Do any schools have examples of great parent communication?

[ShouldIGoToTheGym]

Hi, I'm new to Mumsnet. I'm frustrated with the lack of communication that my school offers to parents. Are there any examples of great communication which I can pass on to my school?

Does your school use Parentmail? It sends all messages and letters to your email address rather than relying on bits of paper in book bags. V. useful. It is a central system the school subscribes to.

They also do text messaging for reminders.

Curriculum evenings for presentations abut what is happening over the coming year. Sometimes subject specific talks about how to help with maths or reading/literacy.

Parents evenings - meet the teacher to discuss your child once a term.

School website - good for reminders and updates like when we had snow or when DC are away on residential trips.

Parent council - small number of parents used to canvas opinions.

Open door policy one day a week for looking at your child's books. Not formal but the opportunity is there to have a quick chat.

Homelink books for questions or notes to the teacher.

I think that is it for my boys' schools.

Parentmail is good, though I hate having to print out reply slips myself.
We have a school newsletter which is sent out on Friday via email to let us know what is happening the next week. Really good
A huge easel set up at the entrance of the school for last minute reminders. Eg Blue class need wellies tomorrow.
School website. I can find out what DS is going to have for lunch, his topics for this half term etc.
Reading record: I can write in and his teacher will reply.
The headteacher is there in the playground every morning.
You can't get away with saying 'I didn't know'at this school.

Ah yes, good one, the newsletter! That goes out via Parentmail for us so I forgot about it as a separate item.

Printing off the slips is annoying but particularly so when you go to the trouble of doing it only to find the printed copy of the letter in the book bag a couple of hours later! A case of too much communication in that case.

Yes, I should have said the reading record too although homelink book is used more in the juniors.

Also, TA's on the doors every morning waiting to greet the children and to pass on messages to the teacher if needs be.

School report once a year with a more formal listing of targets met and areas for future development.

I think that just about does it!

We have a website that is fairly up to date and contains key information about the school.

We do a weekly newsletter that goes out on Clarion Call. We also use Clarion call for as much as possible, including text messages for late return of trips, cancelled matches etc.

As a working parent, I have to say that TAs at the door or easels would be useless (often it isn't me dropping off but a friend).
However DCs schools use email a lot, which does help.

Also at secondary level in addition to all the formal stuff (which is much better sent by parent mail). The head does an informal chatty letter to parents, which is available on the website, once each term.

Hi everyone,

Thanks very much- some great suggestions to pass on!

We're all so used to the internet and immediate information, that it really stands out when there is a lack of technology/ simple communication in something so important.

The son of a friend of mine goes to a school in the States that has gone completely wireless and it's great with e-communication. It's a bit extreme, but I wonder if there are some schools that are close to that with technology here?