That teachers should have templates for things that happen year in year out?

[nappychangingbag]

I'm not sure if it's just my children's school but there hasn't been the greatest communication...

No info on which classroom to drop child off at
No info on PE days
No info on school clubs
No info on anything at all really

AIBU to think that teachers should have a template for things that happen year in year out? Surely it's helpful?!

Like start at the start of the year have a checklist of things you need to communicate and then do it?

Sure you might have to tweak it year to year but I feel like schools lack such basic efficiency in admin, it kind of makes the school look rubbish.

And I definitely don't get the feeling it's because they're just "really focussed" on the actual teaching.

I feel like if you can't do the basics it doesn't really fill me with confidence that you can do the complicated stuff 🤷‍♀️

Timetables change every year depending on the staff employed, their days employed, their socialism and the numbers of pupils coming through. More so for secondary but probably the same for primary.

Perhaps a group of parents could put together a list of "these are the things we really want to know before the first day of school". It's probably easier for you to come up with the list than the staff - they probably don't realise that you don't all know that the year 2 classroom is always the one in the corner. Many of us just send the PE kit in at the start of term and collect it at half-term, so aren't too bothered about PE days either - although I realise that some kids use their kit out of school as well so do need to bring it backwards and forwards.

I have templates for my syllabus, the tests I'll be doing, the work I'll be setting, exam mocks we'll be looking at etc.

"No info on which classroom to drop child off at (this info is on our electronic register- though ours are secondary so aren't dropped off anywhere- they know which room to go to though)
No info on PE days- they'll be given that when given full timetable by class tutor. Info will also be on electronic register
No info on school clubs- circulars are sent round class by class and put on electronic register.

Yes, we have done at every school I've worked at. Usually Sometimes they're not ready for the start of term because not everything has been set but we send out a calendar of all the assembly/ concert/sportsday/trip dates for the year too. They pretty much follow the same pattern every year

All of that should be (or was at my school) instigated by the HT via the school office. Not the teachers.

There would be a newsletter with all the information and the website would also have it on

PE days etc which are part of the class week would be sent out to parents via the class info on that and this half terms topics, homework and anything else relevant to that class by the teacher

*That teachers should have templates for things that happen year in year out?

I feel like schools lack such basic efficiency in admin, it kind of makes the school look rubbish.

And I definitely don't get the feeling it's because they're just "really focussed" on the actual teaching.*

Teachers ARE focussed on teaching and shouldn't be doing tasks which use up their time and don't call for the professional expertise of a qualified teacher. Admin staff should send newsletters / update the website / answer phone queries etc.

And then the parents would complain that they are being bombarded with irrelevant information and the "teachers" should stop it
This needs to come centrally form the HT or the admin staff, not the teachers

Timetables change every year depending on the staff employed, their days employed, their socialism and the numbers of pupils coming through.
I know it was a typo but it made me laugh to think that teachers get different classes if they're not socialist enough. 🤣

Why are you blaming teachers for things that are the responsibility of the admin office?

Do you have a new reception starter or have you been at the school before? I find it hard to believe you would receive absolutely no information when you start.

And OP I think YANBU. Some of it would have to change year on year but organised schools do give out the right information. Ours emailed in June to say we were supposed to do afternoons only for DS's half days. Wednesday morning I got a phone call asking where he was. Turns out he was doing one afternoon, two mornings and a full day. 🤦‍♀️

I bet the class teachers feel as frustrated as you. It's really embarrassing when you have parents asking you questions and SLT have not provided you with the information to pass on. I am a teacher and never get told my PPA day until at least the second week in- I can't do my timetable/choose a PE slot without that information but I understand they do this as there can often be last minute staff changes over the summer.

Things like PE days/clubs is something that the head/SLT decides (via timetabling) and the admin staff should send out. It’s not a job for teachers.

If you didn’t know which class/room they were going to be in or where it was, I would have asked someone before term ended in July!

Other than PE days, none of that is stuff that is communicated via class teachers. Whole-school communication is done by the Headteacher (or Deputy maybe) alongside the admin team. Maybe worth raising via the school office?

You’ll be told about the PE days and clubs soon.
Most schools do not give this information out on the first day. I guess to try and make things easier.

But you definitely should have been told what classroom the child is going in.

If you leave the PE bag at school then PE days makes no difference, I wouldn’t expect to need to know that unless they go in dressed in their kit which I know some schools do. Clubs might not be starting just yet, it’s only a few days in. If you have questions I’d just ask the teacher at the end of the day, I’m sure they would be happy to explain. Surely they told you which classroom to go to? If not again, just ask!

Been at 3 primary schools. We knew location of reception classroom from pre-start visits. Then DC know location of new classroom from an end of year visit to next classroom/teacher. We’ve always had some sort of new school year letter from the each new teacher, usually a week or two in. Usually guff about who they are, any TAs in the class. Swimming on Thurs, pe kits need to be in certain days. Broad overview of topics and any homework schedule (reading every day, new books on Weds/maths worksheet handed out on Fri due back on Tuesday). Expectations of attendance. Leave message with office if you want to get in touch.

Seems to have been a standard thing across all the schools, just with different text - some schools more detailed than others. I’ve always appreciated it.

Is this primary?

Doesn't sound like great communication if so. DS went back to school last Thursday and we have had

Email with whole schools PE days for each class (they wear kit into school in those days since COVID)

Email today with curriculum outline for year, half term by half term. For instance this term half term focus book is Harry Potter, they are concentrating on writing non chronological reports, the trip is to Harry Potter Studios the music topic is cyclical rhythms (goes on for RE topics, science topics etc and links to some other stuff that doesn't interest me much and UN rights of a child). It is on a table format and more accessible than it's sounds described above, all parents pretty much can access even if EAL.

A meet the teacher thing this morning (I didn't go as was at work) where you go into school for like half hour around drop off. They will send PowerPoint later I expect with housekeeping type info like what day homework set and due, what they need in their pencil cases, reminder if uniform rules etc.

Email with after-school club timetable for the term so you can choose with child. Then if you want any clubs the portal opens at 7pm to book the free school run ones (so fair on working parents)

With secondary we got starter pack like summer holidays before year 7 but they then left more up to child.

Most schools will have an open evening to meet the new teacher in July - this is where you get to see the new classroom & where to drop. PE days will be in the newsletter once the timetable has been finalised. Most schools will also have a 'Welcome to Year ...' meeting within the first few weeks to go over expectations.

See also the threads on MN about "My child hasn't started school yet and I'm being bombarded with messages about PE days, after school clubs, dinner money. I cant cope. Will this continue all year".
Schools can't do right for wrong.

Probably because it's in drip feed in the format of an email per item. Not one well thought-out email or newsletter that has everything in it.

School comms are dire, that's why people wifey moan about it. Plus the various apps and website you have to sign up to google classroom, arbor, tapestry etc. etc.

Yes primary - Year 1.

That's sounds more like it! You have good school comms!

We previously used newsletters but now have been using a “ThingLink” with all the information in one place, seems to work well

I feel like if you can't do the basics it doesn't really fill me with confidence that you can do the complicated stuff
that’s all admin. Teachers shouldnt be doing admin tasks, they should be teaching. Sounds like the head is ignoring the work-load agreement and having teaching staff do admin while denying a job to an admin assistant.

I don't really care whose job it is, I just wish it was done, and done well.

Wifey moan? Really?