Please read my letter to DS's teacher

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

from this thread

Dear Mrs xxxxx

I signed a permission slip for DS to attend extra ICT lessons, and on the permission slip it stated that it was felt that he would not be disadvantaged or fall behind as a result of these lessons. Part of the reason given was that he was able in both mathematics and ITC, and that the ICT lessons would take place during numeracy lessons that he could afford to miss.

DS was very keen to attend and I signed the permission form.

I subsequently found that DS had not been allowed to attend these lessons, and came to see you to ask why.

You told me (Friday 9th May) that this was not a punishment but DS had not done well enough in spelling and tables tests for him to be allowed to attend. I was not informed on the permission slip that this was a criteria or a problem with DS. I have never had communication from you that you considered this a problem that should be addressed, either verbally or in writing. When I asked about this you said emphatically that this was not a punishment but a sanction. You agreed that the lesson he was missing would do nothing to increase his ability at tables or spelling. At that point, for me, it became a punishment.

At the end of our meeting you agreed to reconsider your decision, and that better communication would be beneficial. After that I have heard nothing, but gather from DS that he has not been to any of the ITC lessons. He has not had any chance to redeem himself in spelling or tables tests (which you said were the issue) as these have not been carried out between the date I spoke to you and the tests he did on Friday (where he got 14/15).

Do you want us to read it or comment on it?

At the risk of poking my nose in where it's not wanted, I would suggest that you end by stating clearly what you want from this. I guess that's a promise that ds can attend the classes. For the lasts paragraph, how about something like

At our meeting on 9 May you agreed to reconsider your decision. In his only tests since then DS scored 14/15 and so it seems to me that there is no reason now why he should not attend the classes. Can you confirm that he will attend the classes [next week/month/term (as appropriate)]?

HTH and apologies if it doesn't.

Last, of course. Where did my italics go?

I've just read your thread, and I think I would be tempted to speak to the head/ principal instead. You have spoken to this teacher and have been dissatisfied with the outcome. She doesn't sound like a very good communicator and does sound a bit strange, so it might be better to go over her head. Surely, knowing that you were concerned enough about your ds missing these lessons to speak to her previously, she should have made a point of discussing with you the reason for his persistant exclusion from them?! If speaking to the head teacher isn't an option, then I think your letter is fine, but as MadBad said, it might be worth stating what outcome you would like to see, or maybe say that if there are continuing reasons why your ds is being excluded from the class that you might be able to discuss them with her further

What is yoir school's complaints procedure? Normally it's (1) letter to head and (2) letter to governors if still dissatisfied. As Joolyjoolyjoo says, you may now have grounds for a double complaint - about both the exclusion itself and the lack of communication from the teacher.

Thankyou for replying - thing is I don't know what I want the outcome to be, the ICT lessons were a special one off and though he could have joined at the time of our meeting (having only missed one) now he has missed most of them, and they were doing a project so there is little point. I just want them to admit that it was unfair really - but can I put that?

What the feck do I want the outcome to be?

Here is the letter as it stands now

I signed a permission slip for MiniNorm to attend extra ICT lessons, and on the permission slip it stated that it was felt that he would not be disadvantaged or fall behind as a result of these lessons. Part of the reason given was that he was able in both mathematics and ICT, and that the ICT lessons would take place during numeracy lessons that he could afford to miss.

MiniNorm was very keen to attend and I signed the permission form.

I subsequently found out (only by asking MiniNorm if he had enjoyed the lessons) that MiniNorm had not been allowed to attend these lessons because of his spelling, and came to see you to ask why.

You told me (Friday 9th May) that this was not a punishment but MiniNorm had not done well enough in spelling and tables tests for him to be allowed to attend. I was not informed on the permission slip that this was a criteria or a problem with MiniNorm. I have never had communication from you that you considered this a problem that should be addressed, either verbally, or in writing. When I asked about this you said emphatically that this was not a punishment but a ?sanction?. You agreed that the lesson he was missing would do nothing to increase his ability at tables or spelling. At that point, for me, it became a punishment. I expected the school to encourage children in areas that they are able, rather than exclude them from those extra activities for other weaknesses.

At the end of our meeting you agreed to reconsider your decision, and that better communication would be beneficial, I agreed to work harder with MiniNorm on his spellings and tables. After that I have heard nothing, but gather from MiniNorm that he has not been to any of the ICT lessons. He has not had any chance to redeem himself in spelling or tables tests (which you said were the issue) as these have not been carried out between the date I spoke to you and the tests he did on Friday (where he got 14/15).

Had the time he missed in numeracy been used to coach him in the areas you felt lacking, or had I been informed of the problems at the time of the permission slip then I would understand his subsequent exclusion. As it stands now, I feel that my son was offered an opportunity he was very enthusiastic about, only to have it removed without any chance of support (either from home or school), to reach the criteria that you imposed. It was not a condition of attendance I was informed of, but I was still asked to give permission for something he was not allowed to attend.

I feel that I should have been told about the conditions imposed on his attendance at the time I was asked for permission, and that your decision that he could not attend should have been communicated to me on both occasions (both the original decision and the subsequent one following our meeting when you said you would reconsider). I feel that MiniNorm has been treated unfairly

Yours etc

I think that is fine, although I might add "and I would be interested in/ appreciate your comments" at the very end, so you are giving her an opportunity to reply. Keep a copy, so you can move the complaint on to the head teacher if you get no joy ("having sent the attached letter to Mrs xxxx last week...") Here's hoping for an apology!

In that case, I think I might be more inclined to make it a formal complaint addressed to the head (if that's what your school's complaints procedure says). One part of the complaint could be about the unfairness and unreasonableness of removing ds from the course when it seemed his place was guaranteed, compounded by the delays and lack of communication.

OK - have added a bit - probably added a rather sarcastic bit too

see if you can spot it

I signed a permission slip for MiniNorm to attend extra ICT lessons, and on the permission slip it stated that it was felt that he would not be disadvantaged or fall behind as a result of these lessons. Part of the reason given was that he was able in both mathematics and ICT, and that the ICT lessons would take place during numeracy lessons that he could afford to miss.

MiniNorm was very keen to attend and I signed the permission form.

I subsequently found out (only by asking MiniNorm if he had enjoyed the lessons) that MiniNorm had not been allowed to attend these lessons because of his spelling, and came to see you to ask why.

You told me (Friday 9th May) that this was not a punishment but MiniNorm had not done well enough in spelling and tables tests for him to be allowed to attend. I was not informed on the permission slip that this was a criteria or a problem with MiniNorm. I have never had communication from you that you considered this a problem that should be addressed, either verbally, or in writing. When I asked about this you said emphatically that this was not a punishment but a ?sanction?. You agreed that the lesson he was missing would do nothing to increase his ability at tables or spelling. At that point, for me, it became a punishment. I expected the school to encourage children in areas that they are able, rather than exclude them from those extra activities for other weaknesses.

At the end of our meeting you agreed to reconsider your decision, and that better communication would be beneficial, I agreed to work harder with MiniNorm on his spellings and tables. After that I have heard nothing, but gather from MiniNorm that he has not been to any of the ICT lessons. He has not had any chance to redeem himself in spelling or tables tests (which you said were the issue) as these have not been carried out between the date I spoke to you and the tests he did on Friday (where he got 14/15).

Had the time he missed in numeracy been used to coach him in the areas you felt lacking, or had I been informed of the problems at the time of the permission slip then I would understand his subsequent exclusion. As it stands now, I feel that my son was offered an opportunity he was very enthusiastic about, only to have it removed without any chance of support (either from home or school), to reach the criteria that you imposed. It was not a condition of attendance I was informed of, but I was still asked to give permission for something he was not allowed to attend.

I feel that I should have been told about the conditions imposed on his attendance at the time I was asked for permission, and that your decision that he could not attend should have been communicated to me on both occasions (both the original decision and the subsequent one following our meeting when you said you would reconsider). I feel that MiniNorm has been treated unfairly. Will MiniNorm be excluded from sports day because he spent so many months of his early years with his leg in plaster and can?t yet swim?

I presume that nothing could be done now as MiniNorm has missed most of these lessons, but I would like to hear what your reasons were when you reconsidered, and decided to continue to exclude MiniNorm from the lessons.

Yours Sincerely

Norma

CC Head Teacher

Ooh- I see the sarcasm- ouch!!

My only caveat would be if your ds is likely to have much more to do with this teacher in the future. If he will only be in her class until the end of this term, put what you like, but if there is a chance that she will take his class again further up the school, might be that she will hold a grudge, which might make life a bit awkward for your ds. (I know she SHOULDN'T, but it's hard to be complained about and stay neutral, and she sounds a bit odd anyway) But that might just be me and my paranoia! I am virtually pathetic in my attempts to make sure the nursery staff like me so they are nice to my kids!

What you are saying is I really should remove the swimming thing?

Thing is - that is how I feel.... Maybe I can save that phrase for face to face with headteacher?

Yeah- I'd save it for any further action. Personally I think I might be tempted to go straight to the head- I kinda feel that people get one chance to rectify a complaint from me, then, if I'm still not happy, I take it higher, rather than get into an I-said-you-said discussion with them, but I guess it depends what the procedure is at your school!

i see what you mean, the letter is going to her and head