Positive Parental Involvement It is widely recognised that if pupils are to maximise their potential from schooling they will need the full support of their parents. Department for Education and Skills At the heart of effective teaching and learning is the relationship between the teacher, their pupils and their parents. And just as the quality of teaching and leadership in our school is the key determinant of educational attainment, the degree and quality of engagement parents have with their child’s learning is the crucial factor outside school. General Teaching Council

Communication with parents  Weekly Newsletter  Weekly curriculum letter  Class Meetings  Parent’s Evening  Parent Forum  School website  Open door policy (informal discussions as and when required)

Newsletter Information from the week Governing Body FOR Key dates Coming up Children’s work Awards

Curriculum Letter  What we have done this week  Homework  Other ideas to support your child at home  Reminders

Engaging Parents  Sending home targets  Pro-forma for Parent’s Evening

Targets  Literacy and Numeracy targets sent home.  Questionnaire sent out to determine parent’s views.  1. Did you find having the targets sent home useful?  2. Were the targets clear?  3. How would you like to feedback about the targets and your child’s progress towards meeting them through work completed at home?  Parent comments:  “Have discussed this with **** and think targets are a great idea. Very happy to work with her on this”  “Would have liked them from the beginning of the school year”  “I would like to feedback through her yellow reading record book.”  “One target was clear but didn’t understand the Maths target”  “It gives me an idea of what else I can do with my child as well as reading”

Parent’s Evening Guide  One-sided conversations.  Parent’s unsure of what to say/questions to ask.  The guide gives a structure to the meeting that can be followed by both the teacher and the parent.

Parent’s Evening Guide  Questions taken from annual review section for parents.  Additional questions were added that related to Cookham Rise.  Parents have been asked to fill in and bring along to meeting.

1.In what ways do you think your child has made progress? 2.How does your child update you on their targets? 3.How does your child enjoy school? 4.What are your views about your child’s current level of progress? 5.What would you like your child to achieve in the current year? 6.Include academic and personal/social goals. 7.What measures do you take to support your child at home? 8.Do you find the curriculum letter helpful? 9.Do you have any further comments?

Response from parents  Found out additional activities that parents are doing at home.  Interesting to find out what parents think of their child’s progress and where their strengths lie.  Some parents commented on finding it hard to motivate their child at home.  Not all parents were aware of children’s targets.

Where to go now…  The two questionnaires were sent out as a trial in Year 2.  LT to discuss rolling out to other classes.  Positive feedback from parents to questionnaires.  Gained knowledge of parent’s views.  Feedback to be filed in children’s folders to aid transition to next teacher  Greater understanding of the whole child throughout their school career.