Calling parents vs emailing parents

[bioteach]

Hi all, just wondering if you prefer calling parents rather than sending emails.

I'm a new teacher (ECT) and have been encouraged by mentors to call parents as opposed to sending emails (my 'go to' form of parent communication).

Do your schools ask you to keep a log of conversations with parents?

I much prefer calling as you can usually sort things out more quickly than an exchange of emails. It’s also much easier to judge how people are feeling etc (face to face is even better).

I do understand feeling nervous of communication with parents - I felt like that a bit as an NQT. However it’s one of those things that gets easier the more you do it and relationships with parents are so important it’s worth investing the time.

I still feel that a bit, does your school require you to keep logs of calls made (and subject)?

I find this a bit time consuming and was wondering if this is commonplace.

I usually like to ring as you can get a lot more out of a telephone conversation in my opinion. I'm a HoD though so deal with a lot of parents for a whole host of reasons.

I do use email sometimes-usually if I have already spoken to a parent once or twice and we are keeping in regular contact about something.

It can be hard at first - my NQT last year was really nervous about making calls so we spent time scripting what he was going to say which helped. Now he is a lot more confident so it does get easier.

It's vital you keep records. While, as PPs have said, 'phone calls are very good for gauging mood and problem solving, they can be subject to "Never said that", and imperfect recall.

If your school insists on it, you can be sure there have been issues concerning 'phone calls

I made a template for calls: date/time/who/topic and made bullet-point notes as I went along.

Yes I keep a log for my own purposes / safeguarding etc. Just part of the job. It doesn’t take long to jot a few notes down.

Always phone if it’s for a problem or issue.
If it’s for something positive then either is fine.