Methods of communication and what you can expect from these:

Prospectus:

Once you have received your place at Millbank, you will receive a prospectus as part of your admissions pack. The prospectus will give new and prospective parents the opportunity to get a favour of what school life is like and what the school offer as part of its universal provision. It also gives key information.

Email:

We use your email address to send new information and updates. These can be whole school updates, but can also be specific to your class. Please look out for these daily. When we organise a trip, we share information about the trip via email. We do not name the trip in the newsletter or on the website due to safeguarding reasons.

Text message:

For urgent information and unplanned changes to the day/week, we send text messages to try to give as much notice as possible, if for any unforeseen reason, we may need to make changes to the school day or cancel clubs, for example.

Newsletter:

The newsletter is a must for keeping up with dates and events happening whole school, but also for what has happened and what will be happeneing in your child’s class. The newsletter is shared every Friday at 6pm via text, X (twitter) and a copy on the website.

X (twitter):

X is used by Millbank primary and this, along with Class Dojo, is the main vehicle for you to see what is happening in your child’s class on a day to day basis. If you do not wish for your child to be posted on X, please ensure your class teacher is aware and we will update our systems.

Class Dojo: 

Class Dojo is an app used for communication between class teachers and parents. At Millbank Primary we use Class Dojo because it offers many useful features including positive behaviour management, parent/teacher communication and class/school newsfeeds. To ensure we are able to safely utilise what it has to offer, it is important that we all follow the rules and expectations for users. Please see the appendix on Use of Class Dojo.

Website:

The website is updated with a  broad overview of calendar dates for the year. There are also class pages for you to access. In the event of unplanned school closure or that your child is sick, the class page will sign post you to your child’s recommended learning.

Feedback and feedforward between the Millbank School Community

We are a school learning organisation and take school improvement very seriously. The whole school community is involved in growing, reflecting, making progress and improving.

We periodically ask our families for their feedback about all aspects of school life and how we can continually work to improve. This is in the form of  parent questionnaires, (usually Microsoft Forms) and invitations to open meetings and information sessions.

Parents’ Evenings

We have two formal parents’ evening a year where you have an opportunity to make an appointment to discuss your child’s learning, progress and wellbeing. In addition, we have Show Off! Day in the summer term. This is an opportunity for you to come into your child’s class during the school day whilst learning is taking place. Your child will be able to show you around their class, introduce you to their friends, show you their books and how they learn within the classroom. The children love this day and it’s a great opportunity for you to see what their day to day life is like in school.

Summer reports

An annual formal report will be given to you at the end of each year from your child’s class teacher. Within this report you will find your child’s class attendance for the year as well as  national test data that has been completed. You and your child will also be able to complete a feedback form about how the year has progressed from your family’s viewpoint.

Curriculum meetings

There are curriculum meetings at the start of each year for each new year group. These are to map out the aims of the year, set routines in place and share a broad overview of the experiences and learning that your child will undertake throughout their year. These are really useful sessions so please try to attend.

Family engagement

We have a family engagement officer who is the point of contact for any course and events that we offer. We offer a  range of accredited and non-accredited courses. Examples of these include courses held here at school by CAVC college including families connect and Families Learning together. We also have a Families Advice and Support Officer based in school weekly to support with any aspects of domestic life that you may come across.

Governing Body

From time to time, the clerk to the governing body will invite parents to apply to take a turn on the governing body in the role of parent governor. If there are multiple applications, the parent governor will be voted in by the rest of the school community. As part of this role, you will be a representative of both parents and the school. You will be able to share the ongoing work of the school in a professional ‘critical friend’ role  that helps us drive forward in terms of school improvement. You will be able to work with the school in its commitment to the pupils of our area.  

PTFA

Another really useful way of developing links with the school is to join the Parent, Teachers, Friends Association of Millbank Primary. The PTFA organises fun events for the children of Millbank in the hope of raising some money for the school and engaging our pupils.