Parent/Carer Evaluation Results

What parents/carers said

What Thomas Jones is doing

You would like better lunch options and more encouragement for children who are not eating

Lunch options are under constantly reviewed and we gather the children’s views on them periodically. We always try to balance nutrition with tastes and ‘popular’ dishes as we appreciate children learn best when they have eaten.

Many adults are present in the lunch hall at lunch time - always for children with SEN and younger children. We utilise personalised approaches for the children who need it most. Class teachers of younger classes also eat with their class to model. We find this works well and always see improvements in children’s eating across the year.

You would like more support for children who are struggling with reading, writing and mathematics and for us to utilise older children to support them, as well as after school sessions

All classes run intervention programmes and these are outlined and discussed by class teachers with senior leaders termly. We also run pupil progress meetings to identify additional support that could be utilised for children who are struggling. Older children, even those doing well with their learning, do need to be based in their class to ensure they learn the full curriculum and do not fall behind. After school booster classes start in Year 5 summer term and 6 autumn term and these are additional to the school day interventions seen across the school from Nursery class upwards. If you have any specific concerns about your child’s progress then do arrange ana additional meeting with your child’s class teacher.

You feel communication could be improved (more frequent information shared and both parents receiving emails)/too many emails

We appreciate that on some days, multiple emails may be sent from multiple staff members either via the class email address or the school office. Schools are busy places and have lots to share with the parents and carer community including reminders. By keeping the class email addresses, we can ensure parents and carers have contact with their child’s class teacher without having to go through the school office which would inevitably slow communications down.

If you feel that you would like to add a parent email address to the office or class communications then do see the school office. Usually only the first parent contact receives generic emails.

You would like more information and partnership working about how to support your child at home with their learning.

Home learning is provided weekly as an enrichment to what has taken place in school that week. This is to inform parents and carers bout what their child has learnt that week. In the autumn term the leadership team will monitor this across the school to ensure consistency and quality.

Class coffee mornings are a great vehicle to communicate about learning and expectations, build relationships and ask questions. Do attend these if you can.

You would like more atom home learning

The leadership team will review this as part of the homework audit in the autumn term.

You feel your child has not been challenged enough in class/with home learning and you would like more individualised learning

We aim to ensure we meet the needs of all children in all classes at all times. In the first instance, do raise any concerns about this with your child’s class teacher. The leadership team will ensure we focus on this at staff training points over the coming year. Home learning is always a consolidation and should be done independently in most cases, so it may appear linear.

You would like no screen time during breakfast club and at wet play/in class.

The leadership team will continue to monitor this and ensure that if we do utilise a screen at wet play or breakfast club, that programming is educational focussed and age-appropriate. At wet play there is always an option for children to remain outside in the correct outerwear (in lighter rain) if they wish to. In KS2, wet play options also include games and arts/drawing activities as well as books however this is less linear to organise in EYFS and KS1 spaces due to the nature of the afternoon curriculum and classroom set ups. We will continue to monitor this.

You would like more access to instruments

Instruments do form an integral part of our music curriculum and we offer music lessons to children across the school. If there is a specific query or suggestion you have, do let us know and our music leader will be in touch.

You would like more focus on sports and teams, and for PE and swimming to not be cancelled

We only cancel PE or swimming if absolutely necessary. We endeavour to teach this important subject twice a week in years 1 upwards. If we do cancel lessons, it may be due to capacity. School based swimming lessons should be seen as an additional to lessons outside of school if this is within a family’s means. In wet weather for PE lessons, we utilise indoor spaces where we can.

You would like more club options to choose from including sports clubs like tennis, basketball, athletics and not just football (afterschool)

It is our intention to run as many different clubs as possible but our main objective is always about quality rather than quantity. Space is also a factor as a small school, and we already utilise outside both before and after school most days. We do ensure children have access to a wide variety of sports in the PE curriculum.

In the autumn term the leadership team will review the number of sports on offer as clubs as well as clubs generically.

You would like more creative days, dress up days (including Halloween) and plays

Every academic year each class (from Reception upwards) do a class assembly and this usually incorporates an element of drama. We have occasionally historical dress up days throughout KS2 and timely non uniform fundraising days. We will not be introducing dress up days for Halloween.

You would like the children to use the nature garden more often

Since its recent re-vamp, the nature garden has been used by most classes across the school for science-based learning as well as a celebration space. We will continue to encourage this for all classes.

You have concerns about your child’s SEND and emotional needs being met

The class teacher will always meet you about your child’s SEND – parent and carer meetings for children with a support plan take place 3 times yearly, rather than just 2. If do you require further expertise then the SEND Leader or Assistant SEND Leader have a wealth of experience and expertise, and will always make the time to speak with you.

Mental health and wellbeing is prioritised. More information can be found on our website: https://www.thomasjonesschool.org/for-parents/emotional-wellbeing

You would like more free access to open ended creative resources in the EYFS

Both the Nursery and Reception classroom have an ‘art station’ and spare table where the children can help themselves to paper, different media, craft resources, scissors, glue, junk modelling etc. We often have ‘free set up’ on the creative tables in class too, to encourage this approach. Occasionally we do provide line drawings for colouring in as this promotes good fine motor control and readiness for writing. The EYFS leader will review how this important area is being introduced in the autumn term, promoted, maintained and used over the coming year to ensure all children understand how they can be creative in an open-ended way.

You would like to be notified if your child is hurt at school

If a child has an accident at school an accident form is filled out by the member of staff who dealt with it and counter signed. Any head or facial injury also triggers a call home to parents and carers. We are sorry if on occasion this has not taken place. Very small-scale incidents may not be recorded if the first aider does not feel it is necessary. We work aligned with our school First Aid and Medical Policies which are reviewed and shared with all staff regularly.

You feel staff need to listen more to concerns around behaviour/bullying

We rarely receive concerns about bullying from parents/carers or children. Any concerns about negative behaviour and/or bullying are prioritised. Senior leaders invest much time investigating any incident or recurring incidents thoroughly and notes are kept for future reference. We also encourage children to speak to adults if they can. We try to pre-empt, communicate well and will call parents/carers if we feel this is needed or beneficial.

You would like stricter school policies around behaviour

Behaviour at Thomas Jones is exacting. No child has been excluded for over 10 years and only one child has been excluded in 25 years. This is rare in schools. We do not internally exclude. We pride ourselves on positive behaviour management and most visitors comment on how calm and learning-focussed the school is.

You would like more regular reviews and clearer communication if a child has SEND

We pride ourselves in having an open-door policy and advise parents and carers to speak to their child’s class teacher in the first instance if they have questions or need some clarity. Children with SEND have three times a year support plan meetings rather than just 2, and an annual review with the SENDCO and other professionals involved in their child’s care. Anything outside of this can be arranged within the class teacher’s capacity either via email, in person or on the phone. We will always endeavour to be flexible with our approach.

You think staff need further training on supporting children with autism

All staff have access to autism training led by specialist professionals and we utilising autism advisory teachers from the local authority to support us in a bespoke way. In 2026-27 we have some new staff training linked to autism arranged.