Parent Communication Policy

Plans and Policies

Policy on Parent/Teacher Communication

Introductory statement

This policy was developed by the staff of Scoil Naomh Áine, Rathgarogue in consultation with the Board of Management and the Parents’ Association. Its purpose is to provide information and guidelines to parents and teachers on parent/teacher meetings and parent/teacher communication in Scoil Naomh Áine. The family and home are central to the development of the child and the nurturing of Christian values. The school and the family strive to be mutually supportive and respectful of each other so that the child’s education can be effective.

Parents are encouraged to:

Develop close links with the school
Collaborate with the school in developing the full potential of their children
Share the responsibility of seeing that the school remains true to its ethos values and distinctive character
Become actively involved in the Parents’ Association
Participate in policy and decision-making processes affecting them.
Nominate themselves for election to Board of Management.

Structures in place to facilitate open communication & consultation with Parents.

Meeting for parents of new Junior Infants – September/October
Parent/teacher meetings in November.
Parents receive End of Year School Report for each child in early June
Individual Education Plan meetings with SET teachers and parents of children with special educational needs
Written communication in homework journals
Through the Parents’ Association, parents are invited to discuss and contribute to the drafting and review of all school policies. Parents will be informed of the addition of revised policies on the website and in the school newsletter.
A monthly newsletter keeps parents up-to-date with school events, holidays and school concerns
Text a Parent is used extensively to inform and remind parents of school issues / activities
Homework diary 1 st – 6 th class, used to relay messages which are signed between parents and teachers. Parents requested to sign diary each night to certify that homework has been completed (1 st to 4 th).
Should there be any area that needs discussion pertaining to an individual student the parents are invited to make an appointment to meet the relevant teacher.
Parents are invited to school masses / exhibitions / school concerts
School website and Twitter are regularly updated

It is vital that the school is immediately informed if family events/situations occur that cause anxiety to your child and therefore may adversely affect his/her education.

In all matters pertaining to the wellbeing and education of pupils, only the parents/legal guardians named on the enrolment form will be consulted by the teachers. These issues will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and teachers and staff will be informed on a need to know basis.

Parent/teacher meetings

The aim of the Parent/Teacher meetings is:
To let parents know how their child is progressing in school
To inform teachers on how children are coping outside school
To establish an ongoing relationship and communication with parents
To help teachers/parents get to know the children better as individuals
To help children realise that home and school are working together

Informal Parent/Teacher Meetings

Communication between parents and teachers is encouraged
Arranging parent/teacher meetings within the school day while children are in school is difficult. However, parents are welcome to speak to the Principal or teacher(s) at a pre-arranged time.
Meetings with the class teacher at the class door to discuss a child’s concern/progress is discouraged on a number of grounds

A teacher cannot adequately supervise his/her class while at the same time speaking to a parent
It is difficult to be discrete when so many children are standing close by
It can be embarrassing for a child when his/her parent is talking to the teacher at a classroom door

Occasions occur where a parent needs to speak to a teacher urgently. Sometimes these meetings need to take place without prior notice. The Principal will facilitate such meetings making every effort to ensure that the children in the class do not lose out on any of the teaching/learning time.

If parents wish to drop in lunch boxes, sports gear etc, this can be facilitated through the secretary’s office as it is important to keep class interruptions to a minimum.

Formal Meetings

Formal timetabled parent/teacher meetings take place in November. However, if a parent wishes to arrange a meeting at any stage during the year to discuss their child, they may do so by prior appointment.

All communication sent from the school will be sent to the child’s home address as given on the enrolment form, unless otherwise requested by parents.
Text messages will be sent to mobile phone number supplied on the Enrolment Form unless otherwise requested by parents.

Separated Parents

If the married parents of pupils are separated and wish to receive separate, individual communication from the school this request must be made in writing to the school providing up to date address and phone number.

Policy ratified by the Board of Management in January 2020 and will be reviewed in 2024.