New to the system, missed the parents evening, what do I need to know?

[trsv]

Hi all,
We've moved to England recently with our two kids. I'm new to the system, as I come from a different background, so everything re:education is fairly new to me. I do get about as I browse and read and also talk with a friend who is a teacher in a primary school, but still have many things to learn.
DD1 got a place offered in local academy which I like and was happy about it. Lots of the new friends she made in the primary school are going there too, so she is at ease about the transition, and she's really confident and doing well at school, though she has some catch up to do re: her English.
As hers was a late admission, I've missed the parents visits earlier there, and somehow managed to forget my brains at home, so while I did go to the DD2 parents morning the same day, regarding her going to foundation in September, I somehow managed to miss DD1 parents evening. I feel I've let her down, and also I don't know any stuff I was supposed to learn that evening. I still haven't got my information pack or any forms to fill. I've called the school to try and schedule a visit with no luck.
So now what am I to do? Is there something terribly important being said on parents evenings that I've missed and cannot learn from the school's website or information pack?
Thank you in advance.

It's common that HT will have a PA whose job is to help parents like you. I would phone the school and ask to speak to the Head teacher's personal assistant. Is your DD1 starting yr7 & your DD2 starting reception?

Yes, DD1 is Y7 in September, and DD2 is going to be reception.
From the school's office they said it is not possible to organize a tour for me as they are swamped with work at the end of the year... so you suggest I ask for the HT's PA's help? I'm expecting them to call me back re:information pack, so I could ask them this.

It's always a bad sign if they won't give you even a tour, but I guess some schools really are so stretched. Pinning down to a single responsible contact is ideal.

Around here you could even turn up at 4-5pm & just wander around the school premises chatting with cleaners as you go, at least you'd have physically seen the building.

Most HTs seem to have PAs, yes. Else a deputy head. They would usually handle admissions at odd times. Might be better to wait for the info pack so you have a clear list of questions. Your key info to get is what form will she be in (tutor group, like a home room but may not meet until end of the day), and where does she go & what does she do on the first day. Also uniform requirements and sort out your transport each way. Most the rest can be sorted on the day; you wouldn't believe how much schools do at very last minute. Usually her timetable will be given out on the first day; most schools have a special student's reception or support centre where she can get a copy of her timetable if she loses it (separate from adult Jo Public reception). Map of the school premises would be good, too, plenty will be lost in first few days & the better schools will have Friendly Faces (Yr 11s) standing around to help the new starters.

What kind of transcripts has your Dd got do indicate her previous ability? Most schools set by ability for math & English in yr7, you may need to make a case about where you think she belongs. A good school will move her if she isn't in right group.

PA almost completely cocked up with DS started yr8 at a new school; he just kind of winged it (followed his friends around!) and was amused to get an apology from HT herself no less by end of the day.

Going on what we have sorted for DD1 (also moving to Year 7 in Sept), I'd say you need to know:

• what day she starts
• ideally her form/tutor group
• uniform & PE kit list
• what they need to bring in terms of stationery etc
• if you need to book a locker (and maybe pay a deposit)
• if there's anything else that needs a deposit at this stage (eg. we have paid one for a Y7 residential)
• signing up for music lessons if she's musical
• filling in a contact form so that the school has all your info

Thank you, it is such a relief to know I can still catch up with what I missed!
I don't think DD1 has a transcript of previous ability, as she's been in Y6 only for a bit longer than a month. From the secondary school's website though I do get they put them in groups and than shift them arround for the first term intil they are confident each child has been put in the right place.
I do have my fears she'll have hard time catching up with her peers, but I can't do much about this (apart from some help with homework, because we want to preserve our native language and speak it at home, English at school) so I hope she's bright enough to really show and develop her potential.
I could sign her up for music lessons at a later stage, I guess?
I'll wait for the information pack and then I'll make a list with questions for anything that's unclear.
I feel much better already, thank you ladies!

None of the schools around here let any parents through the gates so no wandering around freely. Many of the staff are away at the moment with an overseas trip. The only kids in school today are years 7-9 and those Y10s who are doing art exams.

That said, does your new school have an admissions officer (or head of next Y7) that you can talk to. They should be able to help with any questions that you may have.

My boys moved in to their current school from abroad in Y8. They didn't get to see the school prior to joining except for the day that they did their CATS (for the second time). Will your DD have an induction day at the new school before starting in September? Our school is having theirs today and there is a meeting for parents this evening. When we moved back from overseas we attended the then Y7 meeting even though our boys were going to be in Y8. Does your school have a parents' meeting following the induction day?

She was in the new school for one afternoon with the other kids from her current school that are going to attend there, yes. That was last week and I only managed to confirm the place offered and to get her there after lunch (her classmates went in the morning and spent all day). And then there was a parents meeting yesterday for which I completely forgot, even though I put it in my calendar and all, so I missed my chance.

I just spoke with the school again; they sent me an information pack and turned down my plea for an individual visit as they were very busy (because no outsiders are allowed to roam freely during school hours of course).

At the parents evening we
Signed the home - school agreement
Got given all the policies and uniform list
Signed up for music lessons
Signed up for an after school music club
Signed up and paid deposit and initial payment for the cashless catering lunch card

Have they given you any details about a uniform day? We had to go and order blazers etc on a particular Saturday .

Not yet, no, perhaps they are going to be in the information pack. A certain suplier is listed on the school's website, I guess I could check with them too.

I would press for whatever paperwork was handed out. Some of it could be really important from memory (5 years ago, gulp!) this might include: signing up for school dinners, uniform details, reading list, equipment lists, school bus information, data permission slip so they can use your name, address and phone nunber for school records and for form/class lists, for the latter we got two contact sheets, one form list, the other showed all children living closest, the latter could be a boon if you want to find classmates living nearby to arrange a get together in the hols and/or a rota once school starts, information on school closure dates, etc., sheet to choose after school clubs.

I can't see your initial post (on mobile device) but is there still to be a settling in day? This is great for your DC to find out who they might befriend so as to make settling in easier.

Do press them (politely) for this stuff. Some of it is pretty vital and I'm astonished they're not pressing you for the paperwork, actually.

To answer your original question, then no, you probably haven't missed anything crucial, so long as you get the stacks of paper .

I would ask for the Head of Yr7 (for next year)'s e-mail address, then e-mail and explain you've only just moved to the Country, you are unsure what your dd needs (both to have, and to know) to start school, and obviously you've not had chance to get to know other parents yet to ask them, would she be able to tell you anything that you need to know, for example the questions on Bramshott's list, and things like where you need to get the uniform from, and so forth.

It would be a poor HoY who didn't want to help make a new pupil feel comfortable starting, particularly one who is new into the country. Even if they can't find a window for you to go round, - you don't really need to do that - you'll have a good idea of what you need to know / get her before she starts.

We haven't had much information for my Dd yet. She went for the day and we met her tutor. We had to sign to say she could have permission to have her fingerprint taken for school dinners. We filled in an information sheet with contact details. We know her form tutor but not who is in her form. We don't know her start date or have a uniform list but it is on the website. I presume this will come in the post. I love getting school letters and feel distinctly put out so far at the lack of information.

Getting the Head's email is a great idea! I really didn't think of that, it might work best in our current situation.
I honestly expected they might squeeze me for a quick tour somehow, but it is not their fault I missed the parents evening, so I kind of understand their reluctance; I hope once I get the information pack, and hopefully, the Head's email, I can find my way arround.
I will miss meeting the other parents though, it is always nice to meet new people, especially when our kids are going to be together for quite some time. I hope I'll be able to catch up later.

"the other showed all children living closest, the latter could be a boon if you want to find classmates living nearby to arrange a get together in the hols and/or a rota once school starts" - this is brilliant idea! I do hope there is such a form in the information pack, as this initiative is great!

Head of Year NOT Head Teacher......

At my dd4's new school there's a teacher who is in overall charge of the y6/y7 transition process. If the paperwork isn't self-explanatory when it arrives (our most recent new parents evening was literally sitting there for an hour whilst they went through the pack, no extra titbits!) then try contacting school again and either get to the head of y7, or whoever deals with the transition.

Yes, as you said, Head of Y7 (I don't expect the Head Teacher would have the time to write me back on this matter). I should've written it all, I guess :)