Parents, carers and families are by far the most important influences in a child's life. Their support can play a vital role at all stages of education.
Why get parents involved?
Parents who take on a supportive role in their child’s learning make a difference in improving achievement and behaviour. The active involvement of parents in the life of the school can help promote a learning community in which pupils can engage positively with school staff and their peers.
Schools can benefit from developing positive partnerships with parents by involving them in all decisions affecting their child’s education and learning. Engaging with parents gives them the chance to understand the role that they play in their child’s learning and development and fosters parental involvement.
The role of the Parental Involvement Act
In May 2006, the Scottish Parliament passed the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act that aims to help parents to be:
- involved with their child’s education and learning
- welcomed as an active participant in the life of the school
- encouraged to express their views on school education.
The Act was introduced to help parents, carers and schools work together as partners in children's learning. It places duties on schools, local authorities and Scottish Government to make it easier for parents to become involved.
The Parental Involvement Act gives schools the freedom to decide locally on the best way of having parents represented in the life of the school.
Find out more about the Act on the Scottish Government website: Guidance on the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006.
Communicating with parents
Clear, open channels of communication facilitate reporting to parents on their child's progress. Using effective channels of communication and getting parents involved in personal learning planning helps to build strong relationships and encourages involvement in the child's learning and progress.
For resources to help you talk to parents about Curriculum for Excellence take a look at our communications toolkit.
Learning at home
Parents are the first and ongoing educators of their child and, as such, should receive information and support to help develop their child's learning at home and in the community.
Home-school partnerships
Effective home-school partnerships are essential to ensure that each child gets the most out of their school and the education system. Schools shoud be open to the involvement of parents in the work they do and should consider opportunities to encourage meaningful involvement to engage with school and their child’s education.
Parent Councils
Parents' Forums and Councils give parents and carers the opportunity to have their views represented to the school and education authority on policy matters and decisions affecting the education of their child.
How to involve parents: a CPD resource
Education Scotland has developed a CPD resource to help practitioners reflect on their parental involvement and to develop strategies for engaging all parents and carers to become actively involved in their children’s learning.
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