1. Parents as Partners in their Children's Learning Parent Councils

2. Why parental involvement?
The Scottish Schools
(Parental Involvement)
Act 2006 –
Where parents are involved, children do better and achieve more.

3. Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006
The new law 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.

4. Parents as Partners in their Children's Learning
So, as a parent, what’s my role?

5. What is the Parent Forum and Parent Council?
Parents as Partners in their Children's Learning
What is the Parent Forum and Parent Council?
Every parent with a child at the school is a member of the Parent Forum.
The Parent Forum can choose to have their views represented through a Parent Council.
Parent Council is a smaller body that can represent parents’ views to the school, local authority and HMIe.

6. What does the Parent Council do?
Parents as Partners in their Children's Learning
What does the Parent Council do?
Support the school in its work with pupils
Gather and represent the views of parents and carers
Encourage links between the school, parents and carers, pupils, pre-school groups and the wider community
Be involved in appointment of senior staff

7. What can the Parent Council do?
Parents as Partners in their Children's Learning
What can the Parent Council do?
Support the school in developing strong home / school partnerships
Capture the wide and varied skills, interests, knowledge and experience parents can offer
Fundraise
Assist at and organise events

8. What the Parent Council is not
A group with responsibility for what goes on in school
A group to which the Head Teacher is ‘accountable’
A group independent of other parents
A group which ignores the views / wishes of the majority of parents
A group which majors on the views / wishes of a minority of parents
A group which seeks to ‘divide and conquer’
A single interest group
NB. The PI Act allows for members to be removed from the Parent Council
Key word - Partnership

9. How can parents get involved?
Offer your skills to the school
Organise / offer to help with an extra curricular activity
Help with outings / trips
Help at parents evenings
Help with fund-raising
Set up / help with breakfast club
Organise a walking bus

10. How can parents get involved?
Get involved in the eco schools initiative
Run a settling in day / evening
Get a newsletter going
What about a parents’ website?
Offer to get involved in the Parent Council
Ask what’s needed and offer to do anything helpful to the school!
Offer your skills to the school – Partnership!!!

11. What about finances?
Parent Council bank account
Annual allocation
Public liability insurance

12. National Parent Forum of Scotland
Useful websites
Parentzone
National Parent Forum of Scotland
Scottish Parent Teacher Council

13. Contact us -