Education my rights as a parent

[Catti15]

My child's school don't do face to face parents evening it is either online or over the phone, I am absolutely fine with this, however I have just found out they have made decision to not send books home from school anymore so that means I never get the chance to see what my child has done this year, any art work, writing, nothing. I already miss enough stuff not being able to attend sports days or assemblies due to work. I am trying to find out if school have any right keeping children's books or if I request they have to be sent home?

Don't the books come home every night for homework to be done?

Not at primary school, they do homework online

I think you'll have to ask. Every school is different, ime.

I’d write or ask for a meeting with the head. Sounds like they’re going a bit ‘no contact’ and seeing as it’s your child’s primary school I don’t think YABU to want some oversight and view into what your child is doing! I’d already be a bit annoyed by the ‘virtual’ parents evening. I’d meet the head and ask why they are going a bit no contact and is that set ti continue? If it was I think I’d reconsider the school and see if there were any other options that were more ‘open’. I imagine this does affect other areas of the school - is there a sense of community? Can you meet the teacher easily? Maybe you could request face to face parents meetings. Xx

Are they due an Ofsted? Or going into yr6 and doing an 11 plus exam? In my experience they sometimes hold books back for that reason so they have some evidence at the beginning of the year. Or maybe they plan to carry on with the same text books next year rather than waste money and paper on new ones just because it is September. I am sure you would return the books but many wouldn't. Have you asked for an appointment to go and look at books?

Maybe ask the receptionist now if they have the date for next year's sports day etc. pencilled in so you can book holiday. I find often they have the dates pencilled in for ages but only tell parents a few weeks before.

It may be as they are due an Ofsted inspection and they need proof of work and improvement. DD's school sent them home every year bar one, and they had an inspection the following November then we got two years worth of books at the end of year. Also just ask to see them. There aren't many teachers who wouldn't let you have a flip through their writing for a few minutes.

Work books belong to the school and they can do what they wish with them.

Perhaps ask what they thinking is and if they can accommodate you in any way?

Work books belong to the school, you don’t have any rights for them to be sent home. If they are due OFSTED they Will definitely keep them as evidence for the visit, plus, more schools these days are passing the books through to the next year and carrying on with the same books. Much more cost effective and environmentally friendly than sending home books that are only half used.

Yup. We aren't allowed them home either. We can go into school to see them but they make it insanely difficult to do so. Since COVID, the teachers have become far more isolated and we have far less insight than we did previously.
Ofsted were in a month or so ago and it was the biggest feedback in the parents questionnaire.

We just got given all.of DS's books from year 1. He's just about to finish year 2. I was a bit annoyed with it really. No idea what I'm meant to do with 6 books of it. I now feel guilty about chucking it and annoyed it's been sent home at all. I'd rather be at your school!

Speak to the parent governors. I am a teacher and completely agree with you. Most schools have long since gone back to face to face parents evenings (or phone call on request). We also have an end of year open evening.

Zombie

This happens because some parents have the time and inclination to go through the books and take issue with the marking in them. So it's easier not to send them home.