How can I deal with this so that things change?

[bananaistheanswer]

DD 7 had a letter in her homework folder last night. Dated 25th. Telling me about PLPs being introduced, and a meeting at 2.30pm on the 26th to discuss what they are. I've complained in the past about not getting sufficient notice to get the chance to attend meetings or certain activities as I work. But this is now taking the p. Getting a letter the day after the meeting has happened, at a time it's virtually impossible to attend, is not on. But I've already given the school my views on this in feedback asked for in a review done by the school. Any suggestions about how to get school to change how they arrange meetings/activities, with enough notice given to give working parents the chance to attend? I'm in Scotland.

Are you sure the letter wasn't there earlier? To send a letter home late is v odd and unprofessional- was the regular teacher/ your dd away on Friday?

As regards generally giving more notice, be as polite as possible- it's a change to the school culture, and though many schools manage to do a calendar months in advance, it can seem like a big change if you don't normally work that way! Ask repeatedly, super politely, and with reasons, and get other parents to ask to. It can be done.

It wasn't in the folder before last night. We do homework every night so I'd have seen it if it was there. Even if it was given out on the 25th it's impossible to get time off work for a meeting the next day - I'd have to ask for the time off that day and I would not get it given the timescale. I don't understand why we don't get more notice.

Just double check that your DD hadn't misplaced the letter.

The last time I stropped in to school because an important letter had been late coming home (I checked book bags every night too) it turned out that it had been handed out weeks ago - DD had put it in her tray and only remembered to bring it home when she heard people talking about the event.

Well, even if she had misplaced it, or the form teacher was late handing them out, it was dated 25 and you're right, OP, that is far too short notice.

I doubt you are the only parents who have difficulty in rearranging work commitments on the same day as an event (which is what such late notice means, for the earliest a parent could possibly have seen the one is after work the day before it happens). I think they are taking the piss.

But displaying anger (unless you have a long track record for being the mist phlegmatic parent ever) isn't going to advance your cause. Do you have a PTA or other parent body who can present a unified complaint and hope weight of numbers will be taken seriously?

My DCs schools send all letters by Parentmail as well/or instead of paper copies. Most people have email, and the school can tell how many people received it in their in boxes. It does stop the problem of lost letters by pupils, or by form teacher's forgetting to give them out, or substitute teachers not knowing to give them out, or whatever.

WHatever the particular circumatsnaces of this one, I think lack of notice is a general school issue. I constantly get letters about sports matches the day before, and often they are expecting me to pick my son up from an away game, when I am anot going to be back from work in time to do that. (He usually goes to After School Club). Or music events that need parental transport at lunchtime...

It baflles me because surely most teachers are parents as well and would presumably have the same problems, but for some reason schools seem to assume there is a non-working parent available at any time of day.

I'd make sure tht every time there was an inconvenient meeting or one where there wasn't sufficient notice that you send a letter in saying as you couldn't make the meeting you will see th teacher at 3.30 the next day so she can let you know what happened. Hopefully they'll be pissed off with always having to explain things twice

I don't think email would have solved this one, as the letter came out only the day before and and home email may not be checked until after work (not everyone has a working environment which permits checking of personal devices). What is needed is a decent notice period; I'd say the aim should be one week.

I bet the teachers giving the presentation weren't told only on Tuesday that they had to do this on Wednesday.

Email might not change it, but it would make sure that the school couldn't claim it had communicated with parents in a timely manner, as there would be proof.

This type of thing drives me mad! My DS4 is in primary school and I am forever getting notes home about 'parent/teacher meetings' to be held at oooh..11.30am say. The thing is, I bloody teach myself, and they know it. So I'm never going to be able to come and hear about what my own kid is doing. How about a parents evening? I'd like to come at 6.30pm and talk to you. Why do primary schools expect mothers to attend in the day time? Secondary schools certainly don't.

Major moan at staff parent committee meetings is lack of notice. Since primary got text messaging they have got worse

Secondary print annual key date sheets, why can't the primary, drives everyone crazy.

THe HT tends to send out a letter at the beginning of each term with all such dates included.