Parents as Partners in their Children’s Learning

What do we mean by parental involvement? Three elements:  Learning at Home  parents as first and ongoing educators of their own children  Home/School Partnership  schools, parents and the community working together to educate children  Parent Representation – Parent Councils  parents have an opportunity to have their views represented

Why parental involvement? Where parents are involved, children do better and achieve more

What difference do parents make? Children spend only 15% of their time in school

What difference do parents make? 85% of the language we use as adults is in place by the time we are five years old and 50% is in place by the time we are three years old.

What difference do parents make? Most differences in achievement by 14 year olds in English, Maths and Science are due to home influences.

What difference do parents make? When parents are actively involved in reading with their children at home their children’s reading scores improve, on average, by between months.

What difference do parents make? Doing homework regularly through their years at school has roughly the same benefit as an extra year’s schooling.

The benefits for children are:  It is easier for children to learn when they get encouragement at home  They will do better and achieve more when their parents are involved  Children get access to more activities in and out of school when there are more adults to help  Their concerns can be sorted out quicker when their parents have a positive relationship with school staff  They are happy when their parents are enjoying events in the school

The benefits for staff are:  Parents bring skills which complement teachers’ skills and expertise  Parents contribute their time, so together parents and staff are able to do more activities with pupils than staff can do on their own  Pupils' attainment and behaviour improve  Parents have ideas about how the school can best support the children  Staff have people with whom they can talk over ideas and get help when developing plans for the school

Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 The new legislation aims to help all parents to be:  involved with their child's education and learning  welcomed as active participants in the life of the school, and  encouraged to express their views on school education.

What is the Parent Forum and Parent Council?  Every parent with a child at the school is a member of the Parent Forum  Parent Forum can choose to have their views represented through a Parent Council  Parent Council  smaller body that can represent parents views to the school, local authority and HMIe

Functions of the Parent Council  Support the school in its work with pupils to raise standards  Gather and represent parents’ views  Promote contact between the school, parents, and the local community  Fundraise  Assist at and organise events

Benefits for Parents  Involvement with children’s learning can help build parents' confidence and skills  Concerns can be addressed quicker if parents have a positive relationship with the school  Parents can be reassured about the quality of education their children are receiving

Parent’s view ‘I want my school to be…’ ‘I want my school to be…’  Relaxed  Flexible  Inclusive  Welcoming

Benefits for Schools Benefits for Schools  Parents bring a great range of different skills which complement teachers’ experience  If parents contribute their time - together parents and teachers are able to do more  Pupils’ behaviour and attainment improves  Parents can provide ideas about how schools can best support their child

Resources  Guidance  Toolkit  Welcome Pack  Angus Policy  “Making the Difference” leaflets

Useful Websites  Parentzone website  Parent Institute  Learning and Teaching Scotland  Parents as Partners in Learning  Kids Health