What to do if you have a concern about a school

The School takes regard of the ‘Best Practice Advice for School Complaints Procedures 2016 (DfE 2016) and has adopted the Local Authority guidance to responding to an expression of concern or formal complaint (see link below).

The LA works closely with schools offering support, advice, training and guidance and has published the leaflet ‘Responding to your concerns in relation to schools’ to help guide parents, carers and members of the school and local communities.

Each school's Board of Governors has overall responsibility for the school and the Executive Headteacher is responsible for the day to day management.

Most concerns can be easily and quickly resolved by informal discussion and it is in everyone’s best interests that concerns are resolved at the earliest possible stage.  If you have any concerns relating to your child’s school, we encourage you to talk to the child’s Class Teacher immediately.  Remember the more information you have the better able you will be to discuss the matter; fact-find by asking the school for information; obtain copies of relevant policies from the school, e.g. policy against bullying and harassment, behaviour and discipline policy, special educational needs policy etc.  However, if these discussions do not resolve the concern, then there is a formal procedure to be followed as outlined on the back page of the adopted guidance leaflet.

All schools are required to have their own complaints procedures which explains the process.  The school will be glad to give you a copy of the adopted guidance if you ask for one and you will also find it on the school’s website.

There are separate statutory procedures for complaints about SEN & disability assessments and school placements, school admission decisions, pupil exclusion decisions and complaints about the national curriculum, religious education or other related matters. Parents may have a legal right of appeal to an independent tribunal or panel.

Beaumont Primary School has adopted the Local Authority guide for parents, carers, pupils and members of the local community. This is available to download from:

https://www.croydon.gov.uk/education/parentalsupport/complaints

but a copy can also be provided by the School Office on request.

An excerpt from the guidance explaining the 4-stage complaint procedure is below: