How do you communicate with school and get information about your reception child's day?

[WhoahThereCrazyHorse]

I hadn't anticipated how different this would be - dd hoes to before and after school club, so we don't drop off or pick up from the classroom and therefore have no contact with the teacher, in contrast to how it was at nursery.

If you do the same, how do you find out how your child is doing? Is it just part of the growing up process that you know less? If you have a specific question, how do you ask it?

These may be stupid questions but I'm a bit flummoxed!!

goes obviously, not hoes :)

You can't expect a teacher to give individual feedback at the end of the day to 30 parents. If you have specific questions perhaps a note in the book bag or call reception.

You assume that no news is good news, work out what you can from their clothes / friends / conversation and wait until parents evening.

It's a culture shock, but it turns out ok.

You can't. Reception is all about severing the maternal ties and instilling the 'back off' behaviour into parents in order to enable schools to keep classroom practice a secret as your child progresses further up the school.

'It's a culture shock, but it turns out ok.'

Unless your child has SEN. Then that couldn't be further from the truth.

What is it you want to know? Any particular concerns or general stuff like what they did?

It is very scary suddenly not knowing anything about your child's day.

I hear nothing back but this is fairly typical I think. My DH drops off and I collect and we are none the wiser of what happens between 9 and 3 as DS "can't remember". Agree with Devonicity, no news is good news!

Surely 'feedback' is done via Parent Teacher nights unless there are specific concerns with your child. Then I guess a note would be sent home asking you to come in for a meeting.

Sometimes I would ask the teacher if it seems appropriate at drop off or pick up.

Ds had an issue with another pupil so I sent an email and the teacher rang me up to discuss

QueenStarlight I didn't mean to offend, I have no personal experience of SEN and I would have assumed that the school would be talking to you a lot about it (but obviously not in front of other parents). That's what has happened to a couple of friends, anyway - lots of meetings with with the school, signposting to other services etc.

I'm in this position as ds has just started and I work FT- never do drop off or pick up.

However, ds's school has this fantastic learning journal app called tapestry - the teacher posts daily pics and short observations of what ds has been doing- sometimes as an individual, and sometimes as a whole class. I can comment and add info/pics on what he has done at home.

I love it BUT I am a bit concerned about the teachers' work life balance....they all come through between 9pm and midnight.....

Yes, it's a culture shock. You get used to it, though!

Specific queries: note in book bag, email teacher (if you are lucky enough to have their address).

General "everything going OK" type thoughts: assume yes unless told no!

Yes, culture shock.

Teacher sometimes is around at drop off so you can have a very quick word about something, but no time for general day to day chat.

You can make an appointment to speak to the class teacher, but that would normally be at normal drop off or pickup time so you might need to flex your hours or take some leave. Maybe you could tie it in with when you need to go in for an assembly or something.

Alternatively you could email the school office and ask if you can contact the teacher by email.

Wow, loads of replies!!! Thanks all - I thought that would probably be the case and no, no specific concerns really, just an adjustment I guess.

Our nursery uses Tapestry Susannah, it's amazing isn't it - probably adds to the culture shock I'm experiencing now!!!

Hey ho, will live with the random info dd gives me until parents evening!!

Thanks all.

We were given a small exercise book that's to be used for communications between us and the teacher. So far communications from the teacher have consisted mainly of stuck in notes about how to use the exercise book, reception homework requirements, and a school photo reminder.

I'm not offended at all devon. I have learned a lot about our education provision and system since my first born has gone through it with identified SEN from the outset and who is now in his 7th educational placement at age 8.

ALL problems so far stem from lack of good and robust communications and the inability of schools and teachers to recognise parents as genuine and equal partners in their children's education.

My 3rd and youngest is just entering the system (my 2nd half way through primary). It is a relief to see that there is just as much bollocks for them as I was paranoid for a bit that there was deliberate targeting of kids with SEN. Turns out there isn't, it's just that children without SEN seem to circumvent the bollocks.

I am in no way making a generalised statement that covers all individual teachers. Many teachers are just as frustrated with how things are ime.

My DTs are in nursery and we get a newsletter emailed on the Monday about what they (EYFS so nursery and reception) will be doing in class that week.
The class (as do all classes within the school) also has a twitter feed where they post pictures of the days activities. So today i know that they played dress up and hide and seek along with number work as that is what i saw pictures of.

I assume as they move up the school there will be less contact but as far as i can see all the classes are fairly active on twitter and the school regularly posts newsletters (once a month) on their website regarding things that have been happening etc.

If you have any questions i assume you could phone the school and ask for an appointment or a phone call to discuss what ever it was.

OP, do you get a 'Home Diary' or anything like that?

DD is in Year 2 now but right from Reception we had a home diary that came home every night. It had their homework in and also a note on their Reading progress (so what book they had read that day and how well they did or didn't do with it, things to focus on etc). I did drop off DD in the mornings and we could approach the teacher then if it was something urgent. If not I would put a note in the diary and they would respond with a short response or something more indepth if they had time.

The home diary is read every day without fail and the TA or Teacher just puts the date if there is nothing to respond to, to let us know that it's been looked at.

At my childrens school there was a parents info meeting/meet the teacher at the start of every school year where we were given info about routines, curriculum, reading records. Then every term a little booklet saying what topics were being covered.
Day to day contact was done via a contact book (excercise book or planner). In addition for reception- year 3 the children were brought outside by the class teacher who would often say a word or two to each parent/carer

At DC's infants all the children who went to after school club had a home/school diary. You won't get every detail of her day, but the teacher will be able to let you know that DD complained of a tummy ache and equally you'll be able to ask for an explanation about what they are meant to bring in on Friday!

Parent Teacher night.
No news is good news.
If there's an issue, teacher will approach you.
You have to stand back and trust. If you feel acutely concerned about an issue, book a meeting with the teacher through the school receptionist.

:-) You don't know, until parents evening (or unless you get called in!)