Many of us have lots of paperwork that comes with our teaching.

How many of you write regular reports each term for your private students? and those working as peri. how much paperwork does your music service require of you and how many times a year do you have to write reports.

It is hard writing so many reports with different phrases !! Sometimes I end up writing the same on several reports.

If everyone lists there favourite lines maybe we can inspire each other to write something different next time we get to review our students

hi, in our music service we have a fair bit of paperwork i think. We have to write out bills (ie list when the kid has had a lesson and any comments on attendance etc) and then copy them umpteen times and send them all out individually to parents!
75 kids i have and i gotta calculate all their individual bills....theres so many different reasons for discounts n stuff too - you send yourself loopy!

Plus we have to collect in 'profile sheets' for every pupil - theyre a nightmare cos you cant get the kids to bring them back! We also have letters to send home for everything from 'cause for concern - loaning/buying of instruments - price changes - you name it there a letter for it!

As for reports well we're not expected to write them every term or even once a year i dont think. Its left up to you as far as i know. So im doing every pupil a report at the end of this year - havent been in the job a year yet.
I am aware though that most instrumental instructors dont do reports at all. Certainly no instructor does it every term though.

Be interested to see what different services are like...
Alison

Warwickshire CMS has lots of paper work too. Registers obviously plus yearly reports every May. Oh great another 130 to write this year. I do it on computer so tend to copy and paste a few choice phrases for different schools. I'll try to think of some later when the last pupil has gone.

For private pupils I never do a report as the parent always attends the lesson with the child so they know exactly what is going on.

I have to do reports each May.

1. Recap on what has been taught throughout the year (such as new notes, more complex rhythms, ensemble music, improved tone)and any concerts/exam results. Maybe comment on how they work in lessons eg, Johnny always enjoys his lessons and works hard/tries hard.
2. What they can do to improve e.g. remember to take instrument home!
3. What they will aim for next term e.g. playing over the break on clarinet

Any computer boffins want to write some software to make reports easier? I'd buy it!

For the music service I work for, we're supposed to write reports once a year, which I do. We're also meant to put a very brief summary on our lesson plan of how a lesson has gone-this doesn't go anywhere, it's just for my reference. I use this to do an overall summary for the Autumn and Spring terms, which basically then I just transcribe onto the report in the summer. Because everything they learn is listed on there, it makes it much easier. I've found since I started doing that, the only time consuming bit of doing the reports is actually writing it, since I've done the 'thinking' part already-and the comments on the reports have become much more meaningful instead of just stock phrases which aren't very useful. I know though, from things the school have said, that none of the other peris there bother with reports-which is pretty annoying really.
I think reports are more useful for school based work where contact with parents tends to be very limited/non existent, and they become more important. For this reason, I don't do reports for my private students as I see the parents every week anyway, and discussing progress is an ongoing thing.

I'm expected to write about 1/2 an A4 side per child. 120 children in all

I use 'report maker' and have accumulated a load of comments that I use regularly. Maybe 100 or more?

They are for primary school recorder players, but if you're interested I'll email them to you on word. Might gives you some ideas

As a secondary school teacher we all use "Teacher's report assistant". Do a google search for it, you can download it for free and make your own comment banks. You then click a report together and copy and paste it into word or other such programs...

thank you everyone for your help !!