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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Teachers aibu to be a tad miffed over this or do I need to take a deep breath?

73 replies

MrsHeffley · 09/05/2012 16:16

So I wrote a letter to ds's (8)teacher re lack of communication re an ongoing issue and ds took it in today.Our KS 2 teachers are impossible to see prior school and never bring the dc out so a letter is the only way of communication unless you want to play hunt the teacher round the very large school. Said teachers have meetings and clubs which I understand.

Communication is a bit of an issue with several parents which school are aware of.

Anyhow ds came out today with no reply(understandable),his teacher didn't pop out though or ask him to send me in. So no acknowledgement what so ever.

When I was teaching I'd always reply the same day to any issues with parents, however it was KS1. Are things different in KS2(year 3)?

I'm just finding the attitude in the upper school incredibly rude and arrogant to be frank and completely different to KS1 where teachers were always available and happy to deal with issues/questions. It's nigh on impossible to bloody have any form of communication with KS 2 teachers,it's as if they think parents should be kept completely at arms length and should never bother teachers.

It's an Outstanding school

So big deep breath or any ideas on how to handle it?

TIA

OP posts:

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learnandsay · 09/05/2012 16:20

What was the letter about specifically?

overmydeadbody · 09/05/2012 16:20

What was the issue?

You are right, KS2 teachers are very busy, give the poor teacher a chance, you only sent the letter in today, they teacher might not have even read it yet.

I find emailing a very effective way of communicating with teachers.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 09/05/2012 16:21

Poor communication with junior teachers was very much evident on the pre Ofsted questionnaire sent out to parents at my DS3's school. The school changed its policy of sending junior DC out and remaining in the building. They now come out with the DC and don't go back in until the playground is nearly empty. If clubs don't start until 3.30, oh well!

If this is a school wide issue I suggest you take it up with the HT as an individual teacher will just be going along with what the others do.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 09/05/2012 16:22

Good schools will always make time to see concerned parents.

LaurieFairyCake · 09/05/2012 16:23

Unless it was an emergency I wouldn't expect a reply the same day as they might do all their admin/letter writing/phone calls at the end of the day.

PotteringAlong · 09/05/2012 16:28

I think you need to give it at least 48 hours unless it's urgent

LeeCoakley · 09/05/2012 16:39

Best to phone for an appointment IME.
You can't expect a teacher to be waiting patiently at her desk for parents to come in on the off-chance, there's always a million things to do. (e.g. A longed-for trip to the toilet, certain parents to avoid etc )

cansu · 09/05/2012 17:21

I normally need to deal with such phone calls in my planning / free periods. It may well be that teaching all day she has not had time to respond. She may need to investigate said issue by talking with other children or even speak to other members of staff or senior teachers. YABU to expect an instant response. At least give the teacher a couple of of days to respond.

Original poster

MrsHeffley · 09/05/2012 17:28

Ok will give a couple of days if that is the norm,just thought she could have said to ds "tell mum I got her note,wiil arrange a call etc"iykwim. It was re concentration so no other kids involved.

OP posts:

LaBelleDameSansPatience · 09/05/2012 18:26

Also, if the weather was as wet today with you as it was with us, the teacher was probably on wet-playtime duty all break and lunch time - I was! Certainly no letter writing time today.

bigTillyMint · 09/05/2012 18:30

I would phone back that afternoon to at least acknowledge the note you sent in, especially if it was an urgent/important matter.

I am a bit surprised that they don't bring their classes out - is this because they like the children to learn to act responsibly and come out on their own, or because they'd rather not face the hoardes of parents wanting to speak to them?

HandMadeTail · 09/05/2012 18:33

at Lee

Original poster

MrsHeffley · 09/05/2012 19:32

Lee is expecting teachers to either bring the kids out or be accessible in the classroom for 5/10 minutes after instead a big ask then?

When is their supposed to be contact with parents?I don't get the educational benefits of zero parental contact.

Given that most parents(including me)work these days and are rarely around to bother teachers on a regular basis I don't think avoiding parents is that professional.

I only want to support my son and help the school to help him.

OP posts:

learnandsay · 09/05/2012 19:33

The trouble with parents is that they expect things. Roll on the future when children will be looked after by robots.

Original poster

MrsHeffley · 09/05/2012 19:35

Sorry 'there'

OP posts:

FallenCaryatid · 09/05/2012 19:36

Phone the office or email and organise an appointment either before or after school.
Just as you would if you wanted to contact any other professional.
KS2 is very intensive, in a completely different way to KS1. I've taught both.

FallenCaryatid · 09/05/2012 19:38

L&S I'm still waiting for the future promised me by Asimov, where I'd log on at home and three hundred students would be eagerly awaiting me in their homes.
It was all supposed to be so easy in the 21st century.

Original poster

MrsHeffley · 09/05/2012 19:40

Fallen it just seems a bit formal when a chat would do,the sooner the better.If they were available for 5 mins after school it could have been sorted by now. Personally I think 5/10 parent time after school is crucial and should be timetabled in above anything else-they're 8 not 18.

OP posts:

cansu · 09/05/2012 19:41

If a parent arrives at school office and asks to speak to teacher at end of day, most teachers would I am sure come through to discuss problem if available. if not available will get back to parent next day. Alternatively ring, make an appointment to talk to said teacher. If urgent speak to senior teacher or haed or deputy head who are usually always available or again will call you back. OP you seem to be expecting teachers to be in playground at end of school day or waiting in their room to do ad hoc parent drop in. I actually think that schools are much more accessible than any other public service. If we wanted to chat to doctor at end of surgery would we expect him to be available? If we wanted to drop in on bank manager, optician, nurse, dentist etc would we expect an immediate drop in consultation / chat? I actually think teachers are very available. Op has waited so far about seven hours whilst the said teacher was teaching her ds!

FallenCaryatid · 09/05/2012 19:43

It's not formal, it's common sense, look how frothy you are about the teacher's unavailability when you haven't really asked in the most appropriate fashion.
Will your DS hand over the note straight away? Is it still in his bookbag if he has issues with concentration?
Our parents email sick notes, it is a very common form of communication in my area.

cece · 09/05/2012 19:49

Are you sure the letter was handed in?

I ten to just email the office now and they forward it to the teachers. I had similar issues and now do this and things have improved.

Original poster

MrsHeffley · 09/05/2012 19:51

No the incident I wasn't told about was yesterday,the promised weekly communication hasn't happened,I sent the letter in today because of a complete lack of communication and had no other way of communication.

I don't see why being able to see a doctor after surgery hours would ever be beneficial to a patient.Bank managers,doctors etc are completely different.We're talking about young children and it's supposed to be a partnership.Having zero communication isn't a partnership and doesn't help children at all.

What really bugs me is when school want support for things that are important to them we're supposed to be there with bells on which I am,it's not a two way partnership and it's not just me that it hacks off.

Surely being around literally to see the kids out and 5 minutes after isn't a big ask.Obviously first thing isn't ideal because lessons are being prepared.I'm really not bothered when but sorry I think availability for 5 measly minutes a day is part of the job.

Anyhow I get the picture.I'll just sit tight and wait.

OP posts:

FallenCaryatid · 09/05/2012 19:52

Don't sit tight, email.

AbigailS · 09/05/2012 19:52

The teacher might not be being difficult and ignoring your letter as you assume.
Did your child hand the letter to the teacher, or did it go into the office? It may even be in your child's book bag still - I've lost count of the number of parents telling me they gave a letter in, for it to be found in their child's bag because the child had forgotten they had it.
If the teacher as recieved it they may not have had chance to read it before end of school. We don't even get chance to go to the loo on days with weather like this. If they have read it, maybe they feel they can't address your concerns without gathering information, or in a hurried five minutes at the end of the day. Maybe they already have another appointment with a visiting professional (ed psyc. nurse, advisory) or another parent. I have had quite a few parents pop in first thing and ask to meet me after school, and be very surprised ( and sometimes annoyed/rude) when I explain I can't see them tonight as I'm already seeing someone, but can offer x, y or z instead.
Another poster has suggested emailing the teacher, unfortunately that wouldn't get a speedier response from me as I only have time to open any emails after the children have gone home.
Thes best course of action IMO is to phone the school tomorrow and ask for an appointment to follow up the letter you have sent in. You are clearly concerned about the issue, but don't assume the teachers are ignoring you by not responding in 6 hours.

FallenCaryatid · 09/05/2012 19:53

Office email is on the website, and the office will forward it to the teacher.

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