To expect a response from school by now

[Soberbadger]

At my DC's school, the last day before half term was an inset day (Friday, 25th). On that day, the Headteacher emailed parents to tell us about changes to staffing in DC's class. The email was pretty vague.

I replied quite soon after receiving the email asking for clarification but got an out of office response. It's now the second day back after half term and still no response.

The school has a policy of acknowledging communications within 48 hours. Taking half term out of the equation, if I wrote at midday last Friday (25th), then shouldn't I have a response by midday today (5th)? Or are they going to say the Friday doesn't count because that was an inset day?

But you're not advocating, you're requesting confirmation on something.

If the school wanted the parents to know the information already, they'd have said it in the original email.

This.
You’ve been told all you need to know at this point, op.
They get to decide this, not you.

I think it’s reasonable to expect quite detailed details on who is teaching your child so if the information was vague it’s totally fine to ask for clarification. Sounds like you weren’t the only one who found it vague.

Most headteachers work over half term I would have thought, and I thought admin staff did too, they do at my dcs school, but perhaps it varies. I would just politely chase for a response if you haven’t heard anything by, say, lunchtime tomorrow.

I work in a primary school office - your post states: The school has a policy of acknowledging communications within 48 hours

My response woukd have been thank you for your email, further information will follow in due course - you have now had your email acknowledged within 48 hours.

You clearly have no idea what goes on in a school office - if I could tell you what we have had to deal with in just 2 days after a half term break, you would not be quite so impatient for the reply you think you warrant.

And breathe ...

This

If they knew the info, they'd have told you. You think school staff want to give out vague info so they have to deal with the questions afterwards? They'll be trying to make a plan, find a supply cover teacher, swap staff over. Then they'll need a longer term plan, just in case. Just give them time and when they have a plan they'll let you know. You think they are keeping you in the dark on purpose?!!! Just bear with them and when they know, you'll know.
Having worked in a school office, you have no idea of the number of emails that arrive in the inbox, many much more serious that need addressing and many that are complete rubbish. They do the best they can.

I’m sure they made it as vague as possible to annoy parents so they would get a whole load of questions. Or maybe they gave as much information they could at the time

NO headteachers should be really working in half term unless they have that specified in their contracts.
Many, many schools will have had nobody technically working last week. Especially if this is a primary school.
The only thing that would have my head doing anything in her holiday was a serious child protection issue or something awful like the death of a child or parent.

I don't think it's the fact you are "THAT parent".
You have kept saying that you are "advocating for your child", by wanting the information, but you have never told us what makes you sure that the school

1. Had the information at the time they sent the first email
2. Have the information now

If you ARE sure, and have good evidence to confirm this, fair enough, but if you are just pestering the school for information that don't know and then being cross that they are ignoring you, that isn't "advocating for your child" it's just creating needless work for overworked school staff.

Friday won't count as it was an inset day. Office staff are generally not in on inset day (or if they are they are doing 'other stuff' like sorting out the stationery delivery!!)

Happy to help 👌🏻

You do realise you posted in AIBU, asking for people's opinions? No need to get snippy because you don't like what everyone's saying!

They will tell you who the new teacher is, once they get them, that is for sure. I can guarantee you 100% 😄

So what is it, since you are quite vague yourself?

"Just to inform you Class 5A's teacher Miss Smith will no longer be teaching the class after Christmas. We will give more information as we have it"

"Class 5B's TA Mr Jones has had to take an unfortunate leave of absence for a few months"

"All pupils in SEN class 4 will now have to join with SEN class 5 due to staff shortages"

They will have given you everything they know. And if multiple of that parents have emailed in then they are likely composing an email for all parents to say "please stop emailing us. We are doing the best we can. Here's the information we have."

None of what you have said here is "advocating for your child". You're just getting shirty with the staff because they can't give you a full response. You're also being amusingly shirty with people here because they're not saying what you want to hear. Welcome to Mumsnet.

Response times usually relate to school days, and as an Inset day isn't a school day, I would not expect it to be included in the 48 hour period.

But you are not advocating, you are being a pain in the ass. I get that some people take pride in that but precisely nothing will change because of you hassling them.

What does the email actually say? We have currently moved our y1 teacher to be eyfs in the afternoons because the eyfs is off sick! We know it will affect the y1 but as school leaders we have to do the best job to support all children. The head will be trying to keep changes to a minimum but it's unavoidable. We've also stopped assigning tas to classes as parents moan when they get moved but they get moved throughout the year according to the needs of the school.

@EMary12345 , I suspect it may be something along those lines.

OP, I mean this in kindness. Being 'that parent' doesn't actually mean advocating for your child because when something actually matters people take you less seriously (she's always making fuss! Not her again! ). Not sure how many years you have left at the school, but if you save your breath for the big stuff they will be much more likely to listen (she never complains, this must be true/ an issue etc etc). Also, definitely don't stir up other parents. Working with school is actually a skill which you need to think about managing in a similar way to you would in your working environment. I'm not sure what your job is but plenty of parents have great jobs which they would have got NOWHERE in if they behaved like they do with schools.

I may be being totally bonkers and out there..
But providing DC is able to, given they've actually been in class. Would you not just say
'How was school darling? What's your teacher like?'.

Have you heard anything yet @Soberbadger

so, when did you get your reply ? @Soberbadger