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Parents' Views on Improving Parental Involvement in Children's Education

Kay Russell/Sue Granville
George Street Research

Scottish Executive
2005

This document is also available in pdf format (606k)

The views expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Scottish Executive or any other organisation(s) by whom the author(s) is or are employed.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
1.2 Objectives of project

CHAPTER TWO: SUMMARY OF APPROACH
2.1 Scope of the exercise
2.2 Defining parental involvement
2.3 The sample
2.4 Recruitment
2.5 Methodology: focus groups and interviews

CHAPTER THREE: CURRENT PERCEPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF INVOLVEMENT
3.1 The perceptions of the silent majority
3.2 Varieties of perceptions
3.3 Parental expectations
3.4 The basis of parental expectations
3.5 Differences in expectations from parents in specifically targeted groups
3.6 Conclusion

CHAPTER FOUR: FORMS AND PATTERNS OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
4.1 Types of parental involvement
4.2 Parental involvement at home (less active and active)
4.3 Parental involvement outside the home
4.4 Informal and formal activities
4.5 Patterns of involvement
4.6 Conclusion

CHAPTER FIVE : PATTERNS OF COMMUNICATION
5.1 Channels of communication
5.2 Patterns of communication
5.3 Information deficits
5.4 Group specific issues in communication
5.5 Conclusion

CHAPTER SIX : INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS AND HOW BEST TO MEET THEM
6.1 Information requirements
6.2 Style of language and terminology
6.3 Hard hitting messages that work
6.4 Conclusion

CHAPTER SEVEN : BARRIERS TO PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
7.1 Challenges to involvement at home
7.2 Challenges to active involvement outside the home
7.3 Specific barriers faced by some families
7.4 Conclusions

CHAPTER EIGHT : IMPROVING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
8.1 Improving the lines of communication
8.2 Improving what parents do at home
8.3 Practical suggestions to aid participation
8.4 Steps to overcoming perceived barriers at the school
8.5 Reforms to parental representation
8.6 Conclusions

CHAPTER NINE : EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICE AND PARENTAL SUGGESTIONS
9.1 Best practice examples in communication between home and school
9.2 Best practice case studies to improve parental involvement in the school itself

CHAPTER TEN : CONCLUSIONS AND THE WAY FORWARD
10.1 Conclusions
10.2 The way forward

TABLES AND FIGURES

CHAPTER TWO
2.1 Silent majority groups
2.2 Non silent minority groups
2.3 Hard to reach groups

CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Examples of parental involvement

CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Summary chart: parents' perceptions of forms of communication

CHAPTER SEVEN
7.1 Summary chart: barriers to parental involvement

CHAPTER EIGHT
8.1 Summary chart: suggestions for improving communication and parental involvement

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