parents as partners in excellence

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