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Listen
What it looks like when things go well
- The school is a welcoming place with space for parents and clear indications that they are welcome and valued - e.g. a parents' room or welcome posters, possibly developed with parents, in all the languages represented in the school
- There are opportunities for parents to meet with teachers to discuss their child's progress at various times during the day, evening and possibly weekends
- School events and activities take account of any specific cultural or religious festivals that may affect the involvement of some parents
- Parents are able to get actively involved at various times - in both regular (e.g. weekly commitments) and infrequent activities
- The school is aware of any particular difficulties a parent may have in participating in school activities (e.g. through disability, access or language difficulties) and makes arrangements to provide appropriate support
- Parents are asked when their child enrols if there is anything that would help them get involved, e.g. translation, interpretation, childcare, transport
- The School Development Plan provides an opportunity for staff, parents and pupils to have discussions about the different ways parents could be involved in school activities and how these will be developed and supported
- Childcare and/or transport is arranged (or paid for) for parents evenings, Parent Forum or Parent Council meetings or other events where some parents might need it
- There are social events that build relationships between parents, teachers and school staff
- Parents are asked directly and personally to participate in a particular activity by the headteacher or class teacher
- Parents are encouraged to get other parents involved - by bringing a friend
- No parent is turned away if they volunteer to help and the skills and enthusiasm that parent volunteers bring are matched to the needs of the school
- There are activities that make it easy for families to take part and develop positive relationships with each other, school staff and other families, e.g. outings, picnics, cultural events.
example 2 - supporting Gypsy and Traveller families
A primary school in Dunbartonshire supports Gypsy and Traveller families offering parents the chance to take worksheets and lessons with them when they travel away from the site for any length of time. Because the school facilities are so good, many parents will stay at the site for years to maximise their children's schooling opportunities. However, their travelling lifestyle may require them to leave on a temporary basis. The school accommodates this by making home based lessons available for their time away. That way the child can return to the school, without having lost ground.
This school also accommodates integration by having books in the school library that deal with the Gypsy Traveller lifestyle.
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