How is information shared with parents/carers?
- Fortnightly newsletters
- Letters and texts sent via SchoolComms
- School website, including Year Group Pages
- Google Classroom
- School X (Twitter) Account
- Parent/carer workshops (including Phonics, Reading, Maths, SATS)
- Friends of Branfil website and social media
How do I know how my child is doing at school?
- Reception: termly Focus Child meetings with parents/carers
- Years 1 – 6: All About Your Child meetings (autumn 1 and spring 1)
- Years 1 – 6: termly Book Looks
- Reception – Year 6: written Annual Report (July)
- Informal updates from teachers either on the playground, by telephone or by email
How can I communicate with my child’s teacher?
- When your child is in Reception, parents/carers can contact the class teacher via class e-mail addresses; teachers check these inboxes daily.
- When your child is in Years 1-6, parents/carers can contact the class teacher via year group e-mail addresses; teachers check these inboxes daily.
- Call the school office and request a telephone call with a member of staff
- Reception teachers are always available on the door at the start of the school day
- Speak to your child’s class teacher at the end of the school day when you pick your child up, for an informal catch-up. If you would like to discuss your child in more detail, please request a telephone call or meeting.
- For urgent matters, please telephone the school office who will pass the message onto the relevant member of staff
I’m worried about something to do with my child, who should I contact?
The class teacher knows your child best and has the most contact with your child in order to support them so please speak to them first. If you feel your concerns have not been addressed, please speak to the Year Leader before contacting a member of the Senior Leadership Team. If your concern relates to your child’s additional needs, please see the SEN page on our website.
Things aren’t going well for our family outside of school, how can school help?
Safeguarding concerns
If your concerns are to do with the safety of your child and you feel your child is at immediate risk of harm in an emergency, please call 999.
If you feel your child is at risk of harm and this is a safeguarding concern, parents/carers can self-refer to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH):
- For Havering residents call 01708 433222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or 01708 433999 (out of hours/weekends)
- For Thurrock residents call 01375 652 802.
Parents can also speak to a member of the Designated Safeguarding Team to report a safeguarding concern about their own or another child. More information can be found on the Safeguarding page.
Other homelife concerns
At Branfil we have Pupil and Family Support Assistants (Mon: Mrs Gutridge, Tues-Fri: Mrs Mead) who work closely with the Assistant Headteacher and SENCo (Mrs Metcalfe). We are able to provide families with support and advice for areas such as home routines, managing behaviour at home, changes in family relationships and overall well-being. When it is appropriate, our Family and Pupil Support Assistants can also work directly with pupils through mentoring and intervention in their role as Emotional Literacy Support Assistants.
Mrs Metcalfe can also support families by linking families with external agencies such as:
- School nurse (i.e. sleeping, eating, hygiene)
- Children and Adolescents Mental Health Service (CAMHS) consultations (i.e. anxiety, low mood)
- CAMHS and other Health referrals
- Early Help (i.e. housing, finances, parenting courses/workshops)
- Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Services (HBBS)
- Havering Young Carers
Parents/carers can request support by contacting the school office.