Parental Questionnaire

Pupil Happiness and Safety

• 98.3% agree their child is happy at school (up from 94.1%)
• 98.3% agree their child feels safe (up from 95.3%)

Communication

• 96.6% feel communication is effective (similar to last year 97.6%)
• 98.3% feel well informed about what their child will learn (similar to last year 98.8%)
• 91.3% feel informed about how their child is doing (lower than last year 94.1%)

Academic and Personal Development

• 96.4% feel their child does well at school (up from 91.8%)
• 82.7% feel the school has high expectations for their child (12.1% said they don’t know) (lower than last year 85.8%)
• 84.2% feel there is a good range of trips and visits (lower than last year 89.3%)
• 89.7% feel there is a good range of subjects (8.6% don’t know) (lower than last year 94.1%)
• 82.8% feel there are enough clubs/activities (similar to last year 82.1%)
• 83% feel the school supports wider personal development (up from 76.5% last year)

Behaviour

• 93.1% agree pupils are well behaved (up from 85.5%)

EYFS Provision

• 100% of parents rated EYFS as excellent or good

Suggestions for additional trim trail equipment for older children.  Possibly a canopy in the forest and more outdoor education and play-based learning

This year, we have added our Kindness Shelter and some outdoor seating to the provision and this is supportive to those who like to choose a calmer activity such as lego or completing puzzles.  

We are investigating further play equipment opportunities.

Forest Fun sessions are timetabled throughout the year for all children from Nursery to Year 2.  Teachers of older classes can use the outdoor areas for their lessons when the opportunity arises. 

Communication is sometimes very last minute

Too many non-urgent epraise messages (raffles, etc.) causing important information to be missed

Our two main ways of communicating are through epraise and via the weekly newsletter.  We also use the A frame notice boards.  

We will endeavour to title our epraise messages more clearly so that you can filter the messages that are non-urgent.

We have reviewed our communications systems and will be moving to a different provider which sends direct emails (not through an app).

Class teachers are providing excellent support for children with SEN but some parents have said that they feel that wider SEND support still needs improvement

Request for additional resources for left-handed pupils

Class teachers are always the first port of call for SEND support and we would hope to provide universal support and reasonable adjustments that would enable success for virtually all children in our classrooms.  

For those children who need further support and for parents who need advice on seeking a SEND diagnosis, teachers can refer to our SENDCo team – Mrs Ludlow SENDCo and Mrs Fay Deputy SENDCo.  They work across both schools in the Federation as well as drawing on the support of the many outside agencies who are commissioned by the Catshill schools.   

Two SEND newsletters have been published this year highlighting the events that have taken place, parent information and workshops and routes for parents to find additional support. 

SEND coffee mornings and WEST workshops have been offered to provide direct information for parents.

We have looked at the resources for left handers and ordered some additional items.  

Parents have requested online payment options for dinner money

I’d like to know more frequently how my child is doing

If needed, our class teachers are able to discuss a child’s progress and needs further and this can be done by making an after school appointment. 

Some parents have asked for us to consider other fund-raising ideas such as school fayres/car boot sales etc

Some of the big events such as fayres and car boot sales take a lot of organising and we do not currently have a PTA to take on this level of commitment.  If you would be willing to take a lead/core role in a PTA, please send an epraise message to Mrs Plant and she will then assess the viability of setting a new group up.  

More educational trips – including museums

We plan for at least one educational visit for each year group each term as well as local walks, library visits and opportunities within Catshill Village.  Please see our Curriculum Map on the website where planned trips and visits are published.  

Sometimes children are poorly or exhausted and need to have experiences beyond school

We agree, unwell children should not be in school and there are also clear guidelines for parents on this.  

We are supportive of the message that children who attend well are more likely to achieve well and this impacts on their future.

Some parents asked for a clarification of the way rewards are given including epraise points 

Other rewards in school are stickers, class certificates, stampers and praise.  Children are rewarded for showing the school values with the expectation that all children will receive these certificates over the year. 

Good class and improved attendance is celebrated as is pride in presentation.