Information for New Parents

Below is an overview of the induction process for new parents to Dysart school. This lists events that are specifically for new parents and is in addition to the other meetings / events that are organised for all parents on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Summer Term before child joins Dysart: The child’s class teacher and a member of the leadership team visits the pupil at their current placement and speaks with the staff who currently work with them. A separate visit is also organised to visit the child at home to meet the family and to get to know the family. These visits are arranged with each family in advance at a time that is convenient to them. A ‘New Starter Parents Morning’ is organised during the Summer term. Parents who are new to Dysart are invited to attend. Their child’s class teacher as well as a member of the school’s leadership team talks to families about the day-to-day routines in school and answers any questions parents may have. Families are encouraged to visit the school again during this term so that they can get to know the routines, staff etc further still.

Autumn Term after child starts at Dysart: ‘Settling Reviews’ are arranged for each family that are new to the school. This is a formal, individualised, meeting attended by the family and their child’s class teacher and a member of the school’s leadership team to discuss and review how well their child has settled at Dysart. Within this conversation, any issues that the family is experiencing with school and / or other agencies (e.g. transport) are discussed. Settling Reviews usually take place during the school day. However, where a family cannot attend during the school day they are held at another time that is convenient to the family.

Spring Term after child starts at Dysart: Multi-agency induction meeting is held in the school hall. Parents who are new to the school are invited to attend. Representatives from Speech and Language therapy, Occupational therapy, Physio, School nurse, IT are all present and answer any questions about their role and about ways they could potentially support pupils. Members of the school’s leadership team are also present to speak with parents if needed. A lot of our new parents are unaware of the full range of services that are available at Dysart and this gives them an opportunity to both see what is available as well as to talk to staff with those specialist skills about ways that these resources can be used to support their child’s development.