How do you give good feedback to your DC's school?

[LynetteScavo]

I admit I'm the first parent to phone/write to the school if I'm not happy about about something - partly because I work FT and and don't get the opportunity to have a quick word with the teacher or HT who hovers on the playground.

But sometimes I really want to say thank you, or say how well the schools team played during a weekend match (when it's been organised by outside club, so school staff don't attend)

I really am thankful for the little things the staff do, and am very proud of how the DC represent the school and play as a team. At DS1's high school I can email, but the primary school don't do emails.

I'm wishing there was a way of giving the school positive feedback - I know I'm not the only parents to feel like this, and would like to suggest something to the HT, but not sure what.

E mail the teacher/ admin to be forwarded. All out in school communication is done electronically now- we also have a blogging bit on our school website. The children can log on and feedback to homework etc but parents can also use it.

I like the idea of a questionnaire twice a year. There are a couple of issues that have been irritating at a low level for several years at the DCs' school which are not serious enough to merit a letter to the school but which could be raised through a response to a questionnaire.

We send out a questionnaire once a year

?e have a school blog, each class has a page and the pta and a page for events and school camps.

I have posted feedback for brilliant assemblies, in support of change to transport policy and after a fantastic fundraiser organised by the pta.

All successes posted by school with pics and v easy for parents to give feedback. Kids love it too I think, especially if they hear positive words about behaviour/community spirit and such.

Can't you just hand a letter in at the office? You definitely should write; occasional morale boosts are crucial in teaching!

"I get lots of unsquashed letters handed to me by 4 year olds ... so it can be done." mrz It can be done - I know it can, be done because other peoples DC do it......just not mine, reliably. During the 1 hour 15 minutes between dropping my DC off, and them going into school they seem to totally forget they have any diner money/homework/permission slips to go on a trip, unless they are specifically asked by the teacher.

When DD was in Y1 I actually pinned important things onto the front of her sweatshirt with a safety pin. DD tells me she is "too busy doing important things" to remember to hand something in. In fact DS2 doesn't even remember to eat any lunch, every single day. If something is important I do post it to secondary school, even though DS1 is very good at remembering things.

A school blog sounds brilliant thekitchenfairy!

Lynette - lord yes, dd would be the most inefficient post-child known to the education system. Even with me repeatedly nagging 'HAND YOUR HOMEWORK IN' as she goes into class from the playground it remains in the schoolbag unless I physically remove it and make her walk in clutching it in her hand. Anything like a note she would probably shove in her desk never to be seen again, if it ever made it out of the bag.

I asked DD teacher who I should say thank you to (for an event DD got selected to go on) and she asked me to write a letter to the headmistress so it can go in their "happy file". I chuckled about the file and she said it was lovely to look at when teachers are feeling down..

Even though our school is fantastic people just don't think to write/send word to express their views. Which is a shame as when you talk to parents they are mostly really happy.

If you tell the school you want to send a thank you or compliment, I guarantee you that you'll get told the email address ;)

Letters, cards or emails are really lovely to receive as a teacher, are a real morale boost (we all love to be told we've done a good job), and also good for our professional portfolios.

Forgot to add that I've always sent personal cards in to the teachers (usually at Christmas and end of year) but email does make sense, especially if it's a more general thank you to the team, much easier to circulate than a card.

Our school does have a FB page which works well for news, reminders and general positive comments, but I can see it could work both ways!

I emailed the Headteacher when I thought she handled a staffing issue well.

At our school, there is a general email address and you can ask for emails to be forwarded to teachers (if you don't have their direct email addresses).