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?

Provided lots of work books etc and set work each day so i don't have to think of things and print things.

Doing zoom call once a week with class and teacher so they get to see all their friends and their teacher which is lovely.

Secondary :

Full timetable live lessons
Volunteering and clubs
Counselling

Dd2's primary have been great - regular updates through the academy app, fb, and Class Dojo app. Lots of little messages from staff (I work there too so involved in those and dd has a preview of the finished video or whatever which makes her happy). Her class teacher is absolutely brilliant in school and now. Plenty of work set, but not too much and he's included random fun stuff. Regular messages & feedback on work as we're posting it on Dojo.

Dd1's secondary...um...well dd seems to be doing an awful lot of multiple choice quizzes on their chosen platform. & there is quite often no way to submit the work she's doing (food tech was bake bread and research different types...fair enough but there's no way to add pics or any sort of write up so the teacher can't give feedback). She doesn't seem to be getting feedback on the few written pieces she has been set either. They are keeping us up to date via the academy app though - with pretty much the same as dd2's school.

My son’s school has been brilliant, work set to the timetable,, feedback for the work he has sent back, regular emails with lots of support and a phone call from his Head of Year.

Provided lots of work books etc and set work each day so i don't have to think of things and print things.

This is definitely a bonus, I only have one child and find the printing a pita especially since the brand of printing ink I use is always sold out at the supermarket (£22 on EBay this week )

Are other people's schools helpful if you tell them you're unable to print or go online constantly?

Ds' school don't really get it (very leafy suburb school) but just sort of say "oh well don't do it then" which suits me.

Are other people's schools helpful if you tell them you're unable to print or go online constantly?

Not really - very snarly email saying they'd print work out if you needed but please don't use this service. We've had to sort a spare laptop out for a friend's child because school were just getting snotty with her for her kid not doing the work set online-only that they couldn't access.

Not really - very snarly email saying they'd print work out if you needed but please don't use this service. We've had to sort a spare laptop out for a friend's child because school were just getting snotty with her for her kid not doing the work set online-only that they couldn't access.

That's such a shame, I can sort of see the printing thing, if they got hundreds of requests from homes who could print out but realised it was easier/cheaper to let the school do it. The problem I suppose is that it requires more bodies to be actually in the school printing every day therefor putting them at risk. Our school does it for anybody who asks but this does mean SMT are in on a daily basis.

We do as schools need to recognise that not every family has printers, laptops and iPads at home for regular use and try to find ways around that.

Ours (primary school) have given some ideas for avoiding printing e.g. just writing the answers down rather than printing worksheets. And this is another reason I like the projects they have set as you don't need to print much at all. They do need paper but we've just been using a lined A4 pad and scrap paper.

Lack of online access would be a big problem though. Most of the suggestions need access to a website or a computer program. Several require them to research things which might be OK if you have a suitable reference book but otherwise will be online.

My eldest's sen school have been fantastic - organised, work provided consistently, communication and check ins and just generally very on the ball. Can't fault them

My youngest attends mainstream primary and they have been woeful. Got a few sheets of paper and some websites when school first closed. They have just set up some kind of online learning portal this week and the log in details are incorrect. No communication from anyone since the doors closed in March