Ideas for 'parent- to-school' communication methods

[SunnyUpNorth]

I am helping our head set up a new method for parents to give feedback, ask questions etc in quite a transparent way.

There is currently a form on the website where a parent can ask something and the reply is visible but this is barely used. A parent can always email in or speak to the head directly, but this is more for general comments and suggestions that other parents might be interested in too.

My suggestion is a postbox for putting comments in so they can be anonymous if wanted and then a large glass covered notice board in a prominent place on an external wall. The comment/query and reply could be put up on the board for all to see.

I just wondered if anyone has any other ideas or a method that works well in their school that you could share?

Many thanks.

Can't see either a noticeboard or the website would really work. I wouldn't make suggestions that way as it looks like you are complaining, and I've always tried to support my dcs' schools where I can. I'm also aware there are sometimes very good reasons that schools make decisions that they can't share with parents generally / publically. Therefore I wouldn't put anything on it.

However, Parents Forums have a very different feel - saying..."Would it be possible to...." or "I do find it quite difficult when...." .... in a face to face meeting means there is tone of voice, facial expression, etc and is so much less confrontational.
None of the ones I've been on have had Parents' Reps - they have all been open to all. The vast majority of Parents only come if there is a particular issue though, normally they carry on with a tiny % of parents just attending and doing what they can to help.

We have nothing like this at our school other than an access questionnaire at the start of the year. I'd love an opportunity to make comments.

i think there is generally a need for better school to parents communication - so an anonymous form of the website and responses in the school newsletter would be a good start.

If you try the noticeboard I predict the following:

1. The parent who writes in on the same issue each week. It isn't an issue for anyone else, and they were adequately answered the first week.
2. The parent with a gripe about their teacher. Probably that they don't smile judging from here.
3. Issues that have nothing to do with the school. Along the lines of isn't it terrible that all of the swings at the playground 10 minutes away were broken on 06/07/2016...
4. Moans that there are too many dress up days/fun days
5. Moans that there are too few dress up days/fun days
6. Complaints that their child is always overlooked
7. Complains that the PTA are cliquey/didn't do something/did something different
8. Suggestions that the school changes their start time/finish time/admissions policy/something else that shouldn't be a parents' decision to suit the person writing.
9. Complaint that the board hasn't been changed for half a term and their question wasn't answered.

10. Shortly after that the board will gently be faded away.

Maybe you could play Bingo with it?