This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Getting involved in a child's education
24/08/2004
A new drive to involve parents more in their children's
education was launched today.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said research showed
that school pupils who regularly discuss schoolwork with
their parents perform better than those who don't.
Pointing out that school provides the longest sustained
influence on a child's life outwith their family but that
children spend most of their time out of school, he added
that parents can and do make a real difference to their
children's chances by helping them at home.
This school year will see a range of new initiatives for
parents, including:
- Information for parents offering
practical advice - for example, how to build on what
their children learn at school, support homework and
get the best from parents' evenings
- Support for schools to help them
improve dialogue with parents about their children's
progress
- A project to identify good
examples of schools involving parents and share these
around other schools
At Forthview Primary School in Edinburgh Mr Peacock
said:
"As we enter a new school year - a time to look ahead
and make a fresh start - I'm signalling a new era for
parental involvement.
"Parents have an absolutely crucial role to play in
building a generation of ambitious, confident Scots. I want
to build across Scotland the kind of excellent practice I
see at this school - strengthening the link between parents
and schools and enabling parents to contribute fully to
their children's life chances.
"Everyone leads increasingly busy lives so it is
important that parents know the things they can do to help
their children while making best use of their time.
"I want to see parents and schools working together for
the benefit of every individual child, recognising the
expectations parents have for the ways they want to be
involved.
"And I want to see parents and schools deciding on
local, workable arrangements to meet those expectations,
just as is happening here in this school.
"Supporting homework arrangements, for example, can make
a big difference. Children who regularly do homework
benefit from the equivalent of roughly an extra year's
schooling but without the right support and encouragement
from their parents, they can find it difficult to get into
the homework habit.
"Parents should be able to get the information they
want, know how to seek advice or support, and know what to
do if the have a concern or things go wrong.
"In return they must ensure their children turn up at
school on time, are ready to learn and behave well.
"With schools and parents really working together, every
child will benefit. That is what we all want - we owe our
children no less."
Alan Smith, President of the Scottish School Board
Association (SSBA), said:
"The SSBA supports the Minister and endorses his view on
the importance of parents' role in the education of
children. Parents will welcome better involvement and
practical advice on supporting their children. Successful
home-school partnerships help children to learn."
Scottish results from the
Programme for
International Student Assessment, published in June,
found that pupils who had regular discussions with their
parents scored considerably higher than those students who
had discussions never or hardly ever.
Between the ages of five and 16, children spend
approximately 15% of their time in school.
The
Parentzone
website has recently been further improved and now gives
parents details and advice on a wider range of educational
issues and a broader, clearer picture of school
achievements.
Research shows that doing homework regularly throughout
their time at school has roughly the same benefit as an
extra year's schooling.
The Quality in Education Centre at Strathclyde
University is currently producing a series of
parent-friendly leaflets offering practical advice on how
to become better involved in children's education. The
topics covered will be decided with the help of parents
themselves.
Later this year,
Learning and
Teaching Scotland (LTS) will launch the Assessment is
for Learning toolkit which will include advice for schools
on working with parents to support children's learning.