We do our absolute best to provide you with timely, accurate information about your child in a variety of ways. The different ways we do this are:
Emails: We send out all communications, including our fortnightly celebration newsletter, by email through Teachers 2 Parents. Please note that if you change your email address, you need to let the office know and change it within your Teachers 2 Parents account otherwise you will not continue to receive communications from the school. We will send all communications to the first contact held on record.
Text messages: When we need to get an urgent message to you, we may send a text message. You will be able to reply to the message but please contact the school if you wish
Teachers 2 Parents (T2P): We are a cashless school. T2P is our online platform for making payments for school meals, school trips, breakfast and after school clubs and Pre-School. Please make sure that you have activated your account. If there is a new payment item for your child, you will be notified by email.
Newsletter: Every fortnight we publish a newsletter. We use this to share information, celebrate our successes and give you an ongoing insight into life at St Stephens Community Academy. We also share key dates here for the coming term. A link to our newsletter will be emailed each week, put on Facebook and saved to the school website.
Social Media: We have a school Facebook page which we use to celebrate our successes and give you an ongoing insight into life at St Stephens . Follow us to stay on top of all the amazing things your child is getting up to. (5) Facebook
Website: We use our website as a repository of key information and an entry point for prospective parents. It is not the place to see ongoing conversation from the school, although you can find the latest newsletters here and we publish key school dates on our website calendar. If you want to see details about things like school governance, our performance, our curriculum and our policies, this is the place to come.
Informal Conversations: We really value developing relationships with all our parents. We will always aim for there to be a member of senior staff available to talk to at the beginning of every school day. Class teachers bring children out at the end of the day and may take opportunities at this time of day to pass on information or simply share some news with you about your child.
Phone Calls: If we are unable to catch you in a playground, if we need to contact you during the school day or if we want a longer and more private conversation, we will call you. It is very important that we have up-to-date phone numbers for you. In an emergency, we will need to get in touch. If you see the school calling, please do answer.
Meetings: In a variety of situations, we may ask you to attend a meeting with school staff. We will always contact you to discuss your availability and be as flexible as possible in arranging meetings. However, especially if external agency workers are involved, our ability to be flexible may be limited. We ask parents to be flexible themselves and to please attend school meetings, on time.
The Early Years Stay and Play: Before your child starts in Nursery or Reception, we will invite you and them to a ‘Stay and Play’. You'll get to know the space and teachers, as well as other parents and children.
Meet the Teacher: At the end of each academic year, we run a Meet the Teacher event for parents with children in years EYFS to 5.This is a chance for you to get to know the teacher, as well as find out about expectations and routines for the year ahead. These meetings link with our whole school transition days.
Parent/Carers Consultations: Two times a year, we will invite you in for a meeting with your child's teacher to discuss their progress across the curriculum.
Curriculum Leaflets: Each term curriculum leaflets with information about what your child will be learning in the coming term are emailed home. This also includes information about home learning expectations and ideas for you to enrich their learning at home. Curriculum leaflets are also on our website.
Evidence Me Learning Platform: Pre-School pupils and ARB pupils in school have a personal Evidence Me account. In these classes teachers like to send reminders about trips or bringing things into school and the platform also allows parents to share ‘wow moments’ their children have at home. Please note, teachers cannot respond to general notes and messages on Evidence Me. Both groups of children also have access to DoJo for this.
Learning celebrations: Each week, every year group invites parents into school to celebrate an aspect of their child’s learning . Parents/Carers will be notified earlier in the week to enable them to attend.
End of Year Report: At the end of each academic year, we will provide you with a written summary of your child's learning and achievements.
