Communication

How We Communicate With Parents at Sheffield Springs Academy

At Sheffield Springs Academy, we know how important good communication is. We want all parents and carers to feel informed, supported, and connected to school life. Below you will find an overview of how we share information, how you can stay up to date, and who to contact if you need help.

TEXT

Arbor - Our Main Method of Communication

Our main way of communicating with parents is through Arbor, an online system that allows you to stay involved in your child’s school life. Everything you need—updates, messages, payments, and more - is in one place.

You can access Arbor using:

The Arbor Parent Portal on a computer, laptop or tablet
The Arbor App on your smartphone

With Arbor, you can:

Register your child for clubs or school trips
Book parents’ evening appointments
Manage and make payments
Check your child’s attendance, behaviour, and progress at any time

All of this can be done quickly and easily from your phone or computer.

If you need any help using Arbor, please contact the Academy directly.

Please do not contact Arbor Support, as they cannot assist with school specific account queries.

(Parents can also refer to the Arbor booklet provided to families for further guidance.)

LINKS

Click here to open the parent portal

Arbor App on Apple Store

Arbor App on Google Play

Arbor Guide
click here

Other Communication Methods

While Arbor is our main communication system, there may be times when we need to contact you by phone call, text message, or email. This will usually only happen for:

Emergency situations
Time sensitive updates
Important notices affecting your child

From time to time, you may also receive a printed letter. Digital versions of letters will also be available online.

View our newsletters

Newsletters

We share a school newsletter every half term. These newsletters include:

Highlights from the term
Useful information for families
Key dates and reminders
Activities and achievements from across the academy

All newsletters will be available here on our website.

View our letters to parents

Who to Contact

We understand that it can feel confusing when you need to speak to someone about your child but are unsure who the right person is. Please be aware that:

Staff are often teaching or supervising students and may not be able to speak immediately.
The headteacher is happy to support when other key staff have already been consulted.
Following the correct process helps us respond quickly and effectively.

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to reach the right member of staff. We have created the "Ask Springs Academy" online form to help direct your questions, concerns or requests to the correct team. We aim to respond to all enquiries within two working days. If your query requires more time to resolve, we will contact you within this timeframe to let you know what will happen next.

You can use this form for non-urgent queries.

For anything urgent, please contact our reception:

Telephone: 0114 239 2631
Email: enquiries@sheffieldsprings.org

Respectful Communication

We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to support every child. In return, we ask that all communication with staff remains polite and respectful.

Rudeness or abusive behaviour towards staff will not be accepted. If this occurs, the academy will take appropriate action, which may include:

A written warning
Restrictions on visiting the academy
Restrictions on communication methods

Thank you for working with us to maintain a positive and supportive environment for all.