Do all classes have a WhatsApp group?

[wishIwasonholiday10]

A month into reception I haven’t heard anything about a parents WhatsApp group. Is that more likely to mean there isn’t one or I just haven’t been invited or heard about it? I’m not particularly fussed unless I was missing out on important information so it’s not like I want to set one up.

At my kids schools they have WhatsApps and I do find them quite useful. Always a few parents on the ball with helpful reminders! Also sorting things like lost items. Good way to get numbers for playdates and parties too. In think our WhatsApp were facilitated through the school - I'm pretty sure we put our numbers down at one of the intro evenings and then got an invite. Maybe ask your child’s teacher? Or another parent? I know there are some who horror stories of parent Whatsapps, but the ones I've been part of have always been fine and mainly useful.

We didn't have a school what's app group at primary.
only had a what's app group for the year in year 5. That was created and adminbed by a parent not the school, and was used for things such as arranging hoodies for the outwards bounds camp, leavers camp in year 6 etc.

There was a Facebook group for parents, but again set up by a parent and not officially linked to the school ( although the school usually got to know if things raised in the group were causing an issue).
Maybe there isn't a group for you to join.

They were nothing to do with the school as such at either of the primaries DS attended. A parent just set one up, and made everyone they added administrators do they could add anyone they knew or ran into. Ask around. I was quite late getting into the group at the primary where he went first as I never did drop offs or pick ups — I think it wasn’t until the nativity play!

The existence of a WhatsApp group means that a parent has decided to set one up. And they will tend to invite the parents they know and let the knowledge of the group spread by word of mouth. You won't be missing out on information that you can't get anywhere else.

Well, I certainly found it useful for ‘DS left the book at school — could someone please post a photo of the maths homework?’ or ‘Did anyone’s child arrive home with an unfamiliar lunchbox/coat?’ type questions, and useful for ‘We’re heading to the park after school on Friday with X and Y if anyone wants to come’ posts. And it means you have phone numbers for play dates and party invitations.

Yes to it being set up unofficially by a parent and spreading by word of mouth, so ask if you want in.

4 kids, 3 schools, never had any WhatsApp groups.

have had one child complete primary and no WhatsApp group. Second child just started and there is a WhatsApp group, happened to hear the others talking about it so I just asked one of the mums I’d been chatting to at drop off/pick up and she added me.

It is mainly full of ‘I have x’s jumper, will bring it in tomorrow’ ‘any one found an extra fleece, we’re 85 down in 2 days’ the odd ‘was there an invitation dd has lost hers’ and a few other bits. Most useful was the disco information from a parent with others at the school, the tickets seemed to be classified information so was grateful for that.

My son is in Year 6 and never been in a Whatsapp group. As far as I'm aware there isn't one.

It’s normally set up by a parent. If you do any of the school runs, you could just ask if one exists/if anyone wants to join one. They’re useful for reminders, teachers gifts, birthday parties, ad hoc does anyone fancy the park/this event etc.