The relationship between the home and the school plays a very important part in a child's education.
We can not overestimate the critical role parents play in successful learning: parents contribute much to their child's development and are among the most important influences on the way in which the child approaches learning.
Teachers are responsible for the more formal aspects of children's learning and successful teaching builds on the home experiences of the child. This is most effective where there is an active partnership with parents.
Two-way communication is a critical factor in the partnership between parents and the school. Where a partnership exists, it is easier for parents to feel confident about the teaching and learning taking place in the classroom and to solve problems.
Please refer to the Department of Education's website for more details.
You will find useful guides at the link above including:
- Let's Talk About Your Concerns
- Make a complaint form
- Complaints handling framework
Procedures for making complaints
If you have a concern, query or complaint we are here to help you. The best way to deal with a concern is to deal with it early and with the relevant staff member. All staff are bound by a Code of Conduct which will frame their actions and responses.
If you need assistance in resolving a concern or complaint
Staff will help you:
- obtain information about school policies and procedures
- make enquiries about student programs, performance and behaviour
- clarify a problem and register a concern with the school
- direct letters of enquiry or complaint
At all stages, staff will work with you to establish an agreed plan of action and timeline.
School-level resolution
Stage 1: Discussion with a staff member
Contact the class teacher or other relevant staff member via email to make an appointment to discuss your complaint. The staff member will work with you to resolve the problem.
Stage 2: Review or investigation at the school level
Contact the principal who will work with you and the staff member to resolve the problem. You may wish to formalise your complaint. To do this, you may write to the principal who will acknowledge the complaint with a written reply as soon as possible, even if a resolution is not available at this stage.
The principal will consider the issue and identify what action is to be taken and by when and will clarify the process if a formal complaint is to proceed. The principal may seek the support of the Coordinator, Regional Operations or other relevant regional, or central office staff.
This action and timeline will be confirmed with you in writing.
You should be aware that when a complaint is made in writing about the performance of an individual staff member, that staff member will receive documentation of the substance of the complaint.
Regional-level resolution
Stage 3: Regional Resolution
If a resolution is not reached at the school level or if the principal is the subject of your complaint, contact the Coordinator, Regional Operations at your Regional Education Office for assistance in resolving the issue. This will involve an independent review of the situation and may include mediation.
The Coordinator, Regional Operations can be contacted through your Regional Education Office. Numbers are listed in the telephone directory under the Department of Education.
Central Resolution
Stage 4: Formal Complaints
In those exceptional circumstances where a complaint relates to the alleged improper conduct of a department employee, the complaint should be forwarded to:
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Executive Director
Professional Standards and Conduct
Department of Education
151 Royal Street
EAST PERTH WA 6004
For further information please visit the Department of Education's Policies website.
