How we communicate
with parents
ClassDojo
In the classroom, teachers use an app called ClassDojo to reward positive learning behaviours like curiosity and perseverance. In addition, ClassDojo is used to further strengthen communication between home and our school. The app includes a ‘Class Story’ which is regularly updated with class news and photos providing parents with updates on what is happening in their child's classroom. This gives parents a real insight into how they can help their child at home. In addition important information is shared on dojo for the whole school. All parents and carers therefore will need a login. Teachers can contact parents directly via ClassDojo regarding individual children as well as parents being able to directly contact the class teacher. If you are a current parent, please sign in using this link or even quicker, you can download the app straight to your mobile. If you don't have a sign in, please speak to your child's class teacher.
Parent Partnership
At Highover we believe that both home and school can work together to ensure the best possible outcomes for the child. The parents and school work together to share all aspects of a child’s development. Sharing this information allows for the appropriate next steps to be implemented. From supporting children every day with reading to encouraging them to risk take and attempt new skills parents can have a huge impact on their child’s attitude to learning and future successes.
Telephone calls and emails
The office or class teacher may phone or email parents for any urgent or important messages that need to be given.
Arbor
We use Arbor to communicate important messages such as the newsletter, class trips, forms to complete and messages from the Headteacher. Parents can also make use of the Arbor Parent Portal App to be kept update about their child’s information, get live updates and make payments or bookings on the go!
Prospective Parent Tours
Prospective parents are given the opportunity to visit the school and listen to an introduction from the Headteacher. They are then given a tour of the school by some Year 6 children to allow parents to see the learning going on around the school.
Welcome Meetings
At the start of each school year we hold welcome meetings at the school. This is an opportunity for parents to visit the school, meet their child’s class teacher and TA as well as seeing their child’s classroom environment. These meetings allow teachers to share key information relevant to each year group and gives parents the opportunity to ask any questions about the year ahead.
Phonics Information Sessions
This is an opportunity for parents to attend and allow them to feel informed about reading for their child. It gives parents the knowledge they need to understanding their child’s learning and make them feel more confident to support their child at home with their learning.
Maths Engagement Sessions
To support parental engagement in maths, we invite parents in for a session where they play mathematics games with their child. This follows the class assemblies during the spring and summer term.
Termly Parent Information Evenings
Throughout the year we hold a range of parent information sessions for each year group. Dates for these can be found on the Dates for Your Diary page, here.
Open Evening
We hold this event towards the end of the summer term as a way of sharing our learning with current and prospective parents. This is an opportunity for children to talk about their learning with their parents and is also a brilliant opportunity for parents to see how the learning progresses from Reception up to Year 6 at Highover School.
Learning Reviews
Parents are given two opportunities in the school year to sit with the class teacher and talk about their child’s learning. The teacher can provide information on how they have settled in to the new year, their behaviour in class and the progress they are making in their learning. These take place in the Autumn and Spring terms and as voted for by parents the Autumn term is a face to face appointment and the Spring term is online.
Book Showcases
Each term we invite parents to come and look at their child's work in the classroom. The children really enjoy showing their parents the work that they are most proud of.
Class Assemblies
Once a year, each class presents an assembly, which parents and carers are invited to attend. This is an opportunity for children to share their knowledge and understanding of curriculum topics with their families.
Awards Evening
The event gives recognition to individual pupils’ exceptional achievement across the school. There is an award for each category for each year group from Year 1 to Year 6 with a maximum of one award per child and are based on performance over the year and discussions with pupils’ teachers. The successful pupils receive awards for achievement in various categories.
School Reports
Parents are given a school report written by their child’s class teacher once a year that details their child’s progress that year. These are sent out in the Summer term and include a comment from your child.
Website
Our school website is a great way to find out about what is going on at Highover School. Parents can access read the newsletters and read important information about the school.