Mums setting up class wattsapp groups?

[Glitterzzz]

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

I don't use whatsapp (much to my mum and pil's frustration). I don't think my dc's classes have got them though (years 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10)

Normal

It depends on your child and the other mums.

If your child loses letters between the classroom and you, it's great to know that they are missing a letter.

If you're a bit forgetful about remembering to being in a permission slip then the reminders are helpful.

If your child comes home with somebody else's jumper or has given you a message from school and you want to check with Thursday is really show and tell then it's great.

If the other mums are using it to bitch about the school then you'll probably want to swerve.

I’m in one and find it really useful. There’s very little chat really just reminders and things. Useful for party reminders too

Yes, it's normal. Often stuff like homework questions, missing kit and reminders. Can be particularly useful to have everyone in one place for organising things such as teacher's gifts, birthday parties (if it's the whole class invited) and even nights out for parents!

@Pickypolly

Noooo! Work of the devil!!

I was at the shite posted on the one that somebody somehow included me in when my kid was in reception.
I gracefully bowed out of it.

But then I’m an antisocial, introverted, rude bitch who turns up, drops off kid then pisses off with headphones, face mask and 20foot social distancing space.

I don’t do people in any shape or form.

but it's not about you, is it?

I never understand parents who feel they are too superior and refuse to get involved in their kids school life. I genuinely don't.

Some parents might live through their kids, but the rest of us only gets involves because it benefits their kids so we make the effort.

Ours is useful to for parents organising meet ups for the kids during breaks, chasing parties RSVP. Why would you want to keep your child away from the rest of the class? Until they are old enough, it's up to us to deal with all that stuff.

It's a bit sad when a child ends up the only one not going to a birthday party because the invitation has gone lost somewhere in their tray and the parents are not interested.

I’m friends with lots of the mums at the school gate so whilst I’ve said on this thread that the group WhatsApp is not for me, it’s nothing to do with friendships. I talk to my friends separately through messenger or WhatsApp.

We have a FB one. Tbh it's pretty quiet.. mostly reminders (non uniform,school pics,crazy hair day, Pe day etc) , asking how something new works, what homework is when the child forgot their book at school , how to do said homework, class collections. That kind of stuff.

It's easy enough to handle and useful when you forget something or don't understand how it works.

It’s useful unless you have a Queen Bee mum who likes to rule the roost through the WhatsApp group. We had one who constantly posted photos of her “prince” and their amazing life. It was tedious and intrusive.

Ours is fine (YR so only a few weeks in!). Very small class though. Just the mums (no Dads although I'm sure they could join) and it's always sensible, school related stuff. Only a handful of messages a week, sometimes none. Nothing bitchy or silly. I'll watch this space after reading this thread though!

I get letters, emails and invites from school.
That’s all the information I need.
Otherwise not interested and no, my child misses out on nothing.

DS's swim class has one. Mainly used as a "you left X behind, I've got it and will bring it next week" or "does anyone have a spare swim nappy?"

Most of our years have Facebook groups, which stick to the point, and you can dip in and out of freely and easily.

I got added to a class whatsapp group at the beginning of March and the initial lockdown,, I didn't go on it for about 3 days and it had 400+ notifications on it, I admired the whole comradeship element, but truth be told, it was full of abosolute piffle, and elements of one up manship. It was doing my nut in to such an extent, I couldn't just mute it, I had to leave - think meme/GIF overload with photos of what people were having for breakfast or the large G & T's they were swigging.

I would join. They are useful for reminders. Plus there may be social stuff there - you wouldn’t want your DC to miss out on whole class parties for example.

DS is now yr 6 - I find it useful as the class rep makes sure all events etc are shared with everyone. I haven’t had to read the school newsletter for years!

Our primary in Lanark had a WhatsApp chatroom and it also turned into a load of complete trolls and a Mother who is one of the teachers there who is in both camps . Thankfully my kids went to a very different secondary.

Our school uses the Classlist app for each class. I wouldn't join a WhatsApp class group you should get any info you need from the school anyway.

I'm in them for each of my DC's classes but they are only posted in once a week or so, eg if someone can't find the spelling list for homework another parent will post a picture of it. I've got friends whose groups post several messages per day which would drive me nuts.

Ours is useful for things you miss, or if child forgets what homework was etc.

Very useful if they have members who are non-cliquey.

Otherwise avoid. Schools have plenty communication channels to stay informed.

What's app group for the whole class is a bit intense but fb group is the norm. Not everyone joins. My DH not on as he is not on social media. I guess it's handy for parents not picking up and dropping off.

Weve had for 4 years I think. Join and see, then ignore it if u want, i,pretty much do bt important to have it in case u miss anything or ever want to ask too!

Avoid it like the plague!

Mum of 6 here and the school gate mafia are bad enough at the best of times, between bitching in the playground, general one-upmanship and scraps over the PTA and Christmas fayres/plays it's so not worth the bother.

You will get constant communication from the school anyway so you literally don't need these groups for anything no matter how much they try to convince you otherwise.

The problem is, there will invariably be dramas and they will expect you to join in so any ideas of joining and thinking "I will just take the bits I need and leave the rest" will go out the window no matter how good your resolve. Apart from anything else, if you don't join their clique and go on endless child free nights outs and indulge is their outrageous behaviour you will become their target so it's best to just stay well away..... unless all of the above sounds like fun and you're in dire needs of friends, in which case go right ahead.

There have been endless threads on MN grumbling about the above. You have been warned.

WhatsApp groups are great for 'ds says we need X for such and such a day, does anyone know what size?' Or about homework, reminders it's photo day etc. Very handy and I'm on 4 , but nobody's ever posted about products or bitched like I've heard on mn

Oh also as someone said above, invites to class parties come through on it too!