Examples from schools

Parents' workshops/information evenings

Larkhall Academy, South Lanarkshire, has run parent workshops for a number of years to provide information about the curriculum and how parents and carers can be more involved in their children's learning.

In response to parents the school has introduced a wider range of topics, such as drugs awareness and helping young people develop positive attitudes, as well as issues such as career and subject choices.

Workshops on study skills and homework have also been offered for parents of S4 pupils. This has led to parents attending the workshops who might not have come previously. If they attend, especially to take part in the drugs workshop, they may also take part in a more learning-focused workshop and through this become more involved in children's learning.

PDF file: Example of a programme of parent workshops used at Larkhall Academy

Comments from parents

Thanks for an enjoyable evening. Well done.

I have attended three of these evenings and they have all been different. Thanks to all.

I enjoyed the workshops. They are a better format than the 'normal' parents' evenings. Text message received to ensure knowledge of event.

Larkhall Academy parents

Use of texting and e-mail to contact parents

Larkhall Academy uses Voice Connect, which is a communication package which uses text and e-mail to inform parents and remind them of events, along with the usual letters. They had found that a lot of parents did not receive information about events until they were over, especially when letters were being sent home with the pupils. The school has received positive feedback on the use of text and e-mail as it is much more immediate.

Focus groups

St Dominic's Primary School and Greenfaulds High School, North Lanarkshire, both participated in the Assessment is for Learning Programme, focusing on improving working with and reporting to parents

Both schools introduced focus groups as a way of working more closely with parents.

At Greenfaulds High they involved parents in discussion on plans for changes to parents' evenings. At St Dominic's they sought parents' views on revising the Primary School Reporting Policy and developing a Reporting Policy for the Nursery.

The headteacher at St Dominic's reported that there was some difficulty initially in getting parents to be involved but that a number responded to personal invitations.

Both schools reported that working with parents in this way had been a valuable experience and would continue to involve parents to assist in planning and decision-making.

Comments from parents

They asked our views on the parents' evenings and I could see that that was implemented - they were taking on board what you say.
Greenfaulds High parent

It's about how much time you can devote to the school - you can either be on the school board or other things. It is a way of giving something to the school. I don't have time to be involved on the school board but I can do this and it is a way of giving something to the school.
Greenfaulds High parent

We had an in-depth discussion of the issues. Things could crop up between the meetings and you had ideas and you could come back and say 'what about doing it this way?'
St Dominic's parent

It was good to have parents of different age groups of children together...It was good to have discussion rather than staff saying this is how we'll do it.
St Dominic's parent

We had our say, our opinions were heard.
St Dominic's parent

Consultations leading to changes

St Matthew's Primary School, East Ayrshire participated in the Assessment is for Learning Programme.

Every year they hold curricular workshops for parents from each class and the content of these workshops was decided by the class teacher.

For the Primary 1 workshop in 2003-04, instead of being sent an invitation to a workshop which teachers had decided on, parents were sent a list of topics and were asked to indicate which topic they would like to find out more about. The majority of parents chose the topic 'Helping Your Child to Read' and attendance at the workshop was noticeably greater than in previous years.

The school has continued to build on this and use this format for parents of children in P2 to P7 resulting in increased participation by parents.

Information leaflets for parents

Laurieston Primary School in Falkirk has produced a series of leaflets for parents. This has been done with the help of a parent who has undertaken the design of the leaflets. These include leaflets on 'Helping with Homework', 'Encouraging Reading' and 'Communicating with Parents'. A leaflet addressing 'The Top Ten Questions' asked by parents had been devised by parents and teachers. This leaflet gives a brief answer to each question and provides a note of where more detailed information can be found.

Letters to parents

Dunscore Primary School, Dumfries and Galloway, wants to make sure that parents receive letters sent home with the children. They do this by sending 'blue letters'. They give all new families a blue folder when children start the school. Throughout the session all curricular information leaflets and letters are sent out on blue paper. The aim is to make them instantly recognisable, drawing attention to them so that parents read them and keep them in the folder for future reference.

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