Communicating with Parents

Portmoak is a school that takes a great deal of pride in our family atmosphere and welcoming ethos. We do endeavour to be an open school and will get back to parents as quickly as possible, usually responding within 24 hours except for holidays and weekends, and certainly well within the Council minimum standards for customer service. We do appreciate that you put a great deal of trust in us looking after your children and that parents need to feel all concerns or requests, no matter how small, will be given attention in a timeous manner.

We use a wide range of methods to communicate with parents. As well as phone, text message and email, we also have a Headteacher’s newsletter monthly, which updates parents on what is going on in school. This contains opportunities for parents to get involved in the life of the school, for example through ‘Meet the Teacher’ open afternoons (Autumn), parent workshops, parents’ evenings (Autumn/Winter and Spring), class and special assemblies (throughout the year, relevant dates are in the newsletter) and special events such as Sports Day, coffee mornings or fundraising events. We recommend you add the school email to your safe senders list.

We use Seesaw to share children’s progress in learning with home, as well as for messages and announcements from the class teachers. School trips are signed up for and paid for through the ParentPay website, which also allows those not on free school lunches to pay for school dinners. We are a cash free school now, so all payments are to be made through ParentPay.

Throughout the year we host a ‘Parent Coffee and Catch Up’ in the school library. This is an informal chance to come along, meet with other parents and the Headteacher and generally just catch up. There are often representatives from the parent council there, as well as other members of staff on occasion.

We are delighted that all parents are now on our email circulation list, and on ParentPay, as this enables instant communication and takes away from the issue of children leaving notes in their school bags or trays. Parents are also encouraged to make use of the school website www.portmoakprimary.co.uk and to follow us on Twitter on @PortmoakPS. Please note that the text message service does not alert us to incoming messages, so unless we ask for a reply to a message, please use email, phone, or pop in to see us with a message.

Mobile Phones and Other Electronic Devices

We would ask that you encourage your child to leave all electronic items at home and do not allow them to bring them to school. This includes watches which are capable of taking photographs or making calls. Fitbits or similar smart watches may be worn if desired, but please note that no liability is taken by the school for loss or damage.

If you feel there is an occasion when your child requires access to a mobile phone at the end of the day (for example if they are going straight to a friend’s house) then they may hand their mobile phone into the office at 9.00am for safe keeping and can collect this at the end of the school day.

Rest assured that staff will continue to contact you in the usual manner if there is any concern about your child’s health or wellbeing during their time at school.

We are committed to working with parents and are able to resolve matters quickly and effectively in the majority of cases.

If you have a concern about your child, please contact the Headteacher by phone, email or by making an appointment to come in. You can usually also speak to the Headteacher at 9am if your concern is of a relatively short nature. Parents are encouraged to share their concerns early so that they may be addressed at the earliest opportunity.

Class teachers are not available to see parents before 9am, but can be seen with an appointment after 3pm.  If you would like to see your child’s class teacher, please contact the school office to make an appointment.

If your child is going to be absent we would ask that you call and leave a message on the Absentee Line: 01577 867196. This is an answer phone which operates 24 hours a day. Please use this number rather than the main number unless you wish to discuss your child’s absence with the Headteacher.

Parents are also welcome to email the Headteacher to advise reasons for their child’s absence.

Further information on attendance policy:

Attendance

The law requires that parents ensure their children attend school regularly.  As part of the Perth & Kinross raising Achievement Strategy all schools are expected to closely monitor the attendance of all children and young people. Persistent poor attendance and time keeping is disruptive to the learning of the individual and the class.  It may also be an early warning of other difficulties for the child’s family.  If a child’s attendance rate falls below a predetermined figure, Headteachers have a duty to invoke procedures to follow up absenteeism.  This will start with a formal letter advising Parents/Carers of absence rate and offering any support, however continued absence may ultimately be escalated by means of referral to the Perth & Kinross Attendance Sub Committee.

It is important that, wherever possible, children should arrive on time, especially in the mornings when all the attendance and administration details are carried out.

Explanations for absences can also be given by speaking to a member of staff or writing a letter explaining the reason for the absence. When no explanation at all is received then the absence is recorded as unauthorised. Where the school has serious concerns about attendance, Attendance Management procedures will commence (see above). Holidays taken in term time are also classed as unauthorised and plans to take such time off school should be made in writing to the Headteacher.

If your child is going to be absent from school you must contact us before 9.30am, or we will contact you. Again, you may find it easier to leave a voicemail message or send an email before 9.00am, as we do appreciate that the office and phone line can be busy after 9.00am.