School communication not adequate?

[Morning189t2]

Can I figure out whether my expectations are too high or whether this also happens in other schools?

My ds is in reception. They are going on a school trip tomorrow. Children need to be sent to school with a small rucksack and arrive at school at 845 (usually have a soft start till 9). The only place they shared this message was with a piece of paper on the class room door 1 day before. Those that are picked from after school club do not do pick up from the classroom. Surely this is something that they should have sent an email with or used the app communication we have?

YABU There is nothing wrong with the way they communicated this.
YANBU they should have sent an email or used the app.

When we've had early starts we've had both a printed letter and an email.

I don't think this is adequate.
Our school send a letter home with the plan for any trip.
They also sometimes put it in the school app.

Common problem here. They have parentmail bur rarely use it. Pe days change like the wind and rely on the kids to tell parents etc.

My dad had limited eyesight from when I was a young age, was registered blind by the time of his death many years later. Did a lot to hide the sight loss during much of my childhood.

I'd guess many others in his position, male or female, would possibly do the same, and not see the detail in such a notice. Or even have other things on their mind and be just glad to meet their child and go home.

Not the only reason why the OPs school communication is inadequate.

Glad I am not the only one who finds this strange.

I would be interested to hear more from those that think I am being unreasonable.

I don't think you'd be unreasonable here to ask for better communication.

Maybe there's a reason why it was only announced that way but every school needs an effective way of communicating urgent messages. We usually have a msg send via an app, as well as the paper on the window and the teacher telling all parents verbally upon pick up.

Mine are at secondary and need to be at school early tomorrow, we had an email last week with details plus a text today to remind. So I'd definitely expect better communication at primary school.

Did you not pay for the trip? If so there would have been an email explaining all the détails.

Have they not heard of emails?

Definitely not unreasonable. All our communication with parents is done via the electronic register and we have the option to action a tick box system. Mail needs to have been opened before box can be ticked and needs to have been opened by someone using the parent's credentials not the students. Students using their credentials can only "see" the emails, but not "action" as in tick box any of them.

Yes we paid. They told us the date and where they were going. That was around 2 months ago. None of the practical arrangements were written.

What is a 'soft start' ?

You are supposed to be there at 8.45, but no one cares if you are 15 mins late?

A soft start means children can arrive anytime between 845 and 9am. Being late is after 9. I understand that the idea is that children have the time to arrive slowly and calmly into the class.

We would get info like this via text message and probably a paper copy sent home. They usually send info out early and then send a reminder the day before.

The school sends me 15 emails a day, messages on the app and letters in the bag. I get so much communication that I end up missing stuff because I've ignored it through overload.

YANBU though, a flyer on the classroom door is not enough.

How do the school normally send out information?

Most of our communication with the DCs primary school is via the ClassDojo app. Although the office also send texts about things relevant to the whole school.

For my DC’s school trips this year, all of the information, links to electronic consent forms, and reminders were sent out via ClassDojo.

I would guess that they will be in for a shock tomorrow when children arrive at 9 as usual!
Seems a very unreasonable way to communicate to me, especially if there wasn't a notice at after school club too. Did the teacher not draw your attention to the notice when you were picking up?

I do not pick up from the class and only pick up from after school club. Only found out there was this note because someone put it in the class wattsapp when patents started asking what is happening

Shit communication from a school. Hardly “hold the front page” is it?! Expect more of the same until they graduate.

In all the schools I've worked in, the initial trip letter/ email contains all the necessary information including travel arrangements, timings, lunch arrangements, necessary clothing, payment methods etc. I wouldn't expect parents to pay for a trip without this detail. Are you sure that your letter from 2 months ago didn’t include this. If not this would be unusual and pretty poor.

However a reminder of details would have been helpful for the busy/ disorganised parents.

Some primaries can be quite backwards with communication and still rely on the 'letter on the door'. It was a nightmare at my son's school because he was in before/after school club so I never saw the parents evening sign up sheet or the nativity notices etc.

Have you not had a permission slip? We would have to give permission and then would have communication as to this, what to take etc. By email and letter..and a reminder by text probably!