Parents as Partners in Learning

Benefits of sharing information

Key benefits of schools and parents sharing information

Effective sharing of information between schools, parents and carers leads to a better understanding of each other's role in supporting children's learning.
Parents and carers will be in a stronger position to help their child's learning if they know about what their child is doing at school, how they are getting on, and about the life of the school itself.
Schools and teachers will be more able to help parents support their children if they have an understanding of the family background and the things that children enjoy doing out of school.
Schools and teachers will be more able to support parents and their children if they are aware of matters about which parents want to be better informed.
Parents will be able to communicate more effectively if they feel that the school values what they have to say and provides opportunities for them to share information and contact the school easily.

Why should parents be encouraged to be more involved in sharing information with the school and teachers?

Sheila Wolfendale suggests the following as a set of premises, based on her research, on which to build home-school relations:

All parents care about their children's welfare and well-being. There is evidence that the minority of parents who appear not to care are those who at the time are overwhelmed by stressful life events and whose own experience of schooling was not positive enough for them to overcome fears and anxieties about schools and teachers.
Parents want to do what they believe to be in their child's best interests.
Parents want to co-operate.
Parents will respond to invitations to participate in school if they can see the benefit to their child.
Parents are primary educators and are experts on their children.
Parent and teacher skills complement one another.
Parents often have vital information and insights concerning their children.
Involvement of parents should include decision making and not simply information giving.
All parents have a right to be involved and to contribute. (Wolfendale, 1992, Empowering Parents and Teachers: Working for Children pp 7-8)

Increased sharing of information which leads to better working together of parents and schools should have a positive impact on children and increase their chances of success.

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