Targeting Excellence for Parents, Children and the School Community

Children learn in diverse ways and influences on them outside the classroom are as important as those within. What happens at home and in the community has a significant influence on a child's development. What the child learns in the classroom needs to be supported elsewhere and each child should be treated as an individual, with their personal needs taken into account. The Government's initiative on New Community Schools aims to bring together the services required by children and their families so that their needs can be more effectively addressed. New Community Schools will pilot personal learning plans for each child, which will map out a programme for development and outline responsibilities of the school, parent and pupil. The active participation of parents is essential to ensure that each child reaches their learning potential.

• Investment of £26m to pilot New Community Schools throughout Scotland
• Implement Progress File in schools from Autumn 1999
• Investment of £15m in family literacy schemes and home-link teachers
• New performance reports to parents

• Improving information and advice for parents
• New guidance on complaints handling by schools and education authorities
• Piloting Personal Learning Plans
• Making School Boards more effective through training and support
• Improving consultation with School Boards and parents
• Removing the by-election stage from the School Board election process
• Facilitating a National Parents Convention