tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29528031776886706102011-11-27T16:11:48.149-08:00advice on school matters, homework, problems at school, teachers, bullying, starting school, school reports, school complaints, school Governors, Headteacher,the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-47833905658830068122009-11-25T14:05:00.000-08:002009-11-25T14:08:58.114-08:00

My child has a statement of special educational needs – can they go to any school they want?Basically, yes. A formal statement of special educational needs means that a child’s needs are recognised and resources will be allocated to their needs. Also, virtually all schools now abide by the Government’s code of practice which clearly indicated that in terms of admission criteria into schools, a

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-16025648759248269642009-11-23T13:42:00.000-08:002009-11-23T13:44:29.405-08:00

My school does not have enough dinner ladies – is there a legal minimum?The answer to this is not really. Schools are en loco parentis (in the place of parents) and clearly have a duty of care. However, it will be the decision of the Headteacher and Governors to appoint midday staff. It is also true to say that in some areas and in some schools it is an extremely difficult role to fill – the pay

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-58922906460804615512009-11-06T13:06:00.000-08:002009-11-06T13:08:44.356-08:00

Ofsted reports; what does ‘satisfactory’ actually mean?In everyday life, if we hear the term satisfactory we tend to assume it is anything but! Not good enough. Whilst it may be true that we would all wish our own school to be judged as good or even outstanding, it should be remembered that satisfactory in Ofsted – speak does actually mean that the strengths are greater than the areas of weakness

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-18748266809651992102009-11-01T09:13:00.000-08:002009-11-01T09:15:33.819-08:00

My child requires special medication – I am concerned that the school will not be able to cope with this. This is one I've heard on several occasions.Schools are increasingly used to having to deal with a range of children’s medical needs – particularly as the drive towards inclusion for all grows and the number of specialist schools and units decreases. Moreover, the rise in asthmatic conditions

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-61356399059249635862009-10-19T14:09:00.000-07:002009-10-19T14:11:15.141-07:00

Can I be sure my child is eating their school dinners?This question is usually raised by parents of very small children. You should be reassured by the school that part of the role of the midday supervisers is to oversee your child’s lunchtime experience – and their food intake is certainly a part of this. Clearly they have a lot to do and will not be certain that your child will always be able

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-2070465966781601642009-10-12T13:45:00.000-07:002009-10-12T13:48:17.367-07:00

The most common of these is the assertion by parents that their child's reading books are too easy.I have heard this said by parents in the past but it is my belief that it is usually borne out of a lack of understanding about the development of the successful reader.Your school will probably have a policy document that covers their philosophy about the teaching of reading.In my own school, we

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-2675467943589829902009-10-08T13:05:00.000-07:002009-10-08T13:07:10.218-07:00

I don’t want my child in school assemblies. Do I have a say?Absolutely. Schools have a statutory obligation to perform what the law calls a ‘daily act of worship’ and, in the UK this needs to be ‘mainly of a Christian nature’. Now, in practice, nobody ever actually checks up on or enforces this and in today’s multicultural and secular Britain it is true to say that the overwhelming majority of

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-38174949272603605982009-10-04T04:15:00.000-07:002009-10-04T04:17:33.876-07:00

We often still tend to talk about children ‘getting expelled’ although for a long while now the term has changed to ‘excluded’. There has been a huge drive by local and national Government to reduce the numbers of these exclusions but, of course, they are still an option open to schools.There is, however, a fairly clear and transparent approach to exclusions these days. A Headteacher cannot

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-68224826362042168262009-09-29T13:35:00.000-07:002009-09-29T13:36:05.834-07:00

In days gone by schools used to be able to take action themselves to attempt to address this problem. The school nurse was often referred to as Nitty Nora. She would be responsible for checking children’s hair and even treating the condition in some schools. Those days are gone. Now, the best you can expect from a school is a fairly standard leaflet home advising on the best methods of treatment

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-50064641593978750672009-09-23T14:06:00.000-07:002009-09-23T14:09:01.999-07:00

I want to take my child on holiday during term time. Is this my right?Bottom line is ‘no’. Schools, or more accurately Headteachers, have the ability to authorise leave for all sorts of reasons but ultimately this is at their discretion. Having said that, you should expect that there is a consistent policy and that this is made known to the school community. You should also expect that there is

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-79004280271255936062009-09-20T05:19:00.001-07:002009-09-20T05:22:23.419-07:00

This is always a sensitive one but, like all situations there are some simple steps that will begin to put you in control of a situation you may feel is beyond you. 1. Be clear on what you mean by ‘bullied’. Often, the school will not take seriously the allegation of bullying if it is something that is used by a parent the minute their child is involved in any sort of a dispute or an argument

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-36221202167968335902009-09-17T10:46:00.000-07:002009-09-17T10:48:05.133-07:00

We often still tend to talk about children ‘getting expelled’ although for a long while now the term has changed to ‘excluded’. There has been a huge drive by local and national Government to reduce the numbers of these exclusions but, of course, they are still an option open to schools. There is, however, a fairly clear and transparent approach to exclusions these days. A Headteacher cannot

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-53029588664993893852009-09-14T12:31:00.000-07:002009-09-14T12:33:08.691-07:00

This is not an uncommon suggestion for a teacher or a Headteacher to hear. Schools are in the business of challenging young people to achieve their best and all schools will have a set of aims, usually published in their prospectus or brochure. 9 times out of 10 there will something in there along the lines of ‘to challenge our pupils to achieve their full potential in a safe, secure environment

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-63770816110935594722009-09-11T11:57:00.000-07:002009-09-11T11:59:46.108-07:00

At this time of year this is something many parents consider. I think that the answer to this one depends upon your reasons for believing it necessary. Also, factors will come into play such as: The age of the child The ability of the child The motivation of the child I think it is important to consider ability and motivation. Bottom line – if your child is not likely to be able to respond

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-79617086609760172682009-09-08T13:29:00.000-07:002009-09-08T13:34:09.069-07:00

How can you be sure that school dinners are of a decent standard? We are all familiar with the Jamie Oliver effect, I guess! One thing that happened after the outcry surrounding his TV programmes was that the national food standards agency imposed new strict standards on school kitchens, limiting the amount of saturated fats offered to children as well as eradicating processed foods. So, in

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-51979060983244004272009-09-02T10:39:00.000-07:002009-09-02T10:47:54.658-07:00

The process for filling in the common application form which is handled by the local authority and coordinates the transfer from primary to secondary schools is about to begin. This seems to have been an earlier and earlier feature of life for year 6 pupils and their families and is certainly something not to be overlooked.How can I find out about secondary school selection procedures? Your

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-9219046717114767632009-08-30T04:16:00.000-07:002009-08-30T04:18:27.525-07:00

Entering Reception – January or September? There is disparity nationally, and sometimes locally, in terms of admissions arrangements. Some schools and authorities admit all children in September, some have September and January and a few still have a 3rd entry point after the Spring holidays. There are a couple of important things to remember here; Children do not have to statutorily attend

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-35192769644469040342009-08-27T04:18:00.000-07:002009-08-27T04:21:46.377-07:00

Juggling the return to school for working parents can be a bit of a nightmare and some parents are very keen for there to be adequate childcare provision on a school's site. But, is it actually the case?Not necessarily. The whole extended schools agenda had really taken off in recent years, particularly driven by the Government’s ‘every child matters’ edict. However, clearly not every school is

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-9188939278667283852009-08-10T01:44:00.000-07:002009-08-10T01:45:50.891-07:00

I thought a teacher was supposed to teach a class. Is that true? Actually, no! It is a little known fact that there has never been a legal requirement for a school to ensure that a class is being taught by a qualified teacher. Indeed, in secondary schools especially, the notion of a member of the support staff (usually a teaching assistant) acting as a ‘cover supervisor’ for a class is a well

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-20663306203254028882009-08-08T02:44:00.000-07:002009-08-27T04:24:52.740-07:00

Does anyone else share my annoyance at the pace of commercialism and its refusal to let anyone actually enjoy what is happening now! Throughout August we are bombarded with 'back to school' ads imploring us to spend money on clothes, books and stationery despite the fact that we have only actually broken up for the long awaited summer holidays for a week or so.When we do eventually return to

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-44940445359765368812009-08-05T07:31:00.001-07:002009-08-05T07:31:56.967-07:00

(Worth referring to my page on tutoring to see my views on this one too.) SATs are standard assessment tests and they are administered in years 2 and 6. Additionally, there are QCA tests that are optional but used by most Primary schools at the end of years 3, 4 and 5. Most schools will do some sort of in-house preparation or coaching before SATs because, basically, it is in their interests to

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-29575017411043836122009-08-04T01:54:00.000-07:002009-08-04T02:05:37.796-07:00

This morning there is the anual furore about how standards, as measured by SATs tests for children in year 6, appear to have stalled. Indeed, whilst maths and science were the same percentagess as 2008 English actually dropped by 1% in terms of the amount of children attaining level 4.On will leap the Daily Mail and others to lambast the Government! Cameron has apparently already come out and

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-25672688177449751202009-08-03T01:41:00.000-07:002009-08-03T01:43:05.725-07:00

I think my child has special needs – how do I get them diagnosed? The usual advice would apply here – talk to the school about it. They may well have a view about the likeliness of some sort of a diagnosis. However, it is worth remembering that a diagnosis of itself might not necessarily mean any difference in terms of the school’s approach or provision. There is increasing pressure on education

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-12124713405470633492009-08-01T03:20:00.000-07:002009-08-01T03:21:28.395-07:00

I am often approached by concerned parents with comments like “he’s been in quite a lot of trouble recently and we are worried that he is getting a bit of a reputation.” It always horrifies me that there are schools where this does happen. It reflects upon the school culture quite badly in my view, since my belief is that every child deserves a fresh start every day. In this way, labelling is

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-2991610372820655612009-07-30T05:37:00.000-07:002009-07-30T05:42:47.854-07:00

Money is tight and I am worried about costs associated with school. Can they help at all? It is worth remembering that your child may well be entitled to free school meals. Every school office will be able to give you the appropriate form to fill in to apply. It may seem like a small thing but those £1.70 s do mount up quite quickly and suddenly you are into a debt of £50 or so which is

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-22949635997481175432009-07-29T07:45:00.000-07:002009-07-30T05:43:36.175-07:00

Does anyone else look out of their window, check the forecast, listen to the latest August weather predictions and wonder why the hell the Government persist in keeping the 6 week summer holiday during August?Our summer vacation, both in terms of its length and its placement, has more to do with the historical need to employ child labour in gathering in the harvests than it does to weather

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-1417838341651856762009-07-28T10:16:00.000-07:002009-07-30T05:43:59.757-07:00

Swine flu is a real hot issue in schools just now. Towards the end of last term, the prevailing climate seemed to change inasmuch as GPs appeared to be increasingly reluctant to actually diagnose it – probably as a response to the media coverage and the general scare mongering that seemed to be around.The latest advice to schools seems to reflect the fact that the condition is essentially

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-20604746770177367762009-07-27T06:12:00.001-07:002009-07-27T06:14:15.453-07:00

I don’t want my child in school assemblies. Do I have a say?Absolutely.Schools have a statutory obligation to perform what the law calls a ‘daily act of worship’ and, in the UK this needs to be ‘mainly of a Christian nature’. Now, in practice, nobody ever actually checks up on or enforces this and in today’s multicultural and secular Britain it is true to say that the overwhelming majority of

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-6441141072381193872009-07-26T11:33:00.001-07:002009-07-26T11:34:28.318-07:00

My partner and I are breaking up and I don’t want him picking the kids up without my permission. Is there anything I can do?Schools are very used to this situation. Often, break ups will be unpleasant for all of the parties concerned and clearly the school’s overriding concern is to protect the emotional and physical wellbeing of the child – it certainly cannot ‘take sides’. In situations like

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952803177688670610.post-8009082565094142552009-07-25T09:14:00.000-07:002009-07-25T09:15:14.221-07:00

Are all of the adults working in school safe?Since the dark days of the Ian Huntley episode, everyone that works in schools is now subject to a full Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. This at least ensures that any past misdemeanours, or worse, will come to light and their employment would be terminated.Even parents who help in schools are required to undergo these sorts of checks, although

the headmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03090504249430475437noreply@blogger.com0