Hazelwood Communication Survey Findings

COMMUNICATION SURVEY FINDINGS AND ACTIONS November 2011

‘I am pleased to see you are undertaking a survey on communication. I would rather have "too much" information than not enough if that makes sense. It's when you don't have the info, people get confused and Chinese whispers start’

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to the Communications Survey which was sent out earlier this year. Over 100 families provided very useful feedback, thoughts and suggestions for how we can streamline our communications.

Our aim is always to get the right information, to the right parents, in good time each and every time. Our communication is always under close scrutiny and we are committed to continue to improve its delivery and the school’s performance in this all-important area.

Overall Results Levels of communication seemed to be ‘about right’. Most of you do not feel overloaded with information from the school.

Email is the preferred way of receiving information.

Royal Mail is to be reserved for end of term reports, school calendar and end of term mailings.

The website can host much more of the ‘mechanics’ of after school clubs, school events, Governors’ newsletters.

Texting should be used to share urgent information eg cancellation of sports matches

“I like receiving urgent information by text eg. cancellations etc and changes to things by e-mail. It’s nice to have the school reports by post and it would seem easier to have upcoming events, clubs, activities and some letters on the web site”.

Your Feedback

Your Feedback 93% have a mobile phone on which they are happy to receive messages from the school.

100% have internet access at home. Most are on-line each day.

90% would be happy to have more information hosted within the parents’ sections of both websites.

90% are happy to print information and forms off the website.

92% would be happy to use the website for the booking of the schools’ Late Rooms and After School Activities.

‘Would love to be able to book and review my children’s afterschool activities’ timetable online’ ‘Working parents may not always get to open pupil post for a few days. Email and texts are useful’

Pupil post is least preferred, and least trusted means of communicating.

Surprisingly not everything sent home is read!

Convenience of Email & Web 11 responses ‘Please post ALL information on the website so we can look up whatever we need to. No need for any paper based communication (except school report). Please send an email to direct parents to look on the website’

Less duplication with siblings 4 responses ‘There is too much duplication of mail where there are siblings in the school—particularly use of Royal Mail and associated costs’

Reliability of Pupil Post 2 responses

Your feedback and comments were very useful.

There was common ground in some of your ideas....

Split out information between Hazelwood and The Larks 5 responses ‘Can we separate Larks’ and Hazelwood communications trying to ensure that parents only receive what is relevant to them?’

Less paper please! Email response facility 5 responses ‘I try to limit the amount of paper which comes to the house. Rather than printing off a form, and sending it into school, is there an opportunity to complete the form on line and send it back?’

‘In my experience nothing sent home by pupil post has ever reached me.

I know it may be more a reflection of my child’s organisational skills, but please can nothing be sent home via pupil post!’

And there were requests for... ...a shorter Nutshell ... email notification of website updates ... continued use of the notice-boards ... prompt mail-out of information ..clearer communication with strong calls to action

OUR PLANS AND ACTIONS Things we are doing already....

We have already begun to send letters out via Clarion Call email.

Responses can be made by email too!

We are hosting the After School Club lists on-line.

We have tightened up our database so the right messages can be delivered with greater confidence to the right families.

We have revisited our school circulation lists so letters sent via pupils (weekly paper Nutshell) will only go to the eldest child.

We are reviewing all communication so all necessary information is included on time and first time.

We will try to ensure that information shared across The Larks and Hazelwood is of interest to the whole school community. We want to feel like one body of children, staff and parents.

We have introduced and will continue to develop, a Larks’ newsletter every half term. Greater use will also be made of the notice-boards at The Larks.

We have new on-line galleries to share pictures from events with you.

Things we are planning to do...

We are investigating a total on-line booking system which is being tested early in the year. Watch this space. It is hoped to roll this out for The Holiday Fun Club too.

We are streamlining the end of term mailings so that only must-read information will be included within them.

We will be hosting copies of letters sent home on the website—within the Parents’ sections—so that you won’t miss any important information.

We will be hosting Governors’ Newsletters on-line in future. Those families who wish for a paper copy can request one.

We will reduce our use of Royal Mail and invest the savings made into the school’s Eco Committee’s projects.

‘I’m happy to talk about it, but there’s no need to shout!’

What you can do for us...

Please ensure we have your most up to date email and mobile phone numbers. Please advise the School Office of any changes as and when you make them. Thank you.

‘ In this age of technology, please do not abandon the written word.

It is still nice to find a letter hidden amongst the rubbish which comes through the letterbox. I enjoy talking things through with my daughter’