Why involve parents?
Why involve parents?
Parents, carers and families are by far the most important influences on children’s lives. Parents who take on a supportive role in their children’s learning make a difference in improving achievement and behaviour. Their support can play a vital role at all stages of education. For example, where parents are actively involved in reading with their children at home, their children’s reading scores improve, on average, by between 12 and 18 months. In the secondary sector, parents’ active support for their child’s learning can make a difference into adolescence. Evidence shows that most differences in achievement by 14 year olds in English, Maths and Science are due to home influences. See the Resources section for more information on research findings into parental involvement.
When parents and schools work together, children do better. 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 children’s education and learning. A relationship of mutual trust and respect can enable effective communication that supports both parents and teachers. The better the information that schools provide to parents, the more parents can support their children’s learning and the school. Information that parents share with the school can assist teachers in adapting their teaching to suit the learning styles of pupils and take account of any particular issues that may exist.
Parents have their own perspectives on school education and what can be done to improve standards and quality. Schools should foster a positive and open ethos which encourages parents to share these perspectives. Their voice can make a positive contribution to how education authorities and schools determine their ambitions for schools and how they plan for improvement to meet these.