Parents in Partnership

1. Parents in Partnership Frome Valley First School Crossways

2. Background • Moved to new site last September • Previously in Owermoigne • Over 90% of children bussed to school • Didn’t see the parents • Communication with them a real issue!

3. We had ….. • Half-termly Newsletters • Termly curriculum statements • Home-School diaries • Reading records between home and school • Parent interviews twice each year • Informal – Harvest, Nativity etc • Website – early stages of development

4. But we needed to do more … • We recognised the need to get parents involved • Involving parents is known to raise standards • And then we were inspected

5. Assessment for Learning • Shirley Clarke project • Started with teaching methods • Changes in marking of children's’ work • We needed to tell the parents! • We need to get them on board in order for them to support their child’s learning

6. The first Information Evening • AfL information evening • Lots of parents came • High level of interest, many questions • Evaluation indicated the requests for more such evenings

7. Next Information Evening • Parents requested one on Reading • It bombed! 4 parents!

8. So we had a rethink ……. • We decided to tell parents what’s in it for them – • - understand what their children are doing in the classroom • - help them with their homework • - develop their own skills, even in Maths! • - and we put on an Open Morning straight after the event for parents to come and see it in action • - and we gave them a leaflet to take away

9. And the format of the evenings .. • Tell parents the Aims of the meeting and how long it is likely to last • Bums on Seats! Tell them we will put on the evening if there is sufficient interest • Don’t do it on a Beavers/ Cubs/ Rainbows/ Brownies etc night • Put on a crèche, pre-school leaders may help

10. Parent’s participation • We have done Maths – parents very reluctant to participate in practical activities • Videoing the children very popular! • All teachers involved in presentations • Leaflets – we gave them a leaflet to take away • Evaluations ……

11. Act on evaluations! • We produce a summary of the evaluations following an event and sent it out to all the parents • Indication of future events • Report to Governors • Put in Ofsted file! • Act on the evaluations – future events

12. School website • All leaflets given out at Information Evenings are put on the website – and tell parents they are on there! • Other AfL information there also including children’s work

13. Governor’s Annual Meeting • No longer a requirement But: • A valuable opportunity we chose to keep

14. Governor’s Annual Meeting • Stage manage the meeting • Give parents 2 topics to discuss • 3 positives and 1 or 2 areas to clarify • Written summary to parents after the meeting • Keep the evidence! • A genuine consultation meeting with parents as stakeholders

15. The principles …… • Tell parents of the opportunity • Establish interest in the event • Provide it! (and eliminate any excuses) • Those present complete an evaluation • After the event - summarise the discussions in a written form to all parents • Act on this, or not, but tell parents in any case

16. What’s next for us ….. • Family Literacy and Numeracy, get parents involved • Webster-Stratton parenting skills • Surgeries for parents of children on the SEN register • Parents’ Council

17. Parents in Partnership ……so in summary, • Ask them what they want • Respond – positive and negative, but give reasons • Take action! • Tell them what you have done and what the outcome is • Tell them the next step • And give them a leaflet …….

18. Finally ….. • All stakeholders can be challenging • Parents are positive if they are informed knowledgeable and feeling confident • Listen to their views! Invite comments, tell them the school is listening and responding • Take a deep breath and bring them on board!