What have your school got right?

[stuckindoors77]

Hi! I know there have been a lot of school/ teaching related threads but I just wondered for a bit of positivity and so that teachers can take on board what parents want. What have your school got right in this? Even if they're not perfect, what's the best thing that they've done?

For me ds' school they provide a good balance of achievable activities but don't hassle us for results which has made it quite a relaxed experience.

The school I work in, I've been impressed by how concerned the whole staff (especially SMT) are in monitoring the families' well-being and trying to offer support however they can.

I was also touched when the HT said the hub would be open over the Easter holiday run by volunteers only and 90% of the staff volunteered within ten minutes.

What's yours, I'd love to hear?

The teachers are approachable and friendly. Oh and quite flexible.

• Sending work and a timetable but stressing "to do what works for you and your family"

• Delivering free school meals

• calling home once a week to check in

-online governor meeting (I'm a parent governor, love the school my daughter attends!)

Our school has been great. They have called regularly to see that dd is ok. They mark and comment regularly on work. Plenty of work, too much for my liking but I know that it means she will go back not too far behind. Still awarding achievement points via email and text message for good work. I cannot fault them.

Perfect. Could not have asked for better. Plans of work sent weekly which we upload onto Seesaw. They reply extremely quickly if I message for guidance. Also, lots of videos and weekly virtual assembly etc to keep spirit is up.

Yeah, everyone in my school, who wasn't shielding volunteered to go in over easter weekend.

My child's school has got it spot on for me. Google classroom ideas and direction, some comments most days about work we're doing and sending back to them. Video o f them dancing sent this week, which child loved. She's in reception though, so less in need of sit down work to practice skills.

These are lovely to hear... I like the idea of a virtual assembly.

DCs school has even good, work being set regularly and marked and useful comments made. Most teachers seem to be setting about the right volume of work and at about the right level. School continues to let us know what is going on more generally. Overall I’m impressed. There have been various keeping up mood activities and my DD did a wellbeing survey, DS refused but then that’s typical for him.

Setting a nice amount of work. Not too taxing but a timetable enough to keep DS busy for about 3 hours a day.
We do most of it but I feel like the afternoon activities- PE/ games, art, topic are optional.
Most set via online platform with videos, links etc but weekly zoom too.
Marking it quickly.
Daily zoom form time for pastoral support.

DD's teacher is working really, really hard.

Daily timetable and activities uploaded on Seesaw with reminders that it's all optional. Clear, simple activities and I feel like she's still learning. My niece has had ridiculous things like 'build a coin bridge' or 'make a den', my sister is demented.

Teacher sending home voice notes and comments frequently too. I'm very appreciative of all the hard work.

I’ve been pretty happy with ours (Year 3) - after a bit of chaos the first week (understandable) they’ve settled into a really good rhythm of setting a single slide deck with all the work for the day so kids can get through it according to their needs/needs of their family but still really easy to access as everything (including links) is all in one place.

Really encouraging kids to hand in work on google classroom even if they don’t have anything to physically upload for tech reasons - I assume as an unobtrusive way to keep tabs on who’s engaging and who might need extra support.

We get a comment on every day’s work, sometimes with a challenge or extension activity.

I have been made batting away suggestions on the class WhatsApp that they should have zoom mornings or what have you. It would be lovely to have some more interactive moments but I’m guessing resources are tight and our teachers have their own families and are juggling!

Also been impressed with nursery. They’ve waived fees but still send weekly email with activities and resources, they have the sports teacher and forest school teacher doing weekly videos for the kids, and facilitated parent networks for each of the rooms so we could be better connected. A real community feel to it. I’m gutted that DS2 may not get to go back (he’s 4).

Accepting parents can't be on call to supervise work while WFH - they set them all up on an online platform. Teachers engaging with the kids on Google classroom and keeping a chirpy Twitter presence going too so the kids don't feel forgotten. Regular chatty emails from the head. A "help I can't do my kids homework" email hotline.

All the staff recorded a video message to their classes which was made into a video the other day - everything from the quite calm and straightforward ones to teachers shouting at embarrassing bum fluff level beards to grow and being "caught" hiding an iPad games in the pages of a book they were meant to be reading.
The kids have bloody loved it!

Other school unfortunately- half an hour of worksheets for a fortnight and emails every few days telling the parents off. We're feeling very abandoned by the latter one.

The first of the two schools are very very ahead on the technology aspect of things anyway -to the extent the head green screened her video message so no parents could get a look at her home decor!

Our school have packed lunches outside for vulnerable children and everyone can go and get books/papers/pencils etc from outside too. When the HT realised some younger siblings were coming with the students to collect paper etc he added some colouring books and pencils for them to pick up too.

*Also been impressed with nursery. They’ve waived fees but still send weekly email with activities and resources, they have the sports teacher and forest school teacher doing weekly videos for the kids, and facilitated parent networks for each of the rooms so we could be better connected. A real community feel to it. I’m gutted that DS2 may not get to go back (he’s 4).

@JassyRadlett*

The nursery sounds lovely especially since they're not charging for it!!

to the extent the head green screened her video message so no parents could get a look at her home decor!

That's the best bit of everybody working from home though, having a nosy at their decor

When the HT realised some younger siblings were coming with the students to collect paper etc he added some colouring books and pencils for them to pick up too.

I love this!!

My sons school told the kids to message the teacher that set the work if they need help with anything. since lockdown my sons messaged 4 times, 4 different teachers with a question about the work (1 attachment would not load, the others were for things he was unsure of). Only 1 teacher responded. I see his form teacher in Sainsburys but thought I couldn't really ask her if they are all still working 😂

Our secondary school has communicated brilliantly with parents. Since the Easter holidays I get a weekly home learning newsletter (including other learning resources) , email list for teachers, link to council support and explanation on how to access the apps and email etc The school
already used a homework app so I know within 24 hours of work being set for the kids.

They were very proactive before lockdown too. They offered loan of IT equipment and sent a list of sites that we needed to check our kids could log into. They sent me a link to sites that the school subscribed to.

My dc are in reception and year one and school have done very little. I'm not sure of it's the same throughout the school but so far we've had 2 emails from the head, one from the parent liason officer and 2 from their relevant year group giving us some useful websites. It's great for us! They're saying that this is all new, harder for some than others, we're here if you need us but we're not expecting anything of you, if you want to send in some pictures feel free but no one will be chasing you up. I think it's just right for the age of my dc.

The tone of school communication has been great too. Supportive and clear. They sent information out quickly when there were new developments like lockdown date and how exams were to be assessed.

2 form state primary here.
It's been great since Easter. Y5 use Seesaw and are in contact with the teacher independently through the day. Teacher posts a little video each morning saying something about what she'd done the day before (eg played Connect 4), a fact for the day and a couple of other bits. No idea what DC1 is really doing but it keeps her busy for 3 or so hours, she seems to be enjoying it and is clearly learning new things.
Yr3 are posting videos each day going through that days maths or SPAG or other lesson. As it's a two form year group so they've split it with one doing maths and the other SPAG which makes complete sense and mixes it up a bit. The TAs have also posted videos.
Various teachers from across the school are recording a chapter a day from a book and posting those videos so you can listen to whichever one you want. This includes the Head. He also does an assembly each week.

Providing log-ins for some really good websites/programs, including music (definitely not my strong point so these two sites have been a godsend!) and coding.

Setting fortnightly project work that's creative and includes at least one idea for most school subjects. It can also be tailored to kids' ability and level of interest. Makes a change from lots of worksheets.

Setting up a weekly Zoom call between the teacher and a small group of children. It's not compulsory but it's a chance to chat, ask questions, say what they've been doing.

My kids secondary school have honestly been amazing. They had a very poor ofsted review before Christmas and the new headteacher was due to start after the February half term. I don't know if it is her who has been the driving force behind the programme or her SLT, but I honestly can't fault them. The kids have enough online work each day to equate to nearly a full school day. The school regularly email, they have wellness sessions online after school once a week.
The kids have virtual lessons regularly and parents receive a text message to let us know when these are due to take place. They have social media pages which keep the kids engaged too. Oh, and they're making PPE visors for the key workers.

Definitely got it right imo. Meaningful and achievable tasks with a phone call to parents every fortnight which is much appreciated. Dc are in infant school so I am chuffed it's working out as they are so little.