1. Paul Butler, Exceed Teaching Schools Steven Isherwood, Parent Hub
Parental engagement
Paul Butler, Exceed Teaching Schools
Steven Isherwood, Parent Hub

2. Strategic School Improvement Fund (SSIF)
£263,000 to support a cluster of Bradford primary schools
KS2 Reading focus to diminish the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers
One strand: parental engagement so they can support their child at home

3. Why parental engagement?
85% of parents want to support their child’s school
Interest and motivation
But there are barriers
20% of parents not sure how to help but not sure how to
Need to build trust: many parents didn’t have a good experience of school, for example
Much already been done in schools to engage with parents
Some parents are hard to reach: does technology offer part of a solution?

4. What research tells us
When parents are engaged in education, outcomes for children improve:
Their behaviour is better (Feinstein and Symonds 1999)
They have greater confidence and self esteem (Deforges 2003)
Their attendance is higher (Melhuish et al 2001)
The risk of exclusion is lower (Deforges 2001)
They are more keen to learn (Feinstein and Symonds 1999)
They achieve better results (Feinstein and Symonds 1999)
The achievement gap is reduced (DWP 2002)

5. Impact
"The effect of parental engagement over a student’s school career is equivalent to adding two or three years to the student’s education"
Hattie 2008

6. Effective two way communication
Parents need to understand how they can best support their child
Needs to be regular opportunities for dialogue
Parents need clarity on where to go for support, e.g. further support from teacher
Language used has to be accessible to parents
An app doesn’t replace face-to-face communication but it might complement it

7. Supporting learning at home
Home learning works best when:
Parents understand what their child is learning
Parents are inspired to support them at home
Sign post opportunities for adult and family learning

8. Example posts Ask parents to share a story
Discuss current affairs with their child
Encourage the use of a library
Model how the parent can support their child, e.g. recipe to make play-do, and
Explain why the activity is beneficial
Help to create a home environment that promotes learning

9. Parent Hub
Trialled at Copthorne Primary School at no cost to the school: use only the free functionality
Your school:
Opportunity for training and support funded by Exceed Teaching Schools
If desirable, integration into the school management system (12 month license funded by Exceed Teaching Schools)
Trial it, see if it works, consider longer term investment if benefits are demonstrated
Evaluate up to March 2019

10. Next steps Discuss in school Confirm the functionality you’d like:
Free app only
School management system integration
Text messages
Complete online form to record needs, including:
Number of pupils on roll
School management system
Remote training
Training and support for KS2 teachers and English Subject Leader
Start using in summer term to help parents to support their child(ren) at home
Impact measured up to March 2019

11. Project website