Partners in learning

Unless parental rights and responsibilities have been removed, parental involvement in a child’s education should not be affected by the looked after status of the child or young person. Parents (who retain parental rights and responsibilities) of looked after children and young people should be actively encouraged and supported to work in partnership with the local authority, ie the 'corporate parent', to encourage and support the looked after child or young person to maximise their educational potential.

It is essential that parents (who retain parental rights and responsibilities) of looked after children and young people are kept fully informed about their child’s education. For example, they should routinely receive information in relation to parents’ evenings, attendance, exclusion and attainment regarding their child. In addition, parents should be fully involved in the planning processes in relation to meeting the looked after child or young person’s educational needs.

Children learn from the moment they are born as they begin to absorb information and make sense of their world. As well as providing the basics for growth and development, food, comfort and security, parents also provide stimulation through everyday activities, games, rhymes and language that help a child to learn. Many of these activities are part of everyday life - preparing and eating meals together, doing the washing, shopping, watching TV, visiting friends and family - but for young children they are opportunities for discovery and learning.

The importance of parents and the home environment in supporting a child's learning and development should not be underestimated. Mostly this parental support happens naturally as part of a family life. Parents want to do the best for their children and do what they can to achieve this.

However, once children start school it is not always easy to know how best to help your child. As children grow older it is easy to forget the strong influence that the home and the community still have on their learning and education. After all, children only spend 15% of their time in school.

Supporting children and young people with their homework

• Talk about what is being learned, where to study, whether music helps, etc.
• Encourage the child or young person to find their own preferred style and rhythm of learning.
• Respect frustration and encourage a positive approach to setbacks.
• Encourage self-reliance.
• Listen to worries and complaints and be patient.
• Remember learning is a social activity - this makes it more enjoyable.
• Agree on a time for study which suits your child or young person best and stick to it.
• Try to understand difficulties and help to remove any barriers.
• Find out what the school expects of the young person and parents.
• Get in touch with the school if you have concerns.

A few general ideas

• Promote attendance at school and school life in a positive way.
• Encourage and support your child to maximise their potential - be aspirational for them.
• Attend parents' evenings and other less formal school functions.
• Maintain positive links with the school.
• When problems arise, try to work in partnership with the school and other relevant people.
• Check homework and support your child to complete the work on time.
• Encourage your child to become involved in sport and leisure actives both with their school and in the local community.
• Try to make your home an educationally rich environment for your child, an environment which is supportive to their learning.

Changes have recently been made to the law to help parents and schools work together as partners in children’s learning. The Scottish Parliament has passed the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 to encourage and support more parents to become involved. 

Because parents have such a vital role to play in their children’s education, the Act aims to make it easier for parents to become involved in their own child’s education and in their child’s school more generally. 

Education authorities have a duty to ‘promote involvement of parents in school education’. This includes authorities giving advice and information to parents about their own child in response to reasonable requests. Education authorities are required to develop a ‘strategy for parental involvement’ and in doing this they will have to consult with parents, pupils and any other interested parties. These ‘parental involvement strategies’ will mean that education authorities and schools have procedures in place to ensure that parents’ views are heard and that parents get the information they need and want about their child’s education.

Visit our Question and answer page on Parentzone for further information on the Act.