What Heads say about their Parent Handbooks
OFSTED praise Stoneworks Education Ltd 'Starting School Storybook'
The OFSTED team reviewed our transition arrangements and noted the book produced by Stoneworks Education Ltd. They said that the illustrations and ideas within the book were exemplary, enabling children to be prepared for joining the school.
Russell Hinton, Head, The Brier School
-
These innovative parent engagement tools will definitely inspire new and existing parents to get more involved with our school. The testimonials capture the personal stories of our pupils and their parents, helping to say what a school could not.
I like the fact that Andrew and his team update it all for free too, which I had never heard of before from such a supplier. This means that our literature will last a very long time and never be out of date. They seem a very ethical company and I would not hesitate to recommend them to other schools.Catherine Green
Headteacher, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School -
What Andrew and his team offer is very different to any other school supplier. I'd never seen anything like it before. The impact on my staff of the parent case studies, and Andrew's totally different sort of prospectus, has been fantastic. They love it! We feel unique in the area.
"Stoneworks are very easy indeed to work with and quick to produce literature and reply to any questions. Andrew and his team also have some new, innovative and very useful ideas. We are also having a Starting School Storybook and Parent Handbook. His team really seem to understand what schools and parents need. We also need a Staff Handbook, and Andrew is working on this with me. I'd definitely recommend Stoneworks Education to other schools!Dawn Copping
Headteacher, Shaw Primary Academy -
The Parent Handbook is a really fantastic idea. It brings together lots of separate forms and sheets of information into one parent-friendly publication. It makes us look professional and helps to create a parent-school relationship from the very beginning. It's a resource that parents can keep, and should help us to receive more completed forms from parents, and receive them earlier!
We also have a Starting School Storybook from Andrew, and when parents start using our school, we will give them both Starting School Storybook and Parent Handbook. It has become a suite of literature. These two publications not only meet real parent needs, but are meaningful and show parents and pupils alike that we have thought of them.Nicola Forster
Headteacher, Ryefield Primary School -
I first met Andrew and saw his work with families at the 2013 NAHT Conference. I was immediately struck by his passion for the task, efficiency and willingness 'to go the extra mile' to get it right.
The families his staff were interviewing from our school were not always easy to contact, many of them found communication difficult (for all different reasons) and some needed support in understanding the process. Andrew and his team were patient, understanding and supportive. Our parents have reported that they did not feel either pressurised or judged. The objective feedback we have received has provided both encouragement and challenge and contributed to school improvementTheresa Aanonson
Headteacher, St Lukes Primary School -
These parent and pupil case studies are perfect for parent open evenings and to give to potential new parents. Parents love the new brochure and posters. They answer questions some parent would be worried about asking on a school tour. They really captured the whole flavour and ethos of Kingsway Infant School and our community. I love my school already, but seeing the new literature designed by Stoneworks Education made me so proud.
Along with the prospectus – that also contains parent and pupil stories - these case studies champion the link between school and parent. They help parents to fully understand what a school offers and encourage parents to have an ongoing dialogue with the school. They help to breakdown any parent/pupil-school barriers and stop any 'us and them' thinking.
I was very happy with the way that Stoneworks Education worked with Kingsway Infant School and our parents and pupils, and would readily recommend their matchless and unique services to other schools. The whole process has been a delight from start to finish. We now have literature that makes us stand out from other schools, and stand out in the community. The new brochure is less wordy than my old one but so much more informative. I love it and I can't wait to show it off at my next Headteacher meeting!Caroline T-Walmsley
Headteacher, Kingsway Infant School -
Stoneworks has a truly unique slant to school marketing and literature. Andrew Smith is highly experienced in marketing the education sector and it shows. I'd happily recommend Stoneworks services to any school. Our first meeting with him was very enlightening and inspiring.
Andrew and his team went 'the extra mile' and worked extremely hard to accommodate all our needs. Things changed at the school while they were developing our communications, and they were always willing to change and adapt. Stoneworks were very easy to work with and we are very happy indeed with what they developed.Sue Childs
Deputy Head, Comberton Primary School