Parent WhatsApp Groups

To aid communication between parents and carers many of our classes or groups of parents have set up WhatsApp groups, which OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY of the school. We know these offer a great way to support and communicate with each other.

Class / parent group WhatsApp Groups

We understand that parents and carers find WhatsApp groups a really useful way of communicating with and supporting each other.

The messages in the WhatsApp groups come from parents in their personal capacity. The school does NOT post directly on any WhatsApp parent/carer groups.

At The Orchards, we believe it is important to

• Work in close partnership with parents to support their child’s learning and development
• Create a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for pupils, staff and parents / carers
• Model appropriate behaviour for our pupils at all times

To help us do this, we set clear expectations and guidelines on behaviour for all members of our community.

Code of Conduct

Parents should adhere to the following guidelines when using class WhatsApp groups:

• The group should never be used as a platform to air views/grievances regarding a teacher, child or parent in the class or school
• The group is not a political platform for airing opinions on current affairs
• The group should not be used for private conversations with anyone else using the group
• The group should be used keeping in mind mutual respect and cultural sensitivity between all its members

We expect parents, carers and other visitors to:

• Respect the ethos, vision and values of our school
• Work together with staff in the best interests of our pupils
• Treat all members of the school community with respect – setting good examples with behaviour and speech
• Seek peaceful solutions to all issues
• Approach the right member of school staff to help resolve any issues of concern

Please note, the school considers the following online activity inappropriate:

• Abusive or personal comments about staff, pupils or other parents or any member of the schools community
• Displays of anger including swearing, or using offensive language
• Bringing the school into disrepute
• Posting aggressive, defamatory or libellous comments
• Emails circulated or sent directly with abusive or personal comments about staff, pupils or any members of the schools community
• Using social media to publicly challenge school poilices or discuss issues about individual children
• Threatening behaviour, such as verbally intimidating staff, or using bad language

The school takes safeguarding responsibilities seriously and will deal with any reported incidents appropriately.

Raising Concerns

If you are concerned about inappropriate comments on a class WhatsApp group, in confidence, please contact our Senior Leadership Team by emailing the school admin@tos.bright-futures.co.uk or phoning the school office on 0161 748 0670.

If the school suspects, or becomes aware, that a parent has breached the code of conduct detailed above, the school will gather information from those involved and speak to the parent about the incident.

Depending on the nature of the incident, the school may then:

• Send a warning letter to the parent
• Invite the parent into school to meet with a senior member of staff or a member of the Trust Executive Team
• Contact the appropriate authorities (in cases of criminal behaviour)
• Seek advice from our legal team/the local authority’s legal team regarding further action (in cases of conduct that may be libellous or slanderous)
• Ban the parent from the school site

The school will always respond to an incident in a proportional way.