Preparing for our festive visitors

It’s that lovely time of year where we all prepare for Christmas traditions and celebrations in schools and no doubt, your parents and families will be flooding in to be part of the Christmas cheer. In fact, you’ll probably see more of your parents this time of year than any other so it’s vital you take this opportunity to impress.

Follow our three top tips and ensure that you REALLY make the most of your parental contact this Christmas and send them off into the festive period singing your carols (not to mention your praises):

1. Performances will bring in the crowds (and plenty of cars): Think about opportunities for additional parking, staggering start/ finish times of performances and have your estates staff on hand to assist with parking – the last thing you want is an irate parent missing their child perform in their very first starring role!
2. Communication & reminders: As a parent when it gets to this time of year, we have a LOT to remember. Please help us with kind and friendly reminders – we’d be beside ourselves if we forgot our child was performing that day.
3. The welcome: This is just as important as it is with prospective parents! Parents love to feel valued and loved and although the office is no doubt incredibly busy, taking the time to welcome and build rapport with our parents is SO, SO important. This should start with their arrival and I always like to see at the very least a cup of tea and mince pie offered, post-performance. Key members of staff should take the opportunity to build connections, circulate and spread a little more Christmas cheer.

If you get this right, your families will be heading off to spend time with lots of their families and friends, giving them plenty of opportunity to sing LOUD and PROUD about the merits of your school.Merry Christmas! Ho ho ho!