Our child has made plenty of friends at this school, and there seems to be a lot going on. The building is tidy and attractive, and homework is sent home regularly. The main issue is communication. Staff don't seem to be entirely clear of the policies of the school (One example: I was told on the first week by the receptionist that parents have to apply to join the PTA, although this didn't line up with what I'd been told by the council, and later by other members of staff), I've also asked repeatedly for letters to be sent via email, and important forms and policies (i.e. medicine forms, list of governors, and PTA meeting dates and details) to be available through their website. So far these requsts seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
I know that other parents have had diificulty in getting access to this information as well and the school seem to place a high importance on families using these resources (the school recently mentioned in newsletters that a child would not be given their asthma medication until a form was completed), and letters are frequently going missing because they are placed in schoolbags. This is currently the only way that information is sent home. On a positive note the school are willing to recieve communication from parents via email, although the email address was difficult to get hold of (it isn't on the website) and the online contact form seems to be unreliable.
The school asks parents for email addresses before the children start school and if the school used this information to better communicate and work with the families of the children, I would have given it a higher rating. Currently the difference in quality between what seems to be happening in the classroom, and the work outside of them is like night and day, and I worry that the school is beginning to fall out of touch with what it is that families need to best support their children's welfare and education, and even the school itself.
I'm sure that at some point these issues will be addressed, but until then it's three stars.
I know that other parents have had diificulty in getting access to this information as well and the school seem to place a high importance on families using these resources (the school recently mentioned in newsletters that a child would not be given their asthma medication until a form was completed), and letters are frequently going missing because they are placed in schoolbags. This is currently the only way that information is sent home. On a positive note the school are willing to recieve communication from parents via email, although the email address was difficult to get hold of (it isn't on the website) and the online contact form seems to be unreliable.
The school asks parents for email addresses before the children start school and if the school used this information to better communicate and work with the families of the children, I would have given it a higher rating. Currently the difference in quality between what seems to be happening in the classroom, and the work outside of them is like night and day, and I worry that the school is beginning to fall out of touch with what it is that families need to best support their children's welfare and education, and even the school itself.
I'm sure that at some point these issues will be addressed, but until then it's three stars.