• Only 2% felt the responsibility for education belonged wholly to the school, 58% of parents interviewed felt they were equally responsible.

Williams et al 2002

• More than 90% of children say that parents are interested in their education, however struggle to get involved with their child’s learning.

Becta 2009

• Children are not isolated, they are not islands. We influence their time 6hrs a day– they are at home for 18hrs. If we engage the parents we stand a chance of increasing their life chances.

Head teacher

• My attitude has always been that the child will only benefit if there is synergy between the school and home. It can’t work if one isn’t working.

Parent

• You can’t do it alone. Because if no-one is involved, there’s no point in doing it.

Student

7The importance of parental engagement

8Do parents know they matter?

Involvement with the school.

Involvement with the students.

Engagement with the students.

9

Struggling Through Parents

10

Stepping Back Parents

11

Separate Lives Parents

12

Non-Resident Parents

13

Dads

14

Grandparents

15

Parents from BME Communities

16

Other – e.g parents with disabilities

17

Why support parents?

“ Living in poverty is likely to have a major impact on children and young people and on their chances of achieving the five Every Child Matters outcomes.

Children from poor backgrounds have fallen behind those from higher socio economic groups by the age of ten, despite starting from the same development level at 22 months.”

Fernstein 2003.

18

Why support parents?

“ Most parents want to do their best by their children and are increasingly expressing a desire for support to be better parents, first and foremost from friends and family, but also from government. Many parents and carers, regardless of background, feel that there are times in their lives when they need advice and support.

Parents are best placed to make choices for their children but all parents benefit from access to high quality information and advice to help them make the best possible decisions.”

HM Treasury, 2005, Support for parents: the best start for children.