm not aware of it. You can always join yours and hold back from contributing until you are sure you're comfortable with the group.

BeeDavis · 23/11/2020 13:30

AVOID. Toxic AF.

womaninatightspot · 23/11/2020 13:32

They're always posting about head lice on ours and lost stuff. Handy to ask about something. I don't have notifications on so don't read every message in a timely fashion

justanotherneighinparadise · 23/11/2020 13:32

@Rae36

Ours is really funny, it's like the school gate chat we are all missing out on. But I'm lucky, most of the people who post have a similar outlook to mine. There are lots of parents who don't post at all and that's fine. They probably find us all really annoying.

There was a funny chat last week about who gets what for snack, who can't open their crisp packet without spilling their crisps everywhere, who gets fruit and complains that every single other person gets a Mars bar, that sort of thing.

But then I am so desperate for any kind of chat since working from home, I have pretty low standards when it comes to what qualifies as interesting nowadays.

Join, see what it's like, mute it if it's annoying.

See I think whilst that’s lovely for you, for many busy parents that’s just a nightmare. Reams and reams of posts to scroll through to try and find salient information. I’m s honestly not a criticism, I think it’s nice, it’s just to much chitter chatter for those of us who’s phones light up all day long anyway.
AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore · 23/11/2020 13:33

It's just a way of data sharing - so like any other platform, is totally dependent on the parents you happen to end up with in your class. I had one which was very factual, useful but minimal chat. Another that has morphed over time, and we continue to chat and support each other despite the children now being at 4 different schools. At primary stage (when the demands of dress up/bring x/don't forget y/bring your kid to football 10 mins early this week etc etc are at the highest) they are invaluable for last minute reminders - unless you have a super organised school that is on top of it's comms (one out of the four schools my kids was in fell into that camp). I know of friends where the chat has gone a bit wonky/become unhelpful, but in that case you just mute/leave - certainly worth joining as ime most came down after the first flurry of activity. One that is 'official' and run by a class rep is (maybe?!) likely to have some ground rules which should keep things more sensible...

StoicWalrus · 23/11/2020 13:33

They can be handy. Our school had to close suddenly one day and the class whatsapp had told me before school had managed to ring us all. We sorted out collecting extra children on it for those who couldn't get back.

We also use it for school trips when the class is inevitably late and you can find out roughly where they are and what time expected.

Ours doesn't talk too much about non-school stuff so it's frequently very quiet. I can well imagine that the gossipy ones get tiresome.

NearWildHeaven · 23/11/2020 13:33

SpaceOp happened on the group I was on. Someone asked a question which was not really appropriate about a teacher. Was screenshot and taken to the school by a parent. Next thing the whole school had a letter from the council about use of social media. Front page of the local paper.

PeggyPorschen · 23/11/2020 13:34

School might send emails, but by parents don't read them.

Parents don't read emails, and especially not newsletters let alone check websites for info.

SOME parents obviously, usually the ones who think that being disorganised and lazy is a charming trait 🤷 Genuinely busy parents can't afford to be disorganised and haven't got time to waste to tell you they are busy Grin

ColourMeExhausted · 23/11/2020 13:35

I set one up for year one! I did it because I knew nothing about the primary school she was going to (it wasn't our preferred choice), so didn't know anyone at all. The school has a Facebook page but it tends to descend into cat fights. Didn't want the WhatsApp group to be inundated with twittering, but it has been useful for issues only affecting P1. Up to people if they want to join.

PeggyPorschen · 23/11/2020 13:36

See I think whilst that’s lovely for you, for many busy parents that’s just a nightmare. Reams and reams of posts to scroll through to try and find salient information. I’m s honestly not a criticism, I think it’s nice, it’s just to much chitter chatter for those of us who’s phones light up all day long anyway.

this is exactly why I am such a fan of Facebook and fighting so hard against whatsapp

I can ignore any post and all the gossipy or banter comments around it easily, and just ignore FB until I go on it.

ahagwearsapointybonnet · 23/11/2020 13:37

The ones I'm in are really useful, one of them occasionally gets a bit annoying when people start chatting but then I just mute it for a while, but they have saved our bacon a few times with reminders about events, activities, retrieving lost bits of uniform and so on. Also occasionally they've been used for more serious things, such as locating children who weren't home when they were expected, or warnings about any dodgy happenings in the area...