Leading Parent Partnership Award An Overview at Town Farm Primary School
Research In 2007, the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) published a major research report: Engaging parent in raising achievement: Do parents know they matter? Amongst many important findings the following may be particularly noteworthy: • Making parental engagement a priority. • Shifting the focus of parental involvement from engaging with the school to engaging with their children’s learning. • Supporting the engagement of parents who are already involved in their children’s learning, as well as reaching out to the less engaged. • Communicating effectively with parents and being flexible in terms of meeting provision and other arrangements. • Using new technologies effectively to support parental engagement. • Training the school staff who work most closely with parents.
Why? Ofsted? In order to obtain Outstanding judgements in terms of Effectiveness of Leadership and Management, and Quality of Teaching and Learning, schools have to evidence: • ‘…how well leaders engage with parents… to support all pupils’ • ‘Parents are given guidance about how to support their child to improve’ • ‘Leaders use highly successful strategies to engage parents and carers, including those from different groups, in their children’s learning in school and at home.’ (Early Years judgement) • ‘You have a very detailed understanding of the community the school serves.’ Ofsted-Jan 2016
Why? Our impact. • Improved attendance of pupils due to engagement from parents • Attitudes to learning and to the school have changed- parents involvement in delivery of curriculum • Attainment and progress have improved at all levels • Popularity risen- oversubscription in Nursery (First choices) • Link between Governors and Parents has improved. Allocated Governor • Parent Voice informing policy, curriculum, school initiatives (school premises improvements) • Behaviour- ‘significant reduction in number and seriousness of incidents over time. Number of exclusions has dropped dramatically in the past year’; positive impact on Parent View.
1. Commitment • Allocated LPPA co-ordinator. Believe in the advantages that the LPPA can bring (member of SLT). • Publicise ambition to achieve from outset to all stakeholders (Childrens Services, Police, Local Surestart Centre).
2. Planning • Action Plan linked to SDP (disadvantaged students a priority) • Keep partners informed- Parents Notice Board, Web Pages http://www.town-farm.surrey.sch.uk/parent- partnership
3. Welcome & Communications • Vision Statement (school) • Display and walkaround evidence • Annual Questionnaires • Response slips- LISTEN AND ACT ON THEM. • Attendance to Parent Workshops- monitored engagement of PP Parents- target hard to reach parents (phone calls, reminders, letter, end of day communcations) • Curriculum on website
4. Lifelong Learning for parents/ carers • Helped to facilitate parents involvement in courses e.g. providing childcare, free/ low cost places, transport, flexible timing, range of locations. PP parents engagement- benefit outweighs cost. • Celebrate successes- certificates of attendance, webpage, newsletter, follow up actions (you said, we did).
5. Enrichment Activities • 123 Magic • Coffee Mornings • Family Learning • Boogie Mites • Transition Points • Workshops
6. Induction • Robust induction for new parents in Nursery • In-depth review of invitations to parents (sides of buses?) • School Prospectus • School Handbook • Letter to all parents- prospective PP parents • Information on how we support PP children and how to access fund • Parent tours- effectiveness/ informative • Home-School Agreement • Clear procedures/ flowchart for parents of children joining school including entering country for first time/ additional needs/ PP • Feedback forms and analysis
7. Information and Guidance • Website • Leaflets • Curriculum information • Parent workshops • Podcasts for newsletters • Parents Evenings and format of them • How to support child at home • EOY expectations • Celebrations- Awards Evening • Avenues for feedback-VLE, Survey Monkey. (app)
8. Policies • Transparency of policies- meet legal requirements • Copies of translated policies • Meet with PP parents who have difficulty in writing and reading • Clear protocol for volunteering- encourage it but follow regulations (DBS/ Childrens Barred List, references, SG training) • Recognise/ monitor contributions made by each volunteer • Feedback, evaluation, implementation.
9. Transitions • At every level • Invitations to parents • Vulnerable children- fluidity of information internally and externally • Supporting with secondary applications • In-school induction events • Monitoring and evaluation- vulnerable Y6 pupils. More comfortable talking about their child in current school.
10. Evaluations • Ideas/ Next steps- • Podcasts • Online library of learning
Additional • School Counsellor • HSLW • Learning Mentor Team • SLT • Teachers • EVERYBODY • NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND…
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