Parent/ Carer Questionnaire Results 2023

Parent & Carer Questionnaire

Autumn Term Results 2023 - Results

from 70 families

Thank you to all the families for completing the questionnaire and for your comments and responses about St Bernadette’s. We have compiled the results and are pleased to present themtoyou. TheresultshavebeensharedwithGovernorsandwithstaffsothatwecanmake our school an even better place to be for pupils and parents. Parents’ suggestions are gratefully received and will be carefully considered as we move forward with our School Development Plan.

In some areas, parents have responded as unsure or given additional feedback to myself, indicating that they did not have any relevant experience to answer some of our questions or some questions did not seem to apply to their children. Many of the added verbal comments to staff and myself have been very positive. I will send out another Google form, after Christmas, so you are able to leave further feedback - thank you for engaging.

Supporting your child

4

How important was it to have a telephone conversation with your child's teacher, regarding progress, rather than the Spring interim report? (Scale from 1 – 5, 5 being very important)

(1) 0%

5 Do you have a point of contact to go to if your child is struggling in terms of wellbeing?

Parent Concern

6 The school deals with bullying quickly and effectively?

7 When I have raised concerns, they have been dealt with properly?

8 The school seeks my views and listens to my concerns?

9 The school has high expectations for my child?

10 My child is doing well in school

11 The school lets me know how my child is doing?

12 There is a good range of subjects available to my child in school?

13 My child has special educational needs and /or disabilities and the school provides them with the support they need to succeed?

14 The school supports my child's wider personal development?

15 The school is welcoming and there are opportunities to get involved?

16 Would you recommend St Bernadette's School to another parent/carer?

(7)

Our response:

Question 1: My child is happy in school?

93% positive

We are delighted that so many positive comments were made and many parents agreed that their child was happy at school,everyday/most daysor some days.

Our aim,at StBernadette’sisfor all our pupilsto be happyeveryifnotmost daysof theweek.For those parents who voted no, I would ask you to make contact with your child’s teacher to discuss this further. If a positive resolution is not found, please ask for support from the Assistant Head teachers who liaise with myself at all times.

Question 2: My child feels safe in school?

97 % of parents reported that their child feels safe in school

We are very pleased with this outcome as Safeguarding is such an important area and all children should feel safe at school. We will continue to seek children’s views in discussions with them and respond to any concerns about feeling safe that they may have. For those parents who have any concerns, please come and speak to me as I am normally outside before and after school , or email theoffice for an appointment, as I will be happy to talk through any concerns you have.

Question 3: My child does well in this school?

94 % of parents felt their child did well all the time or most of the timein school.

Please speak to your child’s class teacher in the first instance if you are concerned that your child is not doing well at St Bernadette’s – we want all children to do their very best and do well across thewholecurriculum.

Question 4: How important was it to have a telephone conversation with your child’s teacher, regarding progressrather than theSpring interim report?

It seemed that all parents, in some form, felt that speaking to their child’s teacher, rather than an interim report home, was more beneficial to them. Face to face contact is more personal for all involved.

Question 5: Do you have a point of contact to go if your child is struggling in terms of wellbeing?

84 % of parents knew who to go to if their child was struggling with wellbeing.

However,11parentswerenotconfidentwithwhothecontactwouldbe.Inthefirstinstance,wewould always want you to make your child’s teacher aware that your child is struggling with their wellbeing. They will liaise with Mrs Dowling, our Family Support Worker/SENCo but she also has a direct line –01253 353687 and her email address is Olivia.dowling@st-bernadette.blackpool.sch.uk We have resiliencecoachesandmentalhealthworkersinschoolworkingwithidentifiedchildrenalreadyandwe have many outside agencies we can signpost you to for support so please ask.

Question 6:Theschool deals with bullying quickly and effectively?

44% of parents felt that we deal with bullying quickly. 45% of parents answered unsure as we feel because they have had noexperience of dealing with any bullying issues.

However,9parentsindicatedthattheschoolhasnotdealtwithbullyingeffectively.Tothoseparents, Iwouldsaythatifyoudofeelyouhaveoutstandingconcernsregardingbullying,pleasecomeandspeak tomepersonally(emailtheschooloffice).Asaschool,wetakeanyformofbullyingseriouslyandtake immediatesteps to address it as illustrated inour Anti-Bullying policy.

Question 7:When I have raised concerns, they have been dealt with properly?

75% of parents felt we have dealt with concerns properly. 17% were unsure but again we feel that they have not had to raise any concerns in school. 8 parents disagreed.

Here at St Bernadette’s, we want to deal with any concerns in a prompt manner and in a way that parents feel they have been listened to. We recognise that not everyone will be happy in the decisions that are made regarding concerns involving their children. We follow protocols and procedures when dealing with concerns and doour verybest toresolve concerns promptly. Again, can I remind you that if you have a concern, in the first instance, please contact your child’s teacher (unless it is safeguarding concern – prompt contact through the office). If the concern isnotresolved,pleasecontacttheAssistantHeadteachers-MissGreenhalghKS1orMrsPearson KS2 via the school office email. If you feel you have not had a positive resolution to any of your concerns, please arrange an appointment with myself via theschool office.

Question 8: Theschool seeks my views and listens to my concerns?

72% of parents felt we did listen to their concerns. 22% were unsure; again we feel that they have not had to raise concerns. 4 parents felt we do not listen to their concerns.

WehavealwaystriedtohaveanopendoorpolicyatStBernadette’s.Ifyoudohaveconcerns,please make us aware. As the Head Teacher, I always aim to be visible around school in the morning and at the end of the school day. Please seek me out if you have followed the correct procedures of addressing concerns and have still not had a positive resolution. We will continue to seek informal and formal feedback asit is an importantpart of continued school development.

Question 9:Theschool has high expectations for my child?

Nearly all parents felt we had high expectations of their child.

HereatStBernadette’s,wehavehighexpectationsofallour childrenandwanteachchildto dotheir best at all times. We will talk to you as parents if we are concerned that your child is not trying their best in class and teachers will employ a variety of strategies to support children if this is the case. We try to instil positive attitudes, linked to our Gospel Values, to learning and behaviour amongst all our children as well as perseverance and resilience.

Question 10/11: The school lets me know how my child is doing!

We have many opportunities where you have theopportunity to discuss how your child is doing. We have a planned ‘teacher meet’ at the beginning of the school year, two Parent Conferences are held each year and teachers always make themselvesavailableif you need toconsultfurtherregardingyourchild.Afullwrittenreportissenthomeattheendofthe school year and an opportunity is provided for you to meet with your child’s teacher if you have any concerns regarding this report. In addition, each class has a school page on the website so you are ableto seethe learning taking place.

Finally, parents are very welcome to make an additional appointment, to speak to their child’s class, to discuss any concerns they may have.

Question 12: There is a good range of subjects available to my child in school?

88.6%(62) yes 1.4% (1) no 10%(7) unsure

Here at St Bernadette’s, we ensure that all children have access to a broad,balanced and stimulating education,following theNational Curriculum. This is designed to allow children access to learning opportunities that interest and motivate them, and which develops their skills in order to succeed in later life.Whilst prioritising thebasic skills of Mathematics and English, theschool promotes creativity and sequenced knowledge through thefoundation subjects.

French is theadopted Modern Foreign Language in KS2. You can find further information on our school website under Curriculumand individual subjects.

Question13: Mychildhasspecialeducationalneedsand/ordisabilitiesandtheschoolprovides them with the support they need to succeed?

Most parents agreed (some left very positive additional messages) or this did not apply to their child. 6 parents disagreed

Mrs Dowling, is our special education needs coordinator (SENCo) and works closely with teachers and the parents of the children who have special educational needs. Each child on the SEND list has a SEND support plan and parents meet with the class teacher every term, and more if necessary, to discuss targets. The Local Authority SEND team also meet regularly with Mrs Dowling/individualteachersandcontinuallyassessourchildrensowehavespecialistsupportwhen and if necessary. I urge those parents who have answered no to this question to make contact withMrsDowlingor myselftodiscusstheir concerns. Wehaveproceduresandprotocolsinplace for all children on our SEND register so we are confident that all parents are secure in the knowledge that we are doing our upmost to support their child and to address any concerns that they have in a timely manner.

Question 14: The school supports my child's wider personal development?

Here at St Bernadette’s we pride ourselves on offering opportunities for your child to develop their wider personal development - just in case you are unaware, here is a flavour:

Extra curricula after school activity clubs

Schools Alive competition ( singing and dancing)

Wider musical opportunities – Year 4

Choir afterschool club

Opportunities to takeup individual music lessons Years 3 - 6

Forest School activities

Seasiders competition ( Art)

Yearly Science Competitions across theschool in KS1 and KS2 linked to other competing schools

Yearly Educational visits linked to thesubjects taught within each class

Opportunitiestosharetheirachievementsgainedoutsideofschoolduringtheweeklypraiseassembly

World Book Day activities

Visits from Authors

Visits in KS2 from our Local MP and local Judges to discuss opportunities beyond school

Visits from athletes who have excelled in their discipline

Yearly visits from our designated charities to discuss how your child makes a difference to the lives of others

Opportunities to meet outside resilience coaches to support their wellbeing

Advent and Lenten Service with other Catholic schools

Continual involvement with St Bernadette’s church parish

Involved in fund raisingfor local charities

We continue to seek out other opportunities for your children as they arise

Question 15: The school is welcoming and there are opportunities to get involved?

87% agreed

We are happy that you recognise that we value your involvement in school.

Question 16: Would you recommend St Bernadette's School to another parent/carer?

87% agreed

Thank you for the many positive comments regarding our school. Parents regularly speak to the teachers or myself to pass on their thanks for our commitment to their children. I know that manyparents,throughouttheyear,seekaplacefortheir childinStBernadette’s,unfortunately, I have had to decline places; that speaks volumes. Parents continue to send their child/ren to St Bernadette’s which illustrates to Governors that you are happy with the educational choice you have made – thank you.