Is that odd or is it what all schools do??

[gabid]

Last year, and this year again the school sent a letter to all parents to introduce a private tutoring company who can, if parents wish, support their children academically outside school hours (its an infant school, so 4-7 year olds). The headteacher says that she does not support that but distributes the leaflet because a number of parents have asked. Nevertheless, she asks everyone to fill in the reply slip to say whether they are interested or not!? I don't see why I should reply to that company?? There isn't usually a reply required if people drop junk mail through the door.

This morning I asked our Chair of Govournors and she told me that this is the way it is and that all schools do it.

Ours has done it but I didn't fill in the reply slip. I think the line about parents asking about tutoring is what the school is told to say. Ours said the same thing but it's the kind of school where parents would think you were insane if you said your child had a tutor.

Yes, and it is the Student Support Centre. In the letter from the school parents were asked twice (!) to reply until Thursday morning if possible, and this afternoon there was another slip of paper asking for the reply slips. It seems quite clear that the school benefits from this.

I spoke to a mum this afternoon who asked for more information, expecting something through the post, but someone came to visit and gave her the hard sell. I am really appaled that the school is doing this.

This morning I asked the Chair of Governers about this and she basically said 'it is how it is, the other school is doing it too' - I feel a bit brushed off and would have hoped for a bit more honesty. Or may she not know?

have google on threads on student support centre - hear and moneysaving expert I have seen a few- lots of examples of poor value and hard sell and print it out send a letter to governer/or head teacher

Yes we get the StudenSupportCentre ones from both schools that the dc attend. I bin them.

I had one for the first time yesterday from ds's school - we were supposed to fill in a reply slip too. It really annoyed me, tbh, and sends out totally the wrong message. My first thought was hang on a minute, I was under the impression that the school were educating my child , and my second thought was 'bin'.

Would never dream of sending them out from our school for the same reason.

Ha - our school does it too, and years ago we actually had them round out of curiosity.

On e word of advice - don't. Bin forthwith.

I had a look on old threats about that. Its shocking, hard sell, they try to sign you up for a 4 year contract which costs thousands. It seems to be DVDs and workbooks.

Yes, and they gave us a big scare story about how if your child wasn't in top sets from the get go they would forever be consigned to the dustbin of education. Really playing on parents' fears.

They actually made me do a test on fractions in a (fruitless) attempt to prove I would be unable to assist my own child adequately with her homework.

I did report my concern to the headteacher afterwards.

oh we got that, i threw it in the bin.!

Obviously everyone here is way more sceptical than I (used to) be! :)

Yes I've had this and it has been accompanied by DS2 telling me "Mummy you must fill this in and send it back tomorrow". Hmmmmm. I bin recycle it.

Our head refuses to send these out even though the school would make some money from it. He does not encourage parents to pay for extra tutoring, they should be getting what help they need from school.
If we did get one, I think I would send a letter of complaint to the Head & Governors, if enough parents did the same they might stop in future.

Blimey montrealmum - that sounds scary!

We have had these accompanied by a letter from the head stating that the tutoring is not supported/endorsed/reccommended by the school in any way.

I do return the slip, with my name and my child's class. I don't give any contact details so they can't contact me. I do this in the hope that the school will benefit a little. I suspect that many schools do not like doing this, but will explore every possible avenue for gaining much needed income.

montrealmum - did you get any response from the HT?

ibbydibby - but the more publicity they get through the schools the more people invite them to their house and the more gullable parents sign up - and it doesn't seem too many are happy after they have signed up.

I won't return it, but I don't think I will complain either thought.

We get this every year or two. I never fill it in and after the second or third letter arrived in a bookbag I did go and complain to the head. She explained that school got money for it and that's why they did it. Now I just bin it without even reading.

Our school does it and amount of money school receives is linked to response rate (positive or negative).