Parent Survey 2026

Our latest Parent Survey was carried out during the summer of 2026. It's terrific to see so many positive comments from parents and carers regarding Holbrook Primary School and the results give us much to celebrate. We will also be using the comment and suggestions to further improve the school in the future so thank you so much to everyone who took the time to complete it.

Total number of responses 73

Feedback included the following positive comments;

• I have been very impressed every year by the dedication, kindness and support of the wonderful staff at Holbrook. A huge thanks to everyone for all their constant hard work!
• My daughter loves school and is always excited to go in. The teachers make sure the pupils are well disciplined and take education seriously.
• A family feeling and a true knowledge of my child.
• Excellent communication from teachers.
• The lovely greetings at the gates in the morning are really making the difference in how the day will be.
• Great school, have no complaints.
• All children are happy to come to school and feel safe and that's great to see.
• I think the children at Holbrook are given lots of opportunities eg trips, workshops to enhance their learning.
• I would recommend Holbrook School to other parents. The staff are caring, approachable and work hard to support the children.
• The school is a nurturing school and helps the pupil when they need the support but also praises the good that the students do. They are very encouraging.
• So very pleased with all of the progress my child is making.
• Love family reading time on a Friday. Staff very caring and my child seems to respect her teacher.
• It's a lovely, well-run school and has caring teachers
• Holbrook is a great school. The overall communication that has to be sent to all pupils is fab.
• My child is so happy at Holbrook school
• We love the school and your commitment to sharing what our daughter gets up to in her day. We love being able to know what she’s been up to and when we’ve had any questions the teachers have always been so open and understanding.

The governors and I have carefully reviewed the survey results and considered the feedback provided. We are delighted that the responses continue to highlight many of the strengths of our school and the positive experiences of our children and families. At the same time, we recognise the importance of listening to concerns and suggestions for improvement. Your views play an important role in helping us reflect on our practice and shape our future priorities. Below, we have responded to some of the themes raised in the comments section of the survey.

Providing information about my child’s learning and academic progress

We strive to keep parents well informed about their child's learning throughout the year. In September, we hold curriculum information meetings to outline the year ahead, with presentation materials also made available on the school website for those unable to attend. Curriculum letters are shared at the start of each term, and Tapestry provides regular updates on children's learning and achievements, while also allowing parents to share successes from home.

Parent Consultation meetings take place in the autumn and spring terms, with a written report provided at the end of the academic year. While we are unable to increase the number of consultation evenings, class teachers are always happy to discuss progress and learning at other points throughout the year. Parents are welcome to contact the school to arrange a meeting whenever needed.

In response to feedback, we are introducing a mini-report in both the autumn and spring terms. This will provide parents with additional information about their child's attainment, progress and attendance, helping to strengthen communication about learning throughout the year.

Communication platforms

We have recently moved from Seesaw to Tapestry as our online learning journal and communication platform. Tapestry enables us to share children's learning and achievements with families, while also providing opportunities for parents to contribute updates and celebrate learning taking place at home.

ParentMail remains our primary method of communication for emails, text messages and notifications, whether these relate to individual pupils, classes or whole-school information. The school website and calendar will continue to be updated regularly with important dates, events and key information for parents.

Behaviour

A small number of parents commented on the behaviour of some pupils. We would like to reassure families that maintaining high standards of behaviour is a key priority at Holbrook. We are proud of the positive conduct demonstrated by the vast majority of our pupils, who consistently show respect, kindness and responsibility. We work closely with children and families to promote these values and support pupils in making positive choices. Where additional support is required, including for some pupils with SEND, appropriate strategies and individual plans are put in place to help them succeed while maintaining high expectations for all. Our aim is to ensure that every child feels safe, valued and able to learn in a calm, purposeful and supportive environment.

School meals

Several parents commented on school meals in the survey. As many of you will know, we have recently moved to a new catering provider, ISS. We have been pleased with the quality and variety of the food on offer and feel this is a positive step forward for our pupils. We are aware that there have been some teething issues around serving times at lunchtime, which can occasionally lead to delays. We are working closely with the provider and are confident that these issues will improve as the new systems become established. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition period.

Home learning on paper

As always, home learning continues to generate a range of views regarding both the amount and format provided. At Holbrook, we believe that home learning should reinforce and complement learning that takes place in the classroom, while remaining manageable for children and families. Our home learning focuses on the key skills of reading, mathematics, phonics, spelling and handwriting, with expectations tailored to the age and stage of the child. For example, children in Reception focus primarily on daily reading and phonics, while older pupils gradually develop greater independence through activities that help prepare them for future learning, including KS2 SATs and the transition to secondary school.

A small number of parents suggested that paper copies would be preferable to online activities. We are happy to provide paper-based home learning where this would better support a child or family. If you would like to request this, please contact your child's class teacher in the first instance and we will be pleased to help.

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely

Ian Holmes                                        Stuart McLoughlin

Headteacher                                     Chair of Governors