AIBU to scream at school receptionist over phone who isn't listening??

[Triggles]

aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!

Okay. I called the junior school attached to the infant school that DS2 is currently attending. I ask if I could please get the name of the senco and how to contact them as my son would possibly be attending there in approximately 18 months. Due to his statement I needed to ask her some questions and get further information. I also explained briefly that DS2 is currently attending the attached infant school, and that the senco should already be familiar with him as our senco had told me she discussed him with her already.

So... the receptionist says "yes. we have someone that deals with SNs."

pause... so I say "... could I have their name and how to best contact them please so I can discuss these things with them?"

another pause by receptionist again.... "why do you need to speak to her?"

sigh... I then repeat the first paragraph again...

pause from receptionist again... "so you have a child that will be going here when? what year?"

She questioned me over and over and asked me to repeat information again and again. I finally said "look, is it NORMALLY this difficult to simply get contact information or leave a message for the senco??" and she says "usually this is done through the school - parents don't call us directly. You could be a sales person trying to make contact with her or something. I found it odd that you didn't want to give me all these details and you didn't know right away when (month and year) he was supposed to coming to the junior school, so I wasn't sure if you were really a parent or not."

Fuming, I was careful to stay calm and said "Look, all I wanted was to get ahold of the senco. She is already familiar with him, so giving her his name would most likely suffice as she has discussed his situation with the senco at the infant school, which I've told you twice. I don't appreciate being accused of lying simply because I can't rattle off exactly when he is expected to come to your school in 18 months time or so. I DID give you some of the information and you asked me to repeat most of it at least 3 times, which I think is rather excessive. Can you please tell me when the senco is on duty, so I know roughly when to expect contact from her?"

Is THIS what I have to look forward to every time I contact their office?!?!? She was REALLY obnoxious and obstructive and rude. I think I might be hard-pressed not to lose grip with her on the phone on a regular basis. Therefore, DS2 CANNOT go to that particular school. I'm sure that's a valid reason, right? right???

On calling another local SS, however, they were polite and friendly, the appropriate person rang me back within 15 minutes, and was happy to make an appointment for us to go in and see the school. So far, I'm liking the SS.

sigh.. I suppose we have to decide MS or SS based on his needs, and not by an annoying receptionist... but really.... must I??? I could list it as an unnecessary stress....

there's no guarantee it was the receptionist you spoke to or the usual receptionist, don't write them off just on that basis, however bloody annoying she was Once you've got the sencos name it'll be a lot easier to get through, even better if you can get a direct number and/or email. SS is sounding good right now!

I know I can't write off the school based on that.... sigh... shame, right? As I don't relish the thought of dealing with that on a regular basis.

I'm going to cling to the hope that she is normally not manning the phones and that once I'm communicating with the senco that I don't have to talk to the receptionist at all.

Yup. Denial, all the way.... thus is my day...

• difficult receptionist at jr school
• lovely dealings with ss, however, nervous at going to see it
• gave DD a lift to school to pick up her DS (our DGS) as he has a head injury and needs to go to A&E, so dropped them off there to be seen
• waiting for electrician to look at our front room light as it seems to be faulty, I suspect the wiring as it tripped the circuit breaker the other night

Yup.. thank god we'd already decided on fish & chips tonight. I'm rather afraid of getting near the cooker at this rate.

triggles, you forgot from your list Hope dgs is ok.

ninja Nope. Got covered as well. Meeting friends this evening after boys are in bed for a few glasses (or more) of , while DH stays home looking after the boys. Happy happy me.

And DD rang saying dgs is fine. Just looks like he fought a tree and lost.

sounds great triggles Good to hear dgs is ok!

Triggles
it could be your light switch.
Hope your grandson is all right
The receptionist is a nob.
Enjoy your chips.

Have a and a bunch of

DGS doing well.
Electrician been and went. Not a clue what the problem is, but the wiring is fine.
Fish & chips lovely.

Off to have some shortly.

DGS= excellent news

I had fish n chips too (you gave me the idea!)

My lights in my bedroom kept tripping the thingymebob safety thingy too and it was the actual light switch, nothing to do with the actual electrics or the lights...
Try changing that for a new one. Easy to do. If you can, get a bloke to do it cos then if there are any electric shocks going, it won't matter so much

Or (a much better idea) get that twonk of a receptionist to do it

Odd you should say about writing off a school based on the accessibility of the SENCO; that's exactly what I did. I moved my DCs last year because after neumourous attemts at getting hold of SENCO the SENCO wouldn't discuss my child with me until dc was accepted to school. Really annoying when you are trying to decided on the best place to send dc.
At an alternative ms school, the SENCO and head invited me in to discuss dc and what changes they would make and training etc if we chose them.
I think you need to be happy with the service you receive, I'd wait until you have got hold of the SENCO and drop into conversation if it is normal practice to get the Spanish inquisition and sales person talk from the receptionist.

I will be mentioning it to the senco, as I feel it was very offputting. I'm not impressed, tbh, with the senco as she was supposed to come to his IEP review in December to discuss any questions I might have (was arranged by the senco at the infant school he is currently attending - both schools are attached), and she didn't show up for the meeting, no warning, no rescheduling, nothing. Just didn't show.

If this is the level of commitment she has to her job, then I don't anticipate her being of much help. It's odd - I've gotten mixed reviews from people regarding the school. I have been told that they are not horribly helpful re disabilities and tend to exclude children as a bit of a knee jerk reaction for any behavioural issues.

I think to an extent you need to go with your gut feeling. Do you have another's junior school nearby?
I think in a lot of ms schools the SENCO is often part-time.

This particular senco is shared between our two closest jr schools. We're also looking at a ss though, as we are not convinced that DS2 will cope well at jrs.

Triggles

We describe these people as having Professional APD, or those who do not want to listen for professional reasons. lol

lol I would say that was fairly accurate.

I'd dx AES. Arse-Elbow Syndrome, as they seem to be so confused between the two

I've worked in some nice places with off putting receptionists. It does suggest that the school is a bit disorganized and/or there's a lack of leadership. The woman needs to go on a telephone answering course.