parents as partners in excellence
DESCRIPTION
The implementation of the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 has highlighted the role that parents play in ensuring that their children are successful learners who grow into confident adults able to take up their roles as citizens and contribute effectively to society. Schools and parents need to work in partnership in order to achieve these ambitious aims.http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/slf/previousconferences/2007/seminars/parentsaspartnersinexcellence.aspTRANSCRIPT
Parents as Partners in Excellence
Celia BurnScottish Learning Festival September 2007
Outline of workshop
Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006Implications of the Act Research evidenceLinking with other initiativesResources
Opportunity
“A once in a generation chance to take a fresh look at how parents are involved in their children’s learning and in schools more generally”
Robert Brown, Deputy Minister for Education and Young People
Purpose of the Act
Modernise and strengthen the framework for supporting parental involvement Engage parents meaningfully in the education of their children and in the school community Support parents and staff to work in partnership
Duties
Duties on Ministers and Education Authorities to promote Parental InvolvementEducation Authorities to:
prepare strategy for parental involvement (to include reference to equal opportunities and looked after children) give advice and information to parentspromote and support Parent Councilsestablish complaints procedure
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
Implications of the Act for schools
Need to review current parental engagement and identify key areas for improvement – audit in ToolkitParental engagement to be integrated into school development planBarriers identified and addressedWhole school approachJoint working with new Parent Council
Why involve parents?
Parental engagement helps raise pupil achievement – where parents and teachers work together the gains are significant.Parents’ influence is greatest in supporting learning in the home.A two way relationship is important and schools giving the message that parents matter.Support for parents needs to recognise their specific needs. (“Engaging Parents in Raising Achievement – Do parents know they matter”. Warwick University July 2007)
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 12-18 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.
What do we mean by parental involvement?
Three key dimensions- 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 – parents having
an opportunity to comment on practice and a voice in the development of education policy at school, local authority and national level.
Beyond involvement
Parental involvement – or parental engagement.A two way exchange and dialogueA joint enterprise
Framework
The, Act, Guidance and ToolkitCurriculum for ExcellenceAssessment is for LearningHMIe – Journey to Excellence,HMIe- How Good is our School 3HMIe Guide – Partnership with Parents
The Journey to Excellence
Framework – Journey to Excellence
Provides good practice; guide to how meet the 10 dimensions; self-evaluation tips
Dimension 3 – Develops a common vision with children, parents and staff links with Curriculum for Excellence
Framework – Journey to Excellence
Dimension 5 - Works in partnerships with other agencies and its community:
The school in its communityWorking with partners to meet the needs of all children and young peopleMulti-agency approaches to improve learning
Journey to Excellence
Dimension 6 – Works together with parents to improve learning:
Developing parents support for their children’s learningActive involvement of parents in school activitiesCollaboration and representation
Curriculum change and parents
Comfortable with the familiar. Whatever the quality they will judge the curriculum against what they did at school.Need to explore the four purposes or capacitiesParents need to know how they can support their children’s learning at home.
The four capacities
Confident individualsSuccessful learnersEffective contributorsResponsible citizens
Areas for involvement
Skills for work – what skills do parents already have that they can contributeGlobal citizenship – parent involvement and participation evidence of thisCross curriculum working provides ideal opportunities for engaging parents –health promoting schools, eco schools
Exercise
In groups of 3 or 4 identify areas of the curriculum where it would be possible to draw on the skills of parents.
Look at the Skills Survey from the Toolkit and think about how you might be able to work with your new Parent Council to take this forward.
Top tips
Have a member of the senior leadership team with specific responsibility for parental partnership.Share with all partners the importance and impact of parental engagement.Analyse the impact of all events and activities on pupil achievement.Embrace work with parents with enthusiasm and passion!
Resources to support implementation
Toolkit and GuidanceMaking the Difference leafletsInvolving parents CD RomParentzone http://www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk/and Parents as Partners http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/parentsaspartnersinlearning/index.aspParent Council Welcome Pack
Parents as Partners
‘Schools need the support of Parents
to be truly ambitious and excellent’
Peter Peacock, ex Minister for Education and Young People
HMIe Guide – Partnership with Parents
9 quality indicators for parental involvementDraws out key indicators and themes to help evaluate quality of partnership with parentsHGIOS 3
How Good is our Parental Involvement?
How Good Is Our School - 3
1.2 Fulfilment of statutory duties2.2 The schools success in involving parents carers and families5.1 Parents views on the curriculum5.3 Involving parents in learners needs and plans5.4 Engaging with parents using assessment information to improve learning
How Good Is Our School - 3
5.5 Expectations and achievement 5.6 Equality and fairness-all parents5.7 Partnership with learners and parents-active involvement, barriers, participation, reaching out to parents5.9 Gathering parents’ views to improve through self evaluation6.1 Parents actively involved in development and review of policies
How Good Is Our School - 3
6.2 Active parental participation on representative groups8.2 Involvement of parents re funding to
support improvements in learning9.1 Work with parents-shared vision9.2 Leadership and direction communicated to parents9.3 Developing people/partnerships