intake parent meeting...

[jaabaar]

Hi

We have tomorrow a parents meeting where school gives general info abt settling in, uniform, meeting teacher etc
There is afterwards time for asking questions.

What are questions you wish you had asked?

Thanks

How does the school handle communication? Letters in book bags or email like ParentMail?

When do they advise of days and events parents can/should/are required to attend. This is important if you work and need to juggle your holiday.

Sickness policy and medication policy.

How to they discipline?

Ask about regular school trips or at least pay attention. We only found out about "Activities week" after DD started & signed up for a £350 trip . Other MNers talk about £1500 annual trips. And what happens to kids who can't afford or don't want to go on any trip? Some schools have compulsory residentials for MFL students, too (again not suited to everyone).

Term dates inc inset days (5xyear) to sort cover out. After school and breakfast clubs. Which door to drop off via. Whether they keep spare clothes for accidents (reception obviously!!). Do you get a chance to see teacher in morning etc.

Jaabaar:

I'd asked about whether the children start full-time right away or part-time - many schools gloss over this and tell you at the visit day and leave you scrambling to arrange child care.

If you feel the website is a bit clunky and not very informative say something.

Ask about parent pay (or similar) - so that you can pay for things at school on-line rather than have monies disappear. We stupidly paid cash for the first terms dinner/ juice money on Day 1 of Year R. The envelope with £60+ was never recovered - even though I personally handed it to the Year R teacher. We had to pay again. Apparently several of these obviously cash laden envelopes 'disappear' every year at the school.

My advice is always pay by cheque unless it's just a few pounds.