At Mawnan CE VA Primary School, we believe that strong relationships between home and school are at the heart of a happy, successful school community.
Parents and carers know their children best, and we value the knowledge, insights and support that families bring. By communicating openly, listening to one another and working in partnership, we can ensure that every child feels safe, valued and supported to achieve their very best.
Our Christian vision, “Using our God-given gifts to let our light shine,” encourages us to approach every conversation with kindness, respect and understanding.
We want communication to be welcoming, accessible, timely and purposeful, ensuring that families feel informed, included and confident about contacting us.
We use a range of communication methods to share information, celebrate achievements and strengthen our partnership with families.
ClassDojo is an important part of our school communication and is used from Reception through to Year 6.
Through ClassDojo, families can enjoy a window into school life, including:
Whole School Story: Important announcements, reminders, celebrations and school events.
Class Story: Updates about classroom learning, activities, achievements and special moments.
Individual Messages: A convenient way to share brief information or ask straightforward questions.
We love sharing the wonderful things happening at Mawnan and helping families feel connected to their child's learning.
A few important reminders about ClassDojo:
Staff will respond to messages when they are able to during their normal working hours. We do not expect staff to monitor or respond to messages during evenings, weekends or school holidays.
For urgent matters, including changes to collection arrangements, please telephone the school office rather than relying on a ClassDojo message.
Sensitive, complex or confidential concerns are usually better discussed in person or by telephone.
To protect children's privacy, photographs, videos and information shared through ClassDojo must not be copied, downloaded or shared on social media or other public platforms without appropriate permission.
We ask everyone to use ClassDojo thoughtfully and respectfully, recognising that teachers' priority during the school day is teaching and caring for the children.
Our regular school newsletters celebrate children's achievements, share important news and help families stay informed about upcoming events.
Newsletters are emailed to families and are also available on our school website.
We encourage families to read these updates so that everyone can enjoy and participate in the wider life of our school.
Our website provides information about our curriculum, school policies, term dates, events, safeguarding, SEND provision and much more.
We encourage families to use the website as a useful source of information about school life.
We hold parent–teacher consultations twice a year, usually in the autumn and spring terms.
These meetings provide an opportunity to celebrate achievements, discuss progress, identify next steps and share any questions or concerns.
At the end of the academic year, families receive a written report celebrating their child's learning, development and achievements.
However, communication is not limited to these formal opportunities. We encourage parents and carers to contact us whenever they would benefit from a conversation about their child's education or wellbeing.
We know that questions, worries and concerns sometimes arise. We would always encourage families to speak to us so that we can understand the situation and work together to find a positive way forward.
Your child's class teacher is usually the best first point of contact. They know your child well and are often best placed to help.
If you need a longer conversation, please arrange an appointment through the school office or ClassDojo. This allows us to give your concerns the time and attention they deserve.
Where a matter cannot be resolved through an initial conversation, the school leadership team can provide further support.
We recognise that conversations can sometimes involve difficult or sensitive matters. We are committed to listening carefully, treating everyone fairly and approaching challenges with professionalism, compassion and respect.
Our aim is always to work in the best interests of the children.
Positive relationships depend on mutual trust, understanding and respectful communication.
We ask all members of our school community to:
Speak and write to one another with courtesy and kindness.
Recognise that everyone shares the same desire for children to be happy, safe and successful.
Raise concerns directly with the school rather than discussing individual children, families or staff on social media.
Respect confidentiality and the privacy of others.
Allow reasonable time for staff to investigate concerns and respond appropriately.
Work together constructively, even when we may see things differently.
Our Rainbow Promises remind us all of the importance of showing respect and good manners, caring for everyone and everything, and following instructions with thought and care.
These principles help shape the positive relationships we value throughout our school community.
The safety and wellbeing of our children will always come first.
If you have an urgent safeguarding concern about a child, please contact the school directly by telephone and ask to speak to a member of the safeguarding team.
Please do not rely on ClassDojo messages for urgent safeguarding matters, as these may not be seen immediately.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
We love celebrating children's learning, achievements and experiences, and we understand how much families enjoy seeing these special moments.
However, protecting children's privacy and digital safety is increasingly important.
We ask families not to share photographs, videos or screenshots from ClassDojo that feature other children on social media or elsewhere online.
The school follows its safeguarding, data protection and image-sharing procedures when publishing photographs or information about children.
Thank you for helping us keep our school community safe online.
Our school office is always happy to help with general enquiries, appointments, attendance, administrative matters and messages for staff.
Telephone: 01326 250660
Email: secretary@mawnanschool.com
Address: Mawnan CE VA Primary School, Shute Hill, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5HQ
For formal complaints, please refer to our Complaints page.
At Mawnan School, we believe that the strongest partnerships are built on kindness, trust, honesty and shared responsibility.
Thank you for the many ways you support our school, celebrate our children's achievements and contribute to our wonderful community.
By working together, we can help every child feel that they belong, discover their gifts and let their light shine.