Can you contact your DC's teacher directly?

[eleusis]

Either by phone or on e-mail?

I can't and I hate it. I have to leave a message at the main office, then they call me back and if I miss the call, I have to call the main office again. It seems so prehistoric.

ds's teacher has an email for homework help. so they should have some sort of email system set up

DSs teacher is available every day before lessons for parents to discuss any concerns if they have them.

Available? What, in person?

Message withdrawn

At least one of dd's teachers is available every day after school, or you can make an appointment.

The deputy head and children's mentor are available every morning in the playground, and can either pass messages on, or fetch the teachers if they feel it's necessary. Often they are able to deal with the matter themselves, or at least get the ball rolling until you can see the teacher after school.

I think that very few teachers in the primary system would be contactable directly by phone or e-mail. The difficulty is that obviously during the day they are teaching, and then often in meetings or preparing work after school.

I always used to try and be in my classroom for quarter of an hour before the children came in so that parents could see me. Does your dc's school do anything similar?

I think Eleusis means parents who can't get to the school.

yes, in person. she is there for half an hour before lessons start and if you need to speak to her you just go right on in, no appointment, nothing.

sorry, didn't think about not being able to get to the school (even though i was like that until i started maternity leave)

yes by email and phone

Yes, I am asking if people can contact the teacher directly for their desk (e-mail or telephone).

Err what would the 30 kids in class be doing if teacher is on phone to the parents? Going through the office is no different to going through someone's pa.

I have our class teacher's mobile, and could guess her email, but tend to deal with her face to face.

They are pretty unlikely to have a telephone in their classroom though surely?

I don't expect her to be available to talk on the phone all day. I just want to leave her a message on her voicemail that she will get in her office. E-mail is the same. She won't necessarily be there to read it when I send it, but she could reply directly to me when she has a chance. Just like I do when people e-mail me.

What office?

If I have an issue that I want to discuss with my son's teacher I make an appointment with the secretary.

Its the same if you want to see your GP, lawyer, dentist or anyother professional. I really can't see the problem.

We also have a home contact book that we can raise any concern.

The school office. Most of the schools I've seen have secretaries who know everything. They could probably tell me waht ds1 got in his last spelling test...

Does the teacher really have her own office?

lucky cow! we would get a message pinned on the notice board or in our pigeon holes - so no voicemail either.

But Eleusis is talking about bypassing the school office.

I got an office when I was HoD. And I use the word in its very loosest sense...

She has an office with a desk, and I hve seen with my very own two eyes that it has a phone on it. It must have a phone number. There was no computer so perhaps e-mail is a tall order.

Okay, there is more to this. I have another thread going (which you all have probably already noticed). She was supposed to call me for a phone conference at 4:15. She called at 4:38. I missed the call. I tried but was unable to call her back. I left a message at the office, but she won't get it until tomorrow. I wanted to call her back but couldn't. I'm not happy. So, I wondered if I'm expecting something unusual or if other people can't call their kids' teachers either.

Some of the staff at dd's secondary have voicemail and they all have e-mail. IME it's very rare in primary ( you are talking primary eleusis?).

At the school I work at all calls and e-mails go through the office. Deputy head has a phone in her class but only used during teaching hours in an absolute emergency.