Peppard Church of England Primary SchoolCommunication with Families
At Peppard Church of England Primary School, we value strong and positive communication with our families. Our school values of Kindness, Respect and Resilience underpin all interactions between home and school. By working together in partnership, we aim to support every child’s learning, wellbeing and development.
To help us respond to queries, feedback or concerns as efficiently as possible, we ask parents and carers to consider which member of staff is best placed to deal with their enquiry. This helps ensure that your child’s learning, emotional and physical needs are supported effectively.
In the first instance, please email the school office at office@peppardprimary.co.uk, clearly stating the name of the staff member your message is intended for and the purpose of the enquiry in the subject line. For general enquiries, including medical matters, the office team will direct your message to the appropriate member of staff. Queries about learning are often resolved most quickly when directed to the class teacher.
Emails will be acknowledged within two working days. Staff will reply as soon as they are able; however, if your query is complex it may take longer to follow up. We aim to provide a full response or arrange a meeting within five working days.
If further support is required, the following guide will help ensure your enquiry reaches the appropriate member of staff:
Headteacher – Mrs Wakefield
Responsible for the overall leadership of the school, including the quality of teaching and learning, behaviour and curriculum development, and ensuring the smooth running of the school.
SENCo / Inclusion Leads – Miss Lawrence and Mrs Wakefield
Responsible for supporting children on the SEND register and overseeing provision for pupils with additional needs. This includes monitoring progress and working alongside class teachers to review support.
Designated Safeguarding Leads – Mrs Wakefield, Mrs Claridge and Miss Lawrence
Responsible for the safeguarding and welfare of all children.
How We Communicate with You
The school uses a variety of methods to keep in touch with parents and carers.
Weekly Newsletter
Our weekly newsletter shares information about school life, upcoming events and celebrations of learning. It is emailed to families and published on the school website.
Email
Most communication between school and home takes place via email. Please check your inbox regularly and inform the school if your email address changes.
Text Messages
We occasionally send text messages regarding events or urgent updates, such as school closures. It is important that we have up-to-date mobile numbers at all times.
Website
Our website contains key information, school policies and news about school life.
Face-to-Face Meetings
Sometimes it is best to discuss a matter in person. Please contact the school office to arrange an appointment so staff can give your query their full attention.
When your child joins our school, you will complete an admission form providing contact details. Each year we also send a data-checking form and emergency contact card for review. Please inform the school promptly of any changes to your address, phone number, email address or workplace.
Respectful Communication
We are committed to maintaining a positive and respectful school community. We ask all members of the school community to communicate with kindness and respect when contacting staff or other families. Staff will always listen to concerns and work collaboratively with parents and carers to find solutions.
If you wish to discuss a matter in detail, please arrange a meeting rather than raising concerns at the classroom door, so staff can give your query the time and attention it deserves.
WhatsApp Groups
To support communication between parents and carers, some classes operate WhatsApp groups independently of the school.
Class WhatsApp Groups
These groups can be a helpful way for parents to share information related to school events and activities. Messages are shared by parents in a personal capacity or forwarded on behalf of the PTA. The school does not post directly in parent WhatsApp groups.
Code of Conduct
Parents are asked to follow these guidelines when using class WhatsApp groups:
Do not use the group to air grievances about staff, pupils or parents.
Do not use the group as a platform for political views.
Do not use the group for private conversations.
Communicate with mutual respect and cultural sensitivity.
The school considers the following online activity inappropriate:
Abusive or personal comments about staff, pupils or parents
Bringing the school into disrepute
Posting defamatory or libellous comments
Circulating emails containing abusive or personal comments about staff or pupils
Publicly challenging school policies or discussing individual children on social media
Threatening behaviour or the use of inappropriate language
If you are concerned about inappropriate comments on a class WhatsApp group, please contact your class representative, who will liaise with the Senior Leadership Team if required.
Feedback, Concerns and Complaints
We welcome feedback from parents and carers and recognise that questions or concerns may occasionally arise. Most concerns can be resolved quickly and informally through discussion with your child’s class teacher. We are committed to listening carefully and working in partnership with families to find positive solutions wherever possible.
If an issue cannot be resolved informally, parents and carers may follow the school’s formal complaints procedure, details of which are available in the Complaints Policy on the school website.
Raising Concerns
If you have a concern about your child’s learning or wellbeing, please follow the steps below:
Contact the class teacher first, as most concerns can be resolved quickly through discussion.
If the issue remains unresolved, you may contact the relevant senior member of staff.
If necessary, concerns can then be raised with the Headteacher.
If a concern cannot be resolved informally, parents may follow the school’s formal complaints procedure, which is available in the Complaints Policy on the school website.