does NYONE thinkthey haev enough communication form school?

[FluffyMummy123]

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No. Just at the moment no! One of the things in our OFSTED report was lack of communication with the parents. So they are remedying that in spades! Not that I'm complaining ...not really

dd's senior school send the newsletter via email as a paper saving exercise (good idea with senior schools as it saves them being turned into paper aeroplanes etc). Of course the parents have got to sign up for it in the first place, but get regular emails with news and events, which is great for such a large school.

Also have the direct email address of dd's tutor, so is great to not to have to worry about it being forwarded. I have only used it once, but think it is very effective communication.

Mind you, for such a good school do you think they have just pulled 'communication' out of the air as something to complain about?

On a plus point, our school holds cirriculum evenings where the explain to parents how they teach various subjects and how we can help at home. This is important with subjects like maths where the way it is taught now is completely different to how I was taught.

Sounds like the communication is very well thought out. The gripe I have with DD's school & communication is that although there is a lot of communication, the time scales given to sort stuff are frequently too short.

A weekly newsletter from the Head. They go down well. Put all the information in there - save all the letters home - and an update on what has gone on that week.

eg: Joe Aspith created a wonderful sculpture using all the tin cans you so kindly gave during Art Club this week. Well done Joe! Mrs Green (y4 teacher) is looking for a parent to help out in the classroom on Friday's. Jenny Brown has lost her coat (again!) If you see a light purple coat please hand into office. Yr5 had a great trip to the Gas Works on Thursday etc.

I could go on. I'd quite like to actually. They'd be fun to write. I'll do it if you like.

But in answer to your question - a weekly newsletter.

We had outstanding Ofsted too, but our parents said they were happy with levels of communication [sticks tongue out at Cod]

I think it is a middle-class thing though, and our catchment is very mixed, so we don't have so many mc families.

Our school does:
Beg. of yr each class sends home a letter with details of homework/swimming lessons/PE days and similar.
Beg. of each term they send home A5 leaflet (i.e. A4 folded - 5 sides) with details of the topics and curriculum for that class.
Regular whole school letters home, including all diary dates at beg. of the year. These letters are numbered, so if you've missed one you can get a copy.
Letters about trips, residentials, other activities always come in plenty of time and are administered well.
Parents' eves end of first half term, and just before Easter.
Full reports home end of summer term.
Open Door policy with all staff (end of day)
Regular special training for parents - e.g. what are SATs about, how to help your child with maths, child mental health issues, sessions with school nurse, etc.
Also regular invites to special events - fun run, leavers' assembly, plays, poetry workshop, etc. etc.

There is also a school website which is regularly updated and has copies of the letters.

Crikey! I'm exhausted just having typed all that list!

Email is nice. Which we have with our teachers. And I think we have enough communication, really.

Cod - you just can't win - honestly - it's either not enough, too much or not the right sort.

Find yourself a nice hard brick wall and go bang your head on it.

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Sounds like you have it covered then!

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Niecie - you still don't need to know how your child is compared with the others in the class. What's important is that they are making progress over time. If the teacher says they are fine, then it means just that - making progress as expected - no areas of significance weakness. If you want more details, ask them what it means. Just don't expect them to rate your child against any others.

Cod - we weren't allowed to send home letters except on Fridays. Almost everything went into the weekly newsletter so parents had it all in one place. Trip letters with permission slips were about the only thing which was done seperately. Meant that parents only needed to look in the book bags for letters once a week!

Oh yes, all teachers in the playground, every day, 5 minutes before the bell rings in order to welcome children, calm any wobbly nerves, and catch up with any burning issues for parents/make appointments for later.

god no, falling down under the weight of communications from school.

good to know they are single handedly keeping a renewable forest in business - think of all the wildlife whose habitat is safe due to the demand for paper?

Sorry Niecie - just re-read that, it sounds really abrupt. It wasn't meant to!

Because they are moaning old farts Caring Parents, Cod.

Comments book for good things as well as less positive.

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do you produce any of this communication cod? if so, it may not be quantity that is the issue, maybe they just don't understand it?

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