Communication with You

Emails and Texts The school uses email as its main means of communication with parents, including notification of school invoices and pupil reports being uploaded to the Parent Portal. We also use text messaging to communicate last-minute changes to arrangements or, in the case of an emergency, such as School closures.

The ‘Contact & Medical Details’ form (issued for new pupils) asks you to specify at least one email address and one mobile phone number per family that we can use to contact you. If both parents would like to receive emails and texts from us, then please indicate this on the form or notify the school. Parents are requested to ensure that the School Office has up-to-date contact details at all times. Emails and texts are sent out using a system called SchoolPost. Teamsheets for sports fixtures are available on our Sports Website and through the SOCS Sport App that can be downloaded to your mobile phone. Parent Portal The Beacon has a secure online portal for use by current pupils and parents. This is available on any computer or device with internet access.

The Parent Portal currently provides information on: - Joiner information and forms - Your son’s timetable - Homework (for boys in Years 4-8) - A full list of all teacher contacts and their email addresses - School reports - School documents, including curriculum overviews, revision guides, and trip guides - Online forms, including Absence Notification,

School Bus Booking, Breakfast Club Booking and

Medication Administration Consent - Term dates - Lunch menus - Links to the Club and Parents’ Evening booking systems - Copies of emails which have been sent to you via

SchoolPost - Details of rewards earned by your son - Copies of invoices

Boys in Years 4-8 are able to log into the Parent Portal with their school login details (email address and password). Training is provided during their Computing lessons. They will be expected to use the Portal to access details of their homework. Parents have separate access to the Portal and, in advance of joining, will receive details via email on how to set up an account.

Website and Online Calendar The School Website is a great source of information and is frequently updated with news about what is happening at The Beacon. There is a menu bar in the top left corner of the website for our current families, which includes links to our Parent Portal, SOCS Sport App (Sports Fixture Portal), the school term dates and online calendar. The calendar contains details of events, trips, sporting fixtures and other important dates for the current term and is updated as changes occur. There is an export function to Google Calendar, Apple iCal and other compatible apps. School news, including details of many of our charity-focused and community outreach activities, are featured on our News and Event pages. The website home-page also has links to our social media pages.

Newsletters Our weekly newsletter is the main method of communicating news, notices and reminders. The newsletter is sent out via email each Friday. An Early Years Newsletter is also sent out weekly to Nursery and Reception parents. Magazine Our termly digital magazine called ‘The Beacon Bulletin’ highlights the extraordinary events and activities that took place throughout the Term.

Beaconverse Podcast The Beacon School monthly podcast, Beaconverse, endeavours to inspire you with educational topics, as well as giving you an insight into The Beacon Life.

Social Media

Instagram @beaconschooluk

Facebook facebook.com/beaconschoolamersham

Twitter @Beacon_School

LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/the-beacon-school