A 4-year old called to pre-prep head's office to be told "to smile" when she goes to school

[Natashik]

My 4-year old daughter that has just started at reception this year in one of the private schools as Wheathapmstead was called to pre-prep's head office today to be told that she "has to smile when she comes to school in the morning"... How good could it be?

This was followed by a phonecall, first to me and then my husband's phone! I thought it was an EMERGENCY... No, I was wrong. On the phone I was told to educate my daughter to smile when she comes to school in the morning at the drop-off point and not to show her preference as to whom she wants to walk with to the school's playground.

My daughter is a FOUR year old! What does this lade on the phone understand about 4-year olds starting a big school?

Very, very dissatisfied and disillusioned with what is thought to be a very good school in the area.

How ridiculous. I would be very angry.

Don't know what else to say, I've never heard anything like it.

FFS that sounds silly.

Are you happy with the school apart from that?

Well that's just plain silly, I have to say. How did you react? I'm afraid that private schools (especially highly selective ones, and the school you mention is certainly very selective) can sometimes have a very unrealistic approach to behaviour issues (and I say that having had experience of two private schools in this area), but "not smiling" is pretty much as bad as it gets.

Is your dd happy and otherwise well settled? Does she seem happy when you drop her off? Obviously your dd's welfare comes first, and I would be concerned that they are bothered at the impact on the school rather than wanting to follow up why she isn't "smiley" (assuming she isn't).

Dear All,

Thank you for all your points regardless of how kind or objective they were.

I have met the head of the school today. She was very polite and understanding. I have also received an apology about "smiling" thing and phone calles. I personally think that the school's head was very courageous and honest to offer me such an apology.

The conclusion is, there was some miscommunication and misunderstanding on behalf of staff. It was thought that somebody had already met with me and had a talk about my daughter settling in school well prior to the phonecalls. The phonecalls and calling to the office were supposed to be the next step.

I sincerelly hope that no miscommunication like that will ever happen in the future, as it does hurt everybody.

I still cannot comprehend how this kind of issue chould have happened in such a good school... Feel very sorry for my daughter and me being in the midst of it...

The situation that has occured to us is probably best explained by the Japanese saying:
"Even monkeys fall from trees" ---> Meaning even professionals/experts do make mistakes.

I will be deleting this thread after people who were curious about the outcome have read my last post. No further comments to follow.

Yes it seems like my daughter is happy with the school... That is why receiving such odd phonecalls was even more strange.