No info at all from school re starting reception. That's crap, right?

[herbaceous]

I'm currently composing a stroppy letter to head of DS's new school, about the fact that we have had no information about the start of school, such as term dates, inset days, rough timetable, curriculum, uniform, lunch arrangements, whether/when he'll do PE/music, what he needs to be able to do, what he needs to bring, or even when the school day starts. Their website is two years out of date, and thus useless.

This is shit, right?

There was a meeting for all new parents, at which you could buy the uniform jumper, but as there were 120 families, one person selling, and five minutes to do it in, no-one stood a chance.

We met his teacher for a grand total of ten minutes, and there was no chance to meet other classmates or for him to look around. It contrasts so starkly with some friends' experiences of home visits, information packs about stuff, organised picnics for new parents, etc etc. I just feel we're leaping into the void.

There are 120 children in his year? OMG

Yup - it's four-form entry. There are only 30 on his site, tho. And yes - I'm hoping everything will miraculously fall into place, the teachers wonderful and the school cohesive.

My medical appeal forms are with the doctor, aka lap of the gods, so god knows what will happen there.

The school does have a good reputation, oddly.

It was! He was all bravado and excitement on the way, with his little legs sticking out of his huge shorts, then went very quiet and sad-looking once inside. Nice, caring atmosphere, and lots of fun to be had, but general air of lots of stuff we felt we should have known - £3 for snack money here please; no no of course you can't get the book bag here; pick up is 3.15 (not 3.30 as I was told). One thing that boils my piss is internal admin that is illogical, not designed for the end user, and about which you're made to feel stupid for not knowing.

Got given the (out of date) prospectus and newsletter on the way out! Playground still not started.

Little man looked very sad as we left, but I managed not to cry, mainly as I had to undergo aforementioned tedious admin.

Oooh, get me. Just had a phonecall from the head teacher, apologising for the utter crapness of treatment of new parents. She has lots of ideas of how it's going to get better, and invited me to meet her tomorrow morning.

Get in.

Is this the new head?

I'd not overwhelm her but just have a few key points, uniform, website not updated etc

Oh yes. I'm going to be very nice. I'll just ask how she plans to integrate the two sites better, etc. I now know all the detailed stuff, and info about timetable, clubs, etched, is coming tomorrow. She apparently didn't start until 1 September, so most of the cock up is down to the old head. Apparently!

"She apparently didn't start until 1 September,"

My kids were at two schools as much-loved, long-standing heads retired, to the sorrow and regret of the parents and the governors. The new heads were given a hard time and blamed for all sorts of failures, and their immediate removal of about a third of the staff was criticised at the school gate as vindictive and unreasonable.

When the dust had settled, it turned out that they had each inherited an absolute shambles. The previous heads had known when they were leaving and therefore not bothered to sort out failing teachers, a really nasty case of bullying, some budget problems and a failure to follow proper safeguarding policies. And, in one case, the fairly obvious fraud being conducted by a member of staff who had siphoned off thousands of pounds to give to a Chinese prostitute.

Be nice to her. She's still trying to find where the bodies are buried. The chances are that the previous head hasn't handed over tidily, and she's going to be fire-fighting. Be helpful. You, she and your son have got another seven years together.

Sounds like shocking communication. I hope it gets better with the new head.

It was merely 'good', but that was last year, under the tough rules. I'm assuming it must be brilliant, then marked down for communication with parents!

I didn't speak to any other parents - everyone looked a bit shy - but I might dare tomorrow!

I shall be very nice and helpful to new head - I'm feeling positive, and that this could be the start of a 'beautiful relationship'.

Looks as if it might be OK herbaceous. As a primary head myself I applaud you for writing to the head and raising your concerns. So many parents are content to moan at the school gates or on here instead of letting the school know what is not working and therefore giving them a chance to put it right. It sounds as if the new head is keen to listen and up for change. Good luck.

Right. Well I met her for about 40 minutes. She realises there's a hell of a lot to do to improve communication with parents. She was at the new starters meeting, as a guest, and was horrified at the size of it, and the relative uselessness of the info given out. Nothing was from a parent's perspective - all just internally-driven blather.

She's got all sorts of ideas, and is prepared to make herself unpopular with the 'we've always done it this way' mob to get them done. She turned her previous school round from 'special measures' to 'good' in four years, so reckon she's shit hot.

I complained that no-one had shown any concern re DS's eye, or suggested a meeting of how to deal with it, etc, and that I was in the middle of organising a transfer on medical grounds. She was horrified. She knew there was a boy in his class with a problem, and had asked the staff if it was sorted. They had said yes. Further profuse apologies, and a meeting to sort it arranged first thing Monday.

And she's going to send me the email of the chair of the PTA (or, indeed, PITA)!

Glad its all worked out well.

we moved eldest school part way through year we liked the head but school was shambles huge staffing problems, acadmic attainment low, safety issues.

after we moved head left I forsaw that, 2 temp heads took over and wheneever i sw freinds who still went old school they were moaning how everything was changing.

Its now got brand new head who turned round his old school and they think hes the answer but reckon their still be few bodies hidden im sure in few years they can turn themselves around buteldest was older so time wasent on my side.

As yours is in reception-changes are 2years time with new head could be outstanding and be really pooular as long as you feel your childs safe and happy.

Speaking to lots freinds diffrent schools most seem to whinge about communication.

Also i dont envy the role of split site head as must be very tricky intergrating them as one school. in past seen couple slit ste seniors schools but never split site primaries trend seems to be shut down infants and juniors and place all on one site,.

Good luck and hope this year goes well for you.

Sounds like a great head, and if there is a lot about the school that is 'good' according to ofsted, then hopefully things will change quite quickly. Good luck OP. How was your son enjoyed school so far?

He seems to have loved it! Though typically his main recollection of his first day was lunch. "Salad, coleslaw and jelly. And, of course, cous cous." No idea why 'of course'!

I'm glad it all seems to have turned out OK in the end but if you have any inclination to get involved in improving the school you really need to be thinking about joining the governing body rather than organising raffles for the PTA imo.

Indeed. I've been on the committee for a play centre for the past three years, and have kind of had my fill of spending weeks organising an event for it to raise £50. Governors might be more my bag.