PARENT SUPPORT

While our primary focus and responsibility is to develop and educate the child, parents are of course vital to the success of Forres. The Parent Network focuses on the family and its diverse emotional, spiritual and physical needs, and provides support where it can to all those fulfilling the role of parents and care-givers.

  1. Parent Education

    On a regular basis, the school invites speakers and holds workshops to address relevant issues pertaining to child-rearing, spiritual development, education, and other related topics. This presents parents with an opportunity to network informally with one another and be nurtured by what guest speakers have to offer.

  2. Parent Support Services

    Working parents have the use and support of our after school care and holiday care services. Our dynamic team of after school care ladies provide the children with a relaxed but well supervised program until 5:30 pm

    • Hot lunch / Rest period
      Until 2:30 pm
    • Homework supervision by qualified teachers
    • After School Care
      Creative afternoon program until 5:30 pm
    • Holiday Care Programme
      From 7:30 am to 5:30 pm

  3. Social Interaction

    Adventure Club: From time to time, the Forres family comes together in a spirit of fun and friendship under the auspices of our Adventure Club, which organizes weekend outings into our beautiful peninsula. The Parent Association in addition organizes termly functions that build and strengthen relationships within the school community.

  4. Communication Network

    We pride ourselves on our 'Open Door' policy, and we welcome your input and interaction. Please feel free to contact the Head, by appointment, to discuss any matter concerning you. You are also welcome to make use of the Forres Info Line - a general enquiries line for the exclusive use of parents for day-to-day queries and liaison with the school and your child, manned by our dedicated Parent Liaison Person: Info Line (021) 689 3099

    1. The Talking Book
      Each child is given a message book (Nursery) or Homework Book (Grades). These books ensure daily liaison between parents and the class teacher. It must be brought to school every day. Please check this book DAILY. This book may be used to relay messages to your child's teacher; it is read daily by the teacher, who then has an opportunity to respond to your questions, queries and comments.

    2. Newsletter
      The Newsletter is distributed every second week and provides a window into the school, highlighting general developments, dates to diarise and forthcoming events.

    3. Forres Info Line
      Instant help just a phone call away! This line is for the exclusive use of parents with general queries (08:00 - 13:00) or requests for :
      • Any information about sport: dates, times, venues, etc.
      • Messages to children
      • Changes in collection routine
      • Date to diaries
      • Newsletter information
      • General queries
      Our Liaison Officer will field ALL queries on (021) 689 3099

    4. Progress Meetings
      Once a term, parents will have the opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss the academic progress of their children.

    5. Sports Notice Board
      The notice board in the entrance hall will display sports information.

  5. Learning Support Specialist

    Forres employs a full time learning support specialist whose primary role is to support learners with the Academic Curriculum. In addition she is available for support to both learners and parents with regards to emotional difficulties or crisis the family may be experiencing outside of school.

    At Forres we believe that all children are special and have their own special needs. We set high academic standards for all our learners, however our special needs education gives particular support to children who are 'struggling' to 'keep up' with their peers.

    In order to address special needs, we may have to develop strategies to compensate for social, emotional, physical, intellectual or sensory factors or a combination of more than one.

    We also aim to support and extend our more able and gifted learners.

    The term special needs can be misleading. Every child at school will face challenges at some time in their school life. For most the challenges can be addressed in the short term, for others it may take longer with a need for a more structured approach.