COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL
 

We believe that it is vital to establish a positive and constructive partnership between home and school. We pursue an ‘Open Door’ policy so that you, as parents and carers, feel you can informally approach the teaching and leadership staff with any questions, suggestions, issues or concerns, whether large or small. Experience has shown us that there is very little we cannot find a way through if the school community works together. However, if we don’t know about it, we can’t help, so please always come and talk, write a note, drop us an email (head@ or info@) or pick up the phone (01483 561639). Do not ever feel that you are bothering us!

• The Start of the School Day: class teachers are extremely busy at dropping-off time settling the children. If you have information about your child for the day ahead, please advise the person on the door at drop off and they can pass on any messages to the class teacher. Alternatively please call, email or visit the school office.  If your child is an Energy Kid the EK staff will pass on any messages. 

• Class Teachers: will always make time to talk with you if you have more than a passing enquiry or comment. They are very flexible and can arrange longer meetings after school, or can talk to you by phone. Please email info@st-nicolas.surrey.sch.uk or phone the office to arrange the earliest date and time for the two of you to get together. Please note that, apart from in the most exceptional circumstances, teaching staff do not engage in email communication directly with parents. 

• Teaching Assistants: can help with routine information. However, please don’t ask TAs about your child’s welfare and learning in school; such conversations are for class teachers or school leadership.

• School Office: Mrs Sarah Hurst and Mrs Angelique Van Eeden, our Office Administrators, are available throughout the day (01483 561639 info@st-nicolas.surrey.sch.uk) in the school office. The school office located at the bottom of the steps by the Beech playground, please ring the doorbell at the single red door. 

• Classlist: All manner of information comes through Classlist (both from school and the PSA). We can tailor this to reach the whole school, individual classes or year groups. Classlist can also be used for informal chat/questions between parents. Any questions relating to classroom activities/learning or individual children needs to go to the class teachers in the first instance (either at drop off, at pick up or at an agreed appointment made via the school office). 

• Tapestry: Tapestry is used to provide day-to-day updates from the classroom and to communicate with your class teacher.  If you have any messages for the class teachers you can also use the message function on here. 

• Mrs Smart: If after you have spoken to the class teacher or if you would like to discuss an issue with Mrs Smart, please contact the school office who will make you an appointment. Mrs Smart is not able to answer informal queries via Classlist so please feel free to see Mrs Smart at drop off, make an appointment via the school office or email info@st-nicolas.surrey.sch.uk

• Newsletters: probably the main means of communication between school and home with much information about the day-to-day events and organisation of the school on them. These arrive once a fortnight on a Friday by Classlist and the website has a dedicated link on the Home page with current and past editions. We plead with you to please read newsletters thoroughly as the office spends much time fielding questions from parents about information already on them. Thank you! 

• School Website: has an abundance of information for parents including school policies, school calendar, guidance for supporting your child’s learning at home and copies of letters and forms. Please take time to make yourself familiar with it. Each class has a dedicated page.

• Class Reps: each class has at least one rep whose role is to facilitate the exchange of information between home and school.  

• Parent Governors: this is currently Jenna Clare (clare@st-nicolas.surrey.sch.uk) and Akemi Nogiwa (nogiwa@st-nicolas.surrey.sch.uk). Parent governors are there to chat about school life with you but will direct you to school leadership if the matter is of any significant concern. 

• Parent Noticeboard: this is located under hall windows and has all sorts of information including the week’s menu and a copy of the newsletter. 

• PSA Noticeboard: this is to the right of the double doors. There are two general chalk boards we all use too, one next to the school office and one next to the double doors.

• Meet the Teacher: At the start of the school year, we have meetings at school for you to get to know the teacher, hear about the class curriculum and organisation, and to ask any questions.

• Curriculum meetings: We run a range of curriculum meetings for parents to help you understand our approach to your child’s learning and how you can support this at home. 

• Parents’ evenings: During the Autumn and Spring terms there are ‘formal’ parents evenings when you sign up for a slot to discuss your child’s learning. There is a chance to look at books and folders too. 

• Open Drawer Sessions: These are after school at pick-up time on designated days when you can come into class and share your child’s learning with them. The class teacher will be around on these occasions but the idea is that your child can bring you into class and chat with you about class life and what they have been doing.

• Parent Surveys: Your feedback is invaluable to our self-evaluation so we do provide opportunities throughout the year to complete Parental Surveys. This is usually via Survey Monkey.

• End-of-year report: In July, you will receive a comprehensive written report about your child’s progress over the school year. 

 
There is a school complaints policy, available on the website or from the office in hard copy. This details the procedure in the event you may have a complaint against the school. Our Open Door approach has negated the need for this policy to be called on for the past nine years.