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example 1 - involving parents in planning parents' evenings
Parents at a primary school in North Lanarkshire were consulted on how the school could improve their partnership with parents. Many parents felt that the arrangements for parents' evenings could be improved. The meetings were held in the school hall and waiting parents could overhear what the teacher was saying to others. This meant that parents could feel uncomfortable about raising issues with the teacher.
To solve this problem, the layout of the hall was changed. Plants and dividers were used to separate tables from waiting areas. Soft music was also introduced to help prevent others overhearing what was being said.
At a secondary school in North Lanarkshire, parents' evenings were held between 4.00pm and 6.30pm after parents were asked which time they preferred. Parents were encouraged to bring their children with them to parents' evenings.
Activity 1
a survey on arrangements for parents' evenings
| Purpose - To identify times and methods to
make it easier for parents to attend
parents' evenings/meetings
|  | Who will be involved - Parent Council
- Headteacher and other teachers
- Pupils
- Individual parents
|
Step 1: Planning the survey
- The Parent Council works with teachers to plan the questions to ask - see the sample parent survey opposite which can be adapted.
- Agree how long parents will be given to respond to the survey - four weeks is standard
Step 2: Contact parents
- Send the survey to each parent
- Put up a poster in the school entrance, asking similar questions
- Ask pupils what they think through their classes or through the School/Pupil Council
- Encourage pupils and their parents to ask each other what they think will work best
Step 3: Analyse findings and agree the action to take
- Collate the replies and analyse the responses given
- The Parent Council could do this in partnership with the headteacher, other teachers and pupils
Step 4: Informing all parents
Report back on the survey results and the action which will be taken
- Use a variety of methods to get the information across
- Report back to staff and pupils as well as to parents
Sample parent survey
Parents' evenings are held each term. We want to be sure that these are as useful for you as possible. We would appreciate any suggestions you have to make these meetings convenient for you and your children. Please tell us your views.
example 2 - parents developing the school library
A parent-led library was set up in partnership between a primary school in Renfrewshire and its parent body. The decision at the outset was that it would be financed and operated by parent volunteers.
In setting up the new library, some parent volunteers decorated the room while others attended a workshop at the local public library to learn how to use the library classification system.
The library is now managed and operated completely by parent volunteers who make a weekly commitment to working with pupils.
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