Does your primary school have a home/school contract

[BlueberryPancake]

and do you think it's worth anything?

There is one for my DS primary school and I am not sure I will sign it. There seems to be a very disproportional level of responsibility put on the children (he's in reception) compared to the ressponsibility of the school and teachers.

DS has one printed in the front of his 'Link book'.
He is just 5 so I have not asked him to 'sign' it. He wouldn't understand what he was writing his name on/signing.
He knows to behave himself and what is expected.

Everyone here seems to have ignored the comment made by Idon'tknow on the first page which was "the gov't is demanding that all schools have them" So what do you expect your schools to do?? They have to have them!
As for the list posted by Bluebery it seems pretty sensible to me:

• be truthful
• take initiatice
• exercise self-control in work and play,
• show consideration to others at all times
• listen to teachers other adults and other children
• behave muyself and follow the school rules
• be kind and considerate
• do my best and not mess about
• be honest
• accept others for who they are
• contribute to being ready for school on time

The way it is written of course means that it is expressed in a way that is more appropriate to an older child, but even very young children can be working towards this sort of behaviour. I work in a school and a lot of the problems that children have are created purely because they are not brought up to take any responsibility for their own behaviour....and what is wrong with asking them to be kind and to do their best fgs???

I don't think the clothing clause is to do with casual v smart. It is to do with low-cut/inappropriate I suspect (this was a big issue in secondary teaching a couple of years ago)

It's also possible that some pupils were involved in the development of that particular contract, and they agreed to a clause on uniform as long as the teachers had something as a counterpart.

Yes, it should go without saying - but so should almost everything on one of these contracts!

Indeed purpleturtle, it does have the sound of a school council proposal...

I have re-written the children's part, just for my own benefit! Here's what I think would be a nice and positive alternative

? Listen to my teachers, other adults and other children;
? Always do my best;
? Be kind, polite and considerate;
? Take care of school by keeping it tidy and looking after all the material and books available to me;
? Follow the school rules;
? Contribute to being ready for school on time.

I would find this easier to explain and follow by a 4 year old.

Out of interest, why have you removed the references to being honest and truthful?

Mostly because they are concepts that are difficult for a 4 year old to grasp. And also because I looked online at best practice for this type of documents and none of the other schools had such statements. Their expectations of children were much more practical.

I said several years ago - it was actually 1998 - I am getting so old. www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/parentalinvolvement/hsa/hsa_law/?version=1

I don't really have a problem with it in principle. I would sign it (if it was reasonable) but then I would hope to ensure good behaviour from my kids anyway.

however I will also be keeping a copy in case there is any point where the school aren't keeping their end of the bargain - and then I will be causing some hell! [hgrin]

It's difficult for 4 yr olds to grasp the concept of honesty.....is it not a good idea then for them to be exposed to this concept and encouraged to work towards it?
It seems that parents demand a massive amount from their childrens schools (rightly) but are not always prepared to do a lot to help schools when they can......why the automatic suspicion of a basically harmless document???
Speechless......

OK Speechless, here's what the document says the school will do:

? Provide a balanced curriculum and endeavour to meet the individual needs of each child.

That's it.

All the other responsibilities are with the parents and the children.

I don't know if you've read this thread, but everyone has had very balanced and interesting views. It doesn't take you much to be speechless.