School communication - should I complain?

[FreddoBaggyMac]

Not sure if this is really an AIBU thread but am putting it here anyway!
We have recently moved due to DH's job relocation and my oldest DD1 has started at a new school in Y1. Getting her settled into a nice school (and DD2 into a new nursery) has been central to the whole move for us.
She has settled in brilliantly and loves her teacher and seems to be doing work to a higher standard if anything.

However I have a real problem with the school's level of communication to parents. DD's last school was fantastic in that respect with a website that was updated daily so if she was off school I just had a quick look at that to see what was going on.
In the new school the main method of communication seems to be by text. I don't think this is that acceptable anyway, but particularly since I've handed my number in twice and still have not been sent any of their messages.

What has really made me annoyed by this is that there was an out of uniform day last week, and I left my DD crying at school because she was the only one in uniform because I hadn't received the group text about it that the school had apparently sent out two days beforehand. I had to go back to school in the rain with my two younger DS's (the two year old crying all the way!)to take her clothes so she could get changed. DD was fine by the time we got back to school but I just felt so devastated by it - we are miles away from any friends or family here and I am trying to manage with four small children and DH working long hours, things like this do not make me feel more welcome!! I have never missed anything like this at DD's old school and felt I had let her down, she's a really lovely happy little girl normally.

It also happened on the day of DD's Christmas party, I asked a few days beforehand if they were to wear party clothes and was told no. When we arrived at school on the day of the party all the children were out of uniform!! Thankfully I had taken some clothes in a bag then just in case...

What I really want to know is (after my long whinge!) is it acceptable for a school to communicate only by text? I personally think they should at least have a regularly updated website as well, but perhaps I am just too used to the excellent communication from DDs old school. Also, how should I go about complaining to the school? I don't want to make an enemy of them given that we're only new, but at the same time they did definitely have my number...

Any comments would be most appreciated.

You don't have to complain, just tell them that the system isn't workng in your case, and ask them to sort it out.

That is not acceptable.

Our school communicates by paper letter and all letters are also put on the website so you can see what your child should have come home with (if you remember to check)

Text only seems a bit poor - apart from anything else there really are people who don't have mobile phones (or who don't have them on very frequently!). Plus the people that change their number and don't think to tell the school (or the school isn't very good at updating its list as you've discovered).

My DS's school website is excellent for general info but isn't updated with very current information (I think they struggle to find the time/people to do this). However they do send out a variety of newsletters - general school one every half term and year group newsletter once a week. These list the sort of events that you describe. However by Year 1 they are also verbally telling the children that (eg) tomorrow is a non-uniform day. My DS regularly comes out and reels off several pieces on information without pausing for breath.

I'd chase up (again) that you are not getting the texts and maybe say that you wonder if they could broadcast the information another way (forgot to say -they also put up large signs at DS's school for last minute info!) as you're concerned about not getting it.

Are you sure that having come in "late" so to speak you haven't missed a paper calendar/newsletter of such events with these texts being a reminder. It seems a bit lacking but I found there was level of assumed knowledge about certain things which I had to ask for. Cultivate a playground mum who you can ask just to make sure you know and talk to the school secretary about who handles the coimmunication so you can make sure you are always included. Lots of schools only have basic websites because noone will take on the responsibilty to update it regularly and not all parents have access.

Thanks everyone. What you mention above is more what I'm used to from DD's last school. I have already given them my number (again!) but the secretary was on the phone when I gave it to her so I didn't have a chance to say anything. I try to avoid going into the office as there's always a queue and my two year old runs around causing chaos while we wait!
I'm assuming they don't send paper letters out for environmental reasons which WOULD be great if they put stuff on the website instead!
Anyway, what you have said has backed up my own opinions (ie. text only is not acceptable) so I feel in a stronger position to make some comments to the school. I'd be doing them a favour actually because I suspect ofsted would not be happy with their communication to parents if they came in.

My school issues a paper calender of forthcoming events and children are reminded the day before if there's any change of dress. Children forget lots, but not normally if there's a chance to be out of uniform!

Speak to the school secretary about getting copies of previous letters, esp with important dates. Also chase up about the text system (parentmail?) as it takes time to set up.

As a previous poster said, it's also a good idea to cultivate another mum who's hopefully "with it"!

Hope things improve soon.

LIZS no there was def no paper newsletter about the out of uniform day, apparently it was only decided a few days in advance (it was for the earthquake appeal) and the class teacher told me that a text had been sent out. I feel they could easily have sent a short note as well though. I do need a playground mum to ask, but i find it hard to talk in the playground as I have lots of little ones to constantly supervise, plus when the weather is bad they go straight in to school and there is no chance to chat... I will have to try and get someone's text number so they can text me when the school texts them.. I find the school secretary a bit dismissive and scary (but that is probably just me!!) so I'd be a bit scared about 'putting her out' to send separate info to me.

Meant to say that a large sign outside the school with important info on is a really good idea: quick, easy and free - I will suggest it!

We get texts and they work well. Just go and stand in the office and watch them put your number into the text system, so you know you will get them.

The school has a method that apparently works for every other parent. You just need to get your number onto their system. Instead of queuing in the office, phone the school at a time when you can have a sensible converstaion with the secretary.

You don't get texts if your phone is off most the time (like mine). I have found this out the hard way -- although senders (ie school staff) should get a msg to the effect that your text not gone thru, and they should phone you instead (again, speaking from experience). I'm guessing that no one at OP's school is following up on texts that didn't go thru.

Our school communicates mostly by letter, thank goodness. I need those tangible pieces of paper to remember everything. If I only got text msg. I'd end up reading it and forgetting it 30 seconds later, and unless I was in habit of very frequently checking thru old text messages, it'd be forgotten forever.

Our school communicate via "pupil post" which consist of a letter given to the children to take home. it mostly works well as I tend to have a look through their bag every evening but I wish they would have a text thing as well to remind us of things the day before as a lot of events/trips are announced quite a lot in advance and I am not really good at witing things ion my calendar (my problem, not the school's BTW). Text would also have been handy during the whole "school closure saga".

I think you just have to insist on the fact that you have yet not recieved any communication from the school and could they please check they have got your correct number on their file?

They must have a back up system for people without mobile phones - we do exist!

Both my DDs schools are trying to cut down on the amount of paper they send out so communicate by parent mail- I get all the school letters by e-mail.

I can't imagine that all the information a school needs to send could possibly be contained on a text! Are you sure they don't use an e-mail system too- the text thing is also a part of Parent mail but our school only uses that for emergency situations such as school closures due to bad weather.

I would definitely go in and ask and also tell them (again)you are not receiving texts. It doesn't sound like a very efficient system.

Do you have class reps? They could be the ones to ask if you want someone to text you. If not could you go to the next PTA meeting and raise it there, or find out who the PTA chair is and speak to her directly? Joining PTA is also a great way to settle in.

We have parentmail and its a great system so if school doesn't have it might be worth suggesting the PTA look to fund it. Agree with BrigitBK that text is too short for proper communication.

Also for important reminders the teachers often post notices on the class doors to read at pick-up (only works if you collect from class though, not playground).

Have missed own-clothes days before and I know we parents get far more upset than
t the kids, must be hard.

Thanks for your posts everyone.

My phone is always on so I definitely have not missed any texts.

I'm not the only parent who is unhappy with the communication, loads of people have said to me 'It's a great school but they're terrible for letting you know what's going on!' Most people obviously get to know things from other mums and have a support network, but we've only lived here just over a month and I haven't got that yet. I'd love to join the PTA but it's just not possible at the moment - I have four DCs five and under (still bfing the youngest who is 8 months)and no-one around to help look after them, DH's hours at work are long and unpredictable and he's often working all evening so I'd really struggle to make PTA meetings (we have no-one to babysit) and I'm too shattered anyway at the moment to be honest! It's something I definitely plan to do when they're older though and hopefully things are a bit easier.

I'd love to receive info by email, but I have asked and they don't do that. They do send letters out ocassionally but as I said texts seem to be the norm. Anyway, will just have to think of a way of approaching it diplomatically. Easiest way would be to send them an email but that's not possible unfortunately

Why is it not possible for you to send the school an e-mail? Headteachers use e-mail all the time and it should be easy enough to find the address, it's usually something along the lines of: [email protected] I've e-mailed my DD's Headteacher about things that I wondered about but that hadn't been put in a newsletter this academic year (the scary secretaries expected new parents to know all the information that was contained in last year's letters - duh!).

I'd e-mail the Head (you could always ask the classteacher for the address) and ask if she could a) explain the rationale behind the text only communication method and b) be kind enough to e-mail you a copy of the school calendar as you've been finding it difficult to speak to anyone in the school office.

As a teacher myself if there are random pieces of information, non-uniform days etc. happening not only do I make a big thing of it in class but I usually grab an enormous piece of sugar paper and the thickest marker pen I can find so I can create a poster/notice thingy and stick it up in the playground. When I'm teaching Y5/6 I get them to do it for me!

We get a newsletter every Friday - though sometimes this can go missing between the yard or so between the carpet and her tray!!!!

Thanks again everyone. Have calmed down today and went to the office who were very nice and assured me that my number is now on their texting system. I probably blew it up into more than it was but was feeling very down last week anyway, missing friends and familiar faces, so the out of uniform thing really got to me.
I think the school do rely a lot on children telling their parents things which I know is probably good for them... but my DD is only 5 which I think is a bit early to be burdened with having lists of things to remember each day.
The only email address I can find for the school is on the website which is 'under development' and it says underneath that it's not a real email address!
I think the case is that no-one has the time to sort things out and update the website etc... I do want to approach it with them to ensure this kind of thing doesn't happen again and also to help the school out as I'm sure it would be their main failing if they had an ofsted (they really seem very good in most other ways). I'd even be happy to do the website myself if I was told how - I can't imagine it's difficult, just requires a bit of time devoted to it which I could do instead of my mumsnet browsing Will probably approach them at parents evening about it.
Thanks again for all your help.

Our school does communication in a number of ways; weekly newsletter, bright coloured paper slips in bags for important last minute stuff, notices outside classrooms.

Rather wonderfully, they also put stuff on their website calender that can be copied directly in to your own on-line calender.

Perhaps, you could could do this with the website?

Wow that does sound impressive Builde... I love that idea, but then I am a hopeless organisation geek at heart

DD's school only communicates urgent stuff by text, eg school closed due to snow.... everything else on weekly newsletter which is either emailed or if you are not on email put in book bags. communications from class teachers put in bags.

think text is unacceptible as can't say enough in a text!