What would you improve at your primary school?

[Ifonlyoneday]

We have a new head and she has sent a questionnaire home asking for parents views? So if you had a questionnaire back what would you fill in? Before it came I would have said music lessons at school, but the ne head has just brought these in. So if you could suggest anything, what would you? What worked well at your primary schools?

[mrz]

Catkind I simply don't have time to log in and check email during the working day. most days I don't have time to visit the loo (and I regard that a higher personal priority)

[catkind]

If it's set up right checking email could be similar to your checking whatever "class dojo" is. At least I'm assuming it's some kind of electronic system? As I say no reason you'd need both. You already have a messaging system that you do use and do find time to look at. That's what our school are lacking.

[mrz]

Not really as that is running and usedconstantly on the IWB

[mrz]

As SENCo and Designate Safeguarding Lead my emails often contain sensitive information so couldn't be open all the time.

[catkind]

If it was set up right I said mrz, not that you personally should immediately start using your current email account for it. I don't imagine you would use the same email address for class business and SENCo business for example.

But if it's actually better for whatever reason in a particular school, I wish our school had a clever messaging system like wot mrz has. Sounds as good if not better anyway from a parent perspective.

[user789653241]

One of my ds's class in the past used class dojo. It was great. It was basically online reward system, constantly updating and parents can see it as well. Also had pm like mn one, which was very handy.
But I assume it might be quite hard work for teachers though.
It's free, I think. Maybe you can recommend to your school, catkind?

[mrz]

Since my LEA only allocate one official email

[ChopOrNot]

mrz could you not ask for one in your name "[email protected]" and a [email protected].

Probably end up giving you more of a headache than not - depends on your system - but it may be a way of getting 2 email accounts if it would make your life easier?

[ChopOrNot]

"Floella" it was Floella Benjamin...!

[mrz]

As I have a number of roles I'd end up trying to juggle multiple accounts which would be an absolute nightmare

[Wellthen]

I don't think time has much to do with it - surely no one expects a reply instantly?

I think one of the reasons primary heads are reluctant to hand out personal school emails is because of the more intense relationship primary teachers have with their parents - secondary staff have lots more students and many of their parents won't even know their names or at least their faces.

A noticeable minority of parents would take advantage sending regular unnecessary emails. I'm shuddering thinking about how many ' where is x jumper' 'y says Z was a tiny bit mean to her 4 days ago' 'what's the homework again?' I would get every day! A smaller minority would be inappropriate, aggressive or nasty. "Going in to see the teacher" takes more effort and thought than firing off an email and so some may email before they think.

Or, put another way, with maybe 100 students per week and no 'home time' meetings, email is one of the only ways secondary parents can access teachers so secondary schools manage these issues because they have to. Primary school Heads (it is rarely the individual teacher's decision) font give out emails simply because they dont want the hassle.

[mrz]

I agree Wellthen I speak to 90% of my class's parents face to face every day
It's also interesting in our July parent survey parents asked for paper newsletters and information home

[catkind]

"Going in to see the teacher" takes more effort and thought than firing off an email and so some may email before they think.
For parents who are in the playground going in to see the teacher is easy and positively encouraged. For working parents it can be a huge thing involving time off work. I think it's good to have an equivalently easy way for those parents to stay in touch about minor things. (Which often aren't so minor to a quiet 4 yr old who can't speak up for themselves yet.)

A paper home-school diary would work too, but I'd have thought that would be even more hassle for the teacher/TA to check.

[JerryFerry]

I work in education research so look at this sort of thing a lot. I would say that COMMUNICATION is key to parent engagement and therefore support of children's learning. School apps work brilliantly as the vast majority of today's parents of school age children have v close relationship with their phones. It also means translator services can be used easily which is vital get gem the multicultural make up of so many schools.

[JerryFerry]

given not get gem

[Underchipsandpeas]

No shirt and tie! Just get rid of them!

Really inclusive extra curricular activities.

[PterodactylToenails]

I would like my school to stop being so cloak and dagger about everything and encourage parents to have an interest in their children's education rather than make us feel like we are just interfering. Regular school newsletter, if the children are doing fantastic things at school then let us know about it. I also agree with less constant demands on the parents - every week we are also asked for contributions charity events/non uniform days etc. It gets too much!

[Ditsy4]

Books enough for the children so when I send them to change their book they don't come back saying there isn't any in that colour band!

[Ifonlyoneday]

Just got a personal letter back from headteacher thanking me for constructive feedback. Result

[deathtoheadlice]

Ability to do afterschool care which is till 6, but also do school clubs. Would take 20 min to walk them over to where the after school care is.
Yes to music lessons, more ability to differentiate for individual needs, more sensitivity to the effects of reward schemes on dc when they don't really have any control over the outcome... Overall our school is great though!

[MindTheDrawings]

Our school has class Dojo and it works very well, we can message the teachers and the head whenever we like. I've always had a response to my messages. It's a great way of communicating.

I'd like schools to ditch the homework projects. Ds (and I) have, in the past, worked extremely hard on projects, blood, sweat & tears have sometimes been shed, only for the homework to be handed in on the day specified and it being cast aside with no mention of a 'well done' or anything. This has to be one of THE most frustrating elements. If you state a date a project has to be in by, then set that morning/afternoon aside to at least acknowledge that a) well done for completing and handing in b) acknowledging the hard work gone in to completing it. Either that or don't set any projects at all. It really does leave my child deflated when work gone into something gets more or less tossed aside.

[Virginiaplain1]

More money from the Government so that we could afford to employ specialist teachers, buy iPads for all and have enough admin staff to send out timely communications to parents because they are not swamped with work.