Golden Oak uses the free version of ClassDojo for school notifications and everyday parent-teacher messages. For urgent matters, parents should phone the school administrators because teachers check the app at designated times rather than continuously. Detailed or sensitive discussions should be arranged as a meeting.
Choosing the right contact route helps a message reach the people who can act on it. This guide follows the communication arrangements in Golden Oak’s 2026/27 Parent Handbook and is intended for families organising day-to-day school life.
Use the free version of ClassDojo
The handbook asks parents to download ClassDojo and use its free functions; paid upgrades are not required for the school’s communication. Class group joining information is sent by email. If you have not received the invitation or cannot access the relevant group, ask administration for help.
Check the app regularly for notices and updates. The handbook also describes class photographs and videos shared through the app, subject to the relevant permissions. A public social media page is not a substitute for checking the school’s parent communication channel.
Send routine classroom messages through the app
ClassDojo is the route described for everyday queries to teachers. The handbook specifically asks parents to contact teachers there if a child will be absent, arrive late or leave early. Include the child’s name, class and the date affected so that the message is easy to understand.
For a learning question, keep the message specific. For example, identify the task or instruction you would like clarified and explain what is unclear. If the issue needs a longer discussion, ask for the appropriate follow-up rather than trying to resolve a complex concern through a chain of short messages.
Know the published app hours
The handbook lists ClassDojo communication hours of 07:00–16:30 for Kindergarten and Preschool and 07:00–15:30 for Primary. It says the app is closed at weekends and that teachers check it twice a day at designated times.
Those hours are not a promise of an immediate reply. Teachers are working with pupils during the day, so do not rely on an unread app message for something that needs prompt action. Use administration by phone for an urgent matter.
Contact administration for practical changes
Administrators handle matters such as documentation, certificates and practical school arrangements. The handbook directs families to email them about lunch additions or cancellations, and to contact them when someone other than a parent will collect a child.
- Routine teacher question, absence or lateness: use ClassDojo as directed in the handbook.
- Urgent message for a teacher: phone the appropriate school administrator.
- Lunch addition or cancellation: email administration and confirm the effective date.
- Collection by another adult: arrange the required authorisation with administration in advance.
- Certificate or document request: contact administration with the details needed.
- A private or detailed discussion: ask administration to arrange a meeting or teacher contact.
For the relevant phone numbers and email addresses, use the current school contact information and the handbook in Parent Resources. Save the contact for your child’s school section so it is available when needed.
Arrange a meeting for sensitive conversations
The school encourages parents to raise questions and concerns through the proper channels. The handbook asks families not to discuss sensitive matters at the gate, where other parents and children may overhear. Contact administration to request a private meeting or ask for the teacher to get in touch.
Before a meeting, write down the main point, relevant examples and what you would like to understand. At the end, clarify any agreed action, who will follow it up and when you should speak again. This keeps the conversation useful without expecting every question to be resolved immediately.
Use scheduled progress meetings well
The handbook describes progress reports and online parent-teacher meetings twice a year, with reports sent in January and at the end of the school year. These offer a planned opportunity to discuss learning and the child’s wider school experience.
Bring a few focused questions about what is going well, the next learning steps and anything the teacher would like you to know. You can request another conversation when needed; you do not have to hold an urgent concern until the next scheduled report.
For an explanation of assessment and reporting rather than contact channels, see the separate Cambridge Primary assessment guide.
Communication questions parents ask
Do I need to pay for ClassDojo?
No. Golden Oak’s handbook explicitly directs parents to use the free version for school communication.
What if my message needs attention immediately?
Phone the school administrators. Teachers check ClassDojo at designated times, so the app should not be treated as an instant-response service.
Can I ask for a meeting outside the scheduled parent meetings?
Yes. Contact administration to request a meeting or teacher contact. Explain the subject briefly so that the conversation can be arranged with the appropriate person.
Based on the communication and parent-meeting sections of Golden Oak’s 2026/27 Parent Handbook. Follow any updated instructions supplied directly by the school.
