Covid-19: Communication Structures

 

Covid-19 COMMUNICATION STRUCTURES

Consider your communication structures

 

  • What are the protocols within your school about communication with parents? What, when, with whom 

  • Need to consider the approach and time scale for examination students ? Should their work in the school be prioritised above other years? 

  • Does the school have a clear understanding of the types of communications it should be engaging with (Mass bulletin, Parent contact, Teaching staff, Students, Inter teaching groups such as subject groups or year groups etc..)

  • Consider that the method of communication is directly impacted by the type of communication involved and there are numerous methods available. 

  • Do communications go directly to parents or to students? If multiple communications are going to parents consider the benefits of doing this in a coherent and useful way for families

  • How frequently do you communicate and what impact does this have?

  • With above in mind consider the regularity of communications with parents - it is important to keep parents updated in these uncertain times. Keep reminding parents of the importance of their son/daughter engaging in the online learning space.

  • Consider the benefits of a communication schedule for the school rather than sporadic or individual messages which can cause confusion that is planned timetabled and well thought out using the various communication tools available

  • Consider the benefits of scheduling emails using a scheduler in your email system 

  • What mode of communication is being used and is it suited to the message? – email, website, twitter, letter, whatsapp,  post, facebook, text, telephone calls, online platforms, 

 

Communication Lines

  • Principal and Deputies

  • Principal, Deputies and Middle Leaders APs

  • Principal & Trust Body

  • Principal and Board of Management

  • Principal, All Staff

  • Subject Department Groups

  • Year Groups

  • Examination secretary

  • Capacity Building Clusters (Internal Tech Support)

  • Teachers and Students

  • P,DPs, Ancillary Staff

  • School and Parents

  • School and Community

 

School Community

  • Pupils and parents

  • Board of Management

  • Senior Management Team

  • Teaching Staff

  • Special Needs Assistants

  • Ancillary Staff

  • Other School Leaders

  • Department of Education and Skills

  • State Exam Commission 

 

There are key considerations here around building these internal lines of communication and the use of technologies to bring value to the quality of communications. There are multiple formats to be considered here 

  • Consider the context of the people with whom you are communicating 
  • To what extent are your communications of benefit to them?

  • To what extent have you provided a way of them communicating with you?

  • How can this be done discreetly rather than on public fora?

  • To what extent are there assumptions in communications about technology, access and inclusion? 

RESOURCE BANK

Click on the images and links below to find out more about the various platforms and their online features that can be used to help support communication structures. 

*Planning template reviewing current lines of communications: Internal Communication Lines.pdf

PDST Distance Learning Page

Department of Education Updates

HSE Advice & Updates

Video Conferencing tool