Communication Between Home and School

Communication is Crucial!!

There are three places that parents should look at to ensure they are kept up-to-date with all relevant information about school life.

1. Regularly check for the announcements that are sent via the MCAS App – these are time-related messages/updates that will be automatically removed when they are no longer relevant.
2. Your personal email inbox used to open your Bromcom account – we will send emails to this account that contain information that you may wish to refer back to over time.
3. The Weekly Bulletin which is published every Friday – an announcement is sent to alert you it has been uploaded and you can go to the website: Virtual Office; Bulletin/Newsletter to read it.

We operate a two-way communication approach and encourage parents to speak to us if they have a query or concern.  Whilst face to face is always best, we recognise that this is not always possible and there are a variety of communication methods available to enable a two-way flow of information between the school and parents/carers.   A list of the main forms of communication can be found below:

• Face to Face in the morning —There is always a member of staff with a message pad at each of the entrances to the school. Please give them any messages for the class teacher or school office.  These will be passed on immediately and addressed at the relevant staff member's earliest convenience. A member of the Senior Leadership Team is also present in the playground at the beginning of most days for you to talk to. 
• Face to Face after school— If you wish to speak with your child’s class teacher personally, please do this at the end of the day.  Class teachers and school leaders can be available to meet parents/guardians, by appointment, at the beginning and end of school days to discuss more sensitive concerns. A member of the Senior Leadership Team is also present in the playground at the end of most days for you to talk to. 
• Email – As a paperless school, we recommend that people communicate with us via email.  The best email address to send correspondence to is info@hillcross.merton.sch.uk.  Your message will be checked within 48 hours (term time, weekdays only) and will be sent on to the relevant staff member to deal with.  Please remember class teachers do not often have access to their email accounts during the school day.  If the issue is urgent, please call the school and speak to a member of staff.
• Telephone— If you need to pass on a more sensitive or urgent message, please call the main school number on 020 8542 6936.
• Website – Our website is the best place to find the most up-to-date information about all aspects of school life.
• My Child At School (MCAS) – announcements and emails as described above.
• The Weekly Parental Bulletin
  • We are a paperless school.  All communication will be sent via MCAS/email.  
• Parents Evenings, Progress Celebration events and School Reports –
  • In the Autumn and Spring term, you will have a formal opportunity to meet with your child’s class teacher (key worker in EYFS) to discuss your child’s progress. 
  • In the summer term, you will receive a written school report.
  • Towards the end of each term, you will also have an opportunity to come into school for our Progress Celebration event, where you will be able to look through your child's books with them at your leisure. Class teachers are not usually available on these nights, but the children are more than able to talk about their learning in great detail, so allow plenty of time! 
• Parental Questionnaires and Forums – In addition to the annual parental questionnaire, there are opportunities across the school year to take part in parent forums and/or questionnaires relating to specific school issues.