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Survey for parents and carers

Welcoming families new to English

Shows whether families who are new to English understand school messages, get interpreters when they need them, know how to raise a worry and feel welcome. Run in the first half term after a family arrives, then once a year. About 4 minutes to complete.

What respondents read first

This survey asks how well the school helps families who are new to English. Your answers help us talk with you more clearly. It takes about 4 minutes. You do not need to give your name. The school cannot see who answered. We only show results for groups of 5 or more families. If you write something that makes us worried about a child's safety, the school's safeguarding lead will see that comment so they can help.
Fig. 1  The opening screen, word for word.

How anonymity works in this survey

  • The school cannot see who answered. Nothing is reported until 10 people have answered.
  • A group, such as one role or one year group, is shown only when 5 or more people in it have answered. Smaller groups are hidden.
  • An answer chosen by fewer than 5 people is hidden, along with enough others that it cannot be worked out by subtraction.
  • Written comments appear only once 10 people have answered.

See the anonymity rules working

The questions

Numbered in the order respondents see them.

Arrange the questions

Respondents choose

How long has your family lived in the UK?

  • Less than 1 year
  • 1 to 3 years
  • More than 3 years
  • Prefer not to say

This places each answer in a group for the report. It is the only question about the person answering.

Understanding and feeling welcome10

  1. Question 1.

    I understand the messages the school sends me.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  2. Question 2.

    The school would give me information in my language if I asked.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  3. Question 3.

    When I meet staff, an interpreter is there if I need one.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  4. Question 4.

    The school uses an adult interpreter, not my child, when one is needed.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  5. Question 5.

    I understand how school works in this country, for example year groups and tests.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  6. Question 9.

    My family is made to feel welcome at the school.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  7. Question 10.

    Staff say our family's names correctly.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  8. Question 11.

    I feel confident going to school events.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  9. Question 12.

    How would you most like to get important information from the school?

    Choose one

    • Written in English
    • Written in simple English
    • Written in my home language
    • Spoken to me, with an interpreter if needed
  10. Question 13.

    What one thing would make it easier for you to understand and talk to the school?

    Write your own answer

Settling in1

  1. Question 6.

    When we joined, someone showed us how the school day works.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

Raising a worry2

  1. Question 7.

    I know how to tell the school about a worry.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  2. Question 8.

    When I tell the school about a worry, staff make sure they understand me.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

Free to run. The full report is £149.

Running it is free and gives you the headline result, with strengths and priorities. The full report adds every chart, comments grouped into themes and briefing slides.

Start this survey free
  • New to our school and country

    For children in Years 3 to 6 who have recently arrived in the country, six to eight weeks after they start: understanding lessons, routines, friends, adults who help and their home language. New arrivals are usually a small group, so you may need to run it across a trust or over the year.

  • Settling in survey for new families

    For families new to the school this year, such as Reception and Year 7 in the autumn term or children who join during the year: settling in, friendships, information and feeling welcome.

  • Parent questionnaire with national comparison

    Asks parents the same ten questions as Ofsted Parent View, word for word, so each result sits beside the national figure and the figure for schools of your phase that Ofsted publishes.

  • Parent and carer survey

    The annual survey for all parents and carers: communication, behaviour and safety, learning, wellbeing, belonging and leadership, with a clear headline measure.

Run this survey today, free.

Sign in with your school email. No password and no card needed. You choose whether to pay after it closes.