Tips for phoning parents and pupils please

[ElizabethMainwaring]

Hello
I haven't previously made any phone contact with my pupils, as other members of staff have had this job allocated to them.
I have however sent lots of emails (received no replies though).
The pupils are Year 8.
I'm not great at talking on the phone and not adept at small talk.
I'm more than fine with chatting to the kids at school, and am seen as very friendly and approachable.
I just really need some tips for small talk please!
Thank you all

I've been making phonecalls to my tutor group throughout. I mostly just introduce myself, pass on any important news and ask if the parent has any questions, and then ask if I can speak to the child.

Some parents are quite chatty- I think some of them aren't having much adult interaction at the moment, but most of it isn't really small talk, more sharing their concerns about their child/ren.

I was really daunted the first time I did the phonecalls, but honestly it has been fine! The only hassle has been getting some people to answer the phone, and tracking down children who live between two households!

Hello, thank you SansaSnark.
Yes, it's doubtful if mine will answer the phone. It's a bit of a last resort really.
I'd do some door step visits, but can't due to shielding.
Thanks again.

I've just phoned one mum who sounded as if she was massively stoned.

Similar here, office staff have been doing it but I decided I really wanted to try to speak to some myself. Tried 3 families last Wednesday in my PPA slot. 1 didn't answer, left message, still hasn't replied. Same family hasn't even joined the Google Classroom set up in March so therefore hasn't accessed any of that work. Sent all families home with spare textbooks and a HUGE pile of work not to differentiated but also personalised to individual targets - hoping he's been doing that. 2nd family- number not recognised. Office staff have been chasing up for safeguarding. 3rd family - not interested in any of the work (and haven't), don't want any support, doing own thing and pissed off I phoned.

Hope this week's phone calls are better!

Good luck, OP!

Should have said not JUST differentiated!

Yeah, if we can't make any contact over a certain period, we escalate to HoY etc who treat it as a pastoral concern. But there are still some who are very hard to get hold of.

I think it's harder now because more people are out at work as well!

What is the purpose of the calls? General welfare check or a ‘you haven’t done the work, why not?’ call. Have they been phoned before?

I hate talking on the phone but have had to call families from my class every week if I haven't heard from them. I've actually found it fine and most parents are easy to chat to. I prepare an opening line that doesn't sound as if I'm checking up on them (the calls are just pastoral, not to chase up work - I would be on the phone all day if that was the case) and make sure I have written down any questions I have to ask as otherwise I can get swayed by the conversation and forget to ask them. As PP said, the biggest difficulty is getting some of them to answer.

@noblegiraffe

What is the purpose of the calls? General welfare check or a ‘you haven’t done the work, why not?’ call. Have they been phoned before?

For me, it was general welfare, offers of 1:1 tutorial slots one afternoon a week for 30 mins on a first come first serve basis, plus is there anything else you need eg paper packs?

Have a pad of paper and a pen, note down anything you need to follow up AND if you glean anything from the parents that you can do the child about eg. Mum says you baked a cake at the weekend, what type was it? Did you save me some hahaha?” Or “Dad says you’ve been doing a lot of art/gaming/reading/sport? How’s that going? Do you do it normally? Do you think you’ve got better? Any tips for me?” Type stuff.

I've heard parents on here complaining they haven't had any calls from the school and wondered if they've actually bothered to update their contact details, as that was always an issue.. Also for every parent complaining about lack of calls, I bet there's another moaning about teachers spying on them or worrying about what on earth they should say. Phones are stressful!

@noblegiraffe
It's a cross between the two really.
Both pastoral and nagging.
My role is very niche. I teach literacy to KS3 students so that they can better access the curriculum.
I'm the last chance saloon really.
I'm primary trained and have lots of Sen experience.

And yes, they have been phoned before.
Multiple times. By form teachers and HoY.

I'm setting the kids alternative work, on show my home work and by email.
Also on paper.
Sometimes completely bespoke.

I've just returned to work after sick leave.
I can only work from home though.

The only good thing about working in sales in the 1990s? Being bloody good on the phone. No experience is wasted.
Not much help when the numbers ring off, mind you, as so many do!