Here is a copy of a letter that has gone out by pupil post today.

January 2012

Dear Parent / Carer,

Home/School Communications 

A number of issues relating to this important aspect of school life have surfaced recently. For your information and to assist us to manage this area better, please note the points about contacting the school that follow.

• • Some parents are coming to the school without prior notice with the expectation that the class teacher will meet with them immediately.  This is proving difficult to manage for a whole range of reasons. From now on, any parent / carer coming to school without an appointment to see a specific teacher will instead be seen by a senior member of staff, if available. If such member of staff is not able to see you, one of our office staff will note your query/concern and arrange a suitable response to you within an agreed period of time. This could include making an appointment with the class teacher.
• • No parent/carer will be able to see a specific teacher without making an appointment to do so.
• • In the interests of security, no parent/carer may enter the school at any point other than by the main door to the front of the building. They may not proceed anywhere else in the school  without being first signed-in and then accompanied by a member of staff.
• • A significant number of parents/carers are phoning the school first thing in the morning to speak with the class teacher. If you make a phone call to the school in order to speak with the teacher, you should be aware that this will now not be possible between the hours of 8.00am – 3.45pm. If you do phone between these times, a note will be taken of your name and, if you wish, the subject of your call.  A message will then be passed on to the teacher who will get back to you at some point that day.
• • If you are calling to make a complaint you should be aware that the policy of the school is that you can expect an acknowledgement of this within 2 working days if we receive it in writing or by e-mail. If you telephone, we can normally arrange for someone to respond to you by telephone, also within 2 working days. If you attend the school in person to make a complaint then someone will see you and ensure that a response is made, again within 2 working days.
• • If there is an emergency situation, this will be dealt with by senior staff or office staff, depending on who is available at the time of the call or visit.

Yours sincerely,

D.McGillivray

Head Teacher.

Here is a copy of the letter that should have gone out today by pupil post.   Please note that any parent/carer who wishes to attend one of these evenings must return the form by FRDAY.

In the school newsletter issued in September 2011 I provided you with a summary of parental consultations planned for this session. In this I indicated that we would be providing an optional opportunity in January for parents/carers to meet with teachers if they wished to do so. This opportunity is additional to the normal pupil progress meetings already held in Term 1 and those planned for later this term in March/April.

These meetings are scheduled for Tuesday 24th January 4.00pm – 6.00pm and Wednesday 25th January 4.00pm – 6.00pm. The purpose of these meetings will be to “touch base” with the teacher in respect of on-going “issues” [educational or social] or for you to raise matters of concern that you wish to now explore with her/him. They will be unstructured and will not be teacher led – it will be up to you to provide a focus for the discussion. Because of the nature of this event, we don’t anticipate that most parents will either want or need to take up this opportunity. Please, therefore, don’t feel compelled to come if you are happy with how things are going for your child and your child is happy also! The meetings are intended to be an “adults only” affair.

If you wish to take up this offer you should complete the form below/sent by pupil post and return it by Friday 13th of January. The class teacher will collate all requests received and then get back to you with a confirmed date and time for the discussion, taking account of other requests received.

Yours sincerely D.McGillivray Head Teacher.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

My preferred days/times are indicated below. [Please tick your preferred date below]

The issue or concern I have is:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The teacher I want to see is……………………………………………………………….

Tuesday 24th January

Wednesday 25th January

My preferred time would be [please tick]:

A time between 4.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.

A time between 5.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.

Signed………………………………

Parent/Guardian of ……………………….

Class………

Education & Children’s Services

Just a reminder that unless your child has pre-ordered and paid for a Christmas lunch they will need to bring a packed lunch to school on Tuesday.