Parent Surveys
At Fawbert & Barnard Infants' School, we like to work closely with parents, guardians and the local community to ensure that each and every child is provided with everything they need to succeed in class. If you feel there are any issues we should be made aware of, or there is anything you would like to discuss with us, please do not hesitate to contact the school office or speak directly to your class teacher in person or via the email addresses provided on the weekly class newsletters.
Parent Survey 2021
Thank you so much to those of you who completed our parent survey at the end of the Summer 2021 term. We had 129 responses which provided us with plenty of feedback. Governors and members of the senior leadership team have analysed the data and feedback and are delighted that overall parents are very happy with the experience offered to our children at F and B. Some highlights are below and further details are available on the charts shown in the document above.
89.1% agree or strongly agree that the quality of education at F and B is outstanding. This is up from 81% in our previous survey from 2019.
93% agree or strongly agree that the school is well managed and well led. This is up from 84% in 2019.
The four most popular responses to ‘what does your child enjoy most about attending F and B?’ were playing with friends, being creative, moving their spiders and learning with the teacher. It is wonderful that children are enjoying their time at school so much, responding so well to the rewards system put in place and to learning with their teachers.
The vast majority think that communication is useful or very useful with comments such as ‘big improvement’ and ‘positive communication noted and appreciated’ and 87.6% agree or strongly agree that the headteachers’ newsletter has had a positive impact.
Feedback from the 2019 parent survey was that communication was spread over too many mediums; we have worked hard to streamline our communication and to make use of online forms where possible over the last two years and are delighted that so many of you recognise this. The 2019 survey also highlighted the lack of electronic payment systems; we have now changed this so that all payments can be made electronically, including those to the Friends of F and B.
Suggestions made included that a full list of dates for the academic year be provided at the beginning of the year; this is now available on the website. The link for menus for school dinners is also always provided and up to date on the website.
Suggestions were also made around diversity including the celebration of pride month and further celebration of different cultures and religions and open conversations around race. Diversity is a focus for each subject leader this year to ensure that their subject taught includes a diverse range of significant people. Our well-being library also celebrates diversity through the classroom stories. Diversity and an appreciation of different cultures also features heavily as part of our PSHE and RE curriculums.
Staff are always pleased to receive positive feedback and comments like these we couldn’t agree with more:
[The school provides] ‘the perfect balance between caring and nurturing the children with improving their learning and understanding.’
‘Teachers went above and beyond during the second lockdown.’
We had a fantastic response to our 2019 survey, in fact we had the highest response rate ever, so thank you for taking the time.
Here are some of the positive comments and statistics that we received...
95% strongly agree or agree that there are a good range of topics
91% think the memorable experiences are very good or good
90% strongly agree/ agree that settling in procedure good
82% strongly agree/agree that the standard of education offered is outstanding
91% strongly agree/ agree child treated fairly
93% agree their child feels safe
96% think promote healthy eating
91% would recommend to other parents
My youngest seems to be so engaged in her learning without realising she is learning. [ She ] has experienced the Montessori approach since nursery before school and has thrived in every year. She enjoys learning and has a great sense of achievement with what she learns. She finds whole learning process ‘fun’ and often comments that she loves school.
He likes the outdoor activities and everyone is happy.
Pretty much everything. My child is very happy at F&B and is making excellent progress both academically and socially.
In response to our 2019 survey, we did the following:-
YOU SAID: | WE DID: |
I am not particularly clear about how the Montessori approach has been incorporated into my child's learning…… Perhaps a charter of what the Montessori approach means in terms of their learning would be good to highlight how this improves their learning. |
Since our accreditation was received in June this year we have been putting information every week about the Montessori method and approach in our weekly news for Nursery and Reception. This will give weekly snippets of information about how the method enhances the children’s learning. |
I think there are too many communication methods. For example Classlist, Gateway, Marvelous Me, Facebook, Email, Text & Paper Letters.
Currently too many different modes of communication. Needs to be streamlined / standardised.
Put the information in the actual email rather than an attachment!
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We are looking into one platform for all our communications and are working with a company who will visit us on 15th October. They claim to “connect schools using modern technology...
If this system were to be adopted by us, we would be looking at swapping over from early 2020.
In terms of using PDF’s on our website and via our emails, PDF’s protect our documents from being tampered with or altered and we must ensure that what we publish is actually what we said.
PLEASE BE AWARE any communications via facebook, twitter, whatsapp or other social media platform DO NOT come from the school. We do not use these platforms. |
The new stoney path in front of the parish hall is not a lot better than the old waterlogged path. Surely it could have been agreed as part of planning permission that they would sort that path out? or that somewhere in the councils budget there is funding for a proper path? |
The school and one of our parents spent over 2 years collecting petitions and negotiating with highways and planning over the state of this footpath. Unfortunately highways did not want to help at all. Planning would not make this a condition as it is the other end away from the housing and nothing to do with them. We eventually persuaded the Town Council to put funding in for a new path. We were led to believe that it would be a tarmac pathway but it turned out to be shingle. They are not prepared to do anything further. This pathway is ‘unowned’ and does not fall on any legal deeds or documents. The path itself is somewhat better in terms of waterlogging as it no longer holds puddles, however it is not effective for the moving of buggies and bicycles. |
I believe the school over promotes a healthy living lifestyle. I appreciate that you need to meet government guidelines and you do not have complete flexibility, but I am concerned you over compensate |
In January 2019 we achieved a School Health UK ‘Beyond Healthy’ mark.
In June 2019 All schools in England received an email from Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families In the email it referred to a report and inquiry and quoted it “raises some important issues and I would urge you to read it and consider whether your school is doing all it can to ensure pupils are able to enjoy healthy food at school”. Further it highlighted the need for schools to consider some particular issues raised by the inquiry, in particular:- A positive lunchtime experience: Children highlighted the importance of an enjoyable and relaxing lunchtime experience. They want the school dining area to be a welcoming place where pupils can socialise, and would like a genuine voice in shaping their school meals. Children placed a high value on affordable healthy choices, avoiding queues and having enough time and space to eat with their peers. We feel we have really worked hard to improve the whole lunchtime experience for our children and that they are really beginning to understand the importance of being healthy for their future. |
14% of parents disagree that they are kept well informed on progress and 2 strongly disagree |
In Nursery and Reception we operate an electronic system for observations to record progress. Parents are sent all the photos and observations that we have carried out every half term (6 times a year) so you can see what your children have been doing, what learning has taken place and the next steps recorded by their teachers. As well as this, you receive a Personalised Learning Plan for your child in November which is reviewed and shared with you again, in February.
On top of this and in line with the rest of the school we operate the following:-
October each year – parent consultations February each year – parent consultations July each year – a full report on your child’s progress and attainment.
This is very consistent with all schools in the UK where at primary level there are two face to face meetings per year and one full report.
Children on the SEN register may have more meetings across the year to review their Individual Learning Targets.
If parents are particularly concerned or worried about their child’s progress additional meetings can be planned with the individual class teacher across the year. |
3 people disagree that bullying and harassment is tackled well and 4 strongly disagree |
Bullying and harassment are taken very seriously by the school. However, if parents do not approach the school direct about these issues, we cannot unfortunately deal with them. If issues occur outside of the school, for example at private birthday parties or events, the school cannot be responsible for this and again, if we are not informed direct, we are unable to help you.
We would ask that you clearly state any concerns you have over bullying direct to the school.
We pride ourselves on the exemplary behaviour that we have in school each day and would not like to feel that any child feels unsafe.
A reminder from the anti bullying alliance on what the term ‘bullying’ means:-
RUDE – if someone says or does something that is unintentionally hurtful, and they do it only once, they are being RUDE. MEAN - if someone says or does something that is intentionally hurtful, and they only do it once, they are being MEAN. BULLYING - If someone says or does something that is intentionally hurtful, and they keep on doing it, even if you ask them to stop, that is BULLYING. |
We had a very positive response to our parent survey in the summer of 2017. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Some of the things you told us were:-
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We have a “Friendly, supportive and dedicated teaching staff who make learning lots of fun”
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Bringing in Montessori learning has been excellent
The fact they get to go outside and learn in the gorgeous new outdoor learning area is excellent.
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98% of parents agree their children feel safe at school
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71% think our school is outstanding
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94% of parents believe their child made the right or more than the right amount of progress
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92% of parents feel that the Cornerstones Curriculum introduced in 2015/16 has changed their child’s learning experiences for the better
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You told us your children have really enjoyed the memorable experiences that we provide at the start of each topic. “She comes home raving about them”
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The topics are so interesting and my child has engaged with them all.
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The majority of parents surveyed rated the school environment as ‘excellent’
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87% of parents feel our leadership team are helpful or very helpful
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94% of parents feel our teachers are helpful or very helpful
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94% of parents feel our teaching assistants are helpful or very helpful
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The staff genuinely care about each child's development and seek to drive high standards.
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94% felt the sports apprentice has a positive+ impact on the school
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97% of parents believe we promote healthy eating and lifestyles
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71% of parents believe their year group weekly newsletter is ‘extremely useful’
In response to our parent survey in July 2017 we carried out the following...........
You said | We did |
Communication about assembly dates and dates for end of topic presentations to parents were not communicated early enough for people to make plans and attend. |
All the dates for the whole academic year 2017/18 have been posted on our website calendar. |
You were unsure whether our youngest children in Nursery, especially those attending 30 hours, were able to rest if they need to. |
We have a quiet area and have purchased ‘snooze mats’ should any of our younger children need a rest during the day.Both Reception classes already use their book areas for rest time if children need it. |
You are worried about the traffic along the side alleyway and the dangers to children |
We have been liaising with the Local Authority for several months on this. We have met with the new site manager, Daniel Gladstone, who is responsible for the construction of the new housing and we have made an agreement for there to be no work traffic during drop off and pick up times. |
You wanted to know when the zig zag lines will be changed on the Forebury to outside our school gate. |
We have been liaising with the Highways department for 2 years now regarding this issue. It apparently requires a court order to change the markings on the road and this is what is being sought. |
You are worried that by the school allowing children to bring sweets in on their birthday and hand them out at the end of the day, it goes against our healthy schools status and doesn’t give parents the opportunity to refuse. |
We will no longer accept sweets into school on children’s birthdays and instead have asked via the weekly newsletters you receive for parents to send in a favourite book or story that can be shared at the end of the day where everyone can sing happy birthday. |
Some of you were not finding that you received enough messages for your child on Marvellous Me.
Some of you were concerned that you could not use Marvellous Me on an android device. |
We have discussed the use of Marvellous Me as a staff team. Each week the teachers are sent through an analysis of their use compared to other teachers and are encouraged to make sure they are in line with each other and sending out enough badges/messages.
Overall last year 93% of our parents were engaged with Marvellous Me.
From 1st Sept – 21st July a total of 9289 updates were sent; 1036 learning activities were posted home with 7704 general messages sent home.
We have spoken to the creator of Marvellous Me and asked him whether people on android cannot access it and this is his response:- Not at all, the app is designed for Android and Apple devices. Windows users can use it on their web browsers, and toggle to receive email alerts. If you are specifically having problems accessing Marvellous Me, please do come to the office, who will be happy to sort this out for you. |
You are concerned that Nursery children cannot bring their scooters to school as they cannot access the scooter hut if they leave at 11.30 or arrive at midday. |
We have ordered a new small scooter rack for the Nursery children which will be erected near to the nursery entrance. |
Some of you are concerned that there is not enough supervision at lunchtime. The canteen was also the least favourite place in school. |
We are working with School Health UK on developing a whole systems approach to health including how lunchtimes work for children. We will inform you of how this is progressing as the year moves on. We are looking at a full refurbishment of our canteen over the next 12-18 months. |
In response to our parent survey in July 2016 we carried out the following.....
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You said, we did
In response to the July 2015 parent survey...
YOU SAID |
WE DID |
Security on the main gate was an issue. |
We relocated the main gate to outside the main office area and introduced a buzz entry system for visitors during the school day. We installed 1.8m metre fencing around the carpark area and new lockable gates. |
The website needed to be updated and improved. |
The website was re-designed over the summer holiday and went live in the first week of the new term. It is updated each week. |
You were not aware of our marking policy and the codes we use. |
Our SLT (Senior Leadership Team) hold VIP (very important pupil) meetings with your children to help them understand what they need to do to improve their learning. We sent you the marking codes home with a letter explaining what they mean and put them on the website for you to refer to. |
You were not always aware of the workshops we provide for children during the year. |
We now include information about our workshops in your class weekly news. We remind you about them on our marvellous me app. We have created a ‘workshop news’ tab on the News page on our website. |
You wanted more feedback about your children and their learning. |
We have introduced 2buildaprofile online learning journals for the children in the EYFS so you receive regular email learning journals. Introduced ‘marvellous me’ an app for your phones, ipads and android systems so that we can instantly send you a message/photo/badge during the day direct to your phone. We put the teacher’s direct email on the bottom of our weekly news in case you need to contact them direct. |
You wanted the newsletters numbered. |
We clearly date them and put them on the website in date order. They are removed each term so only the newest and relevant ones are there. |
You asked for suggested resources online. |
We added a suggestion to each class page on the website. |
You asked about before and after school clubs. |
We introduced ‘get up and go’ club once/twice a week for the nursery siblings who arrive earlier due to nursery timings. We hold a range of clubs on a Tuesday from 3-4pm for all Year 2 children who choose to attend. We will continue our discussions with local providers and our feeder junior school regarding wrap around care. We can provide you with details of local providers/childminders that we are aware of. |