Parents as Partners in Learning
Parents as Partners in Learning

Examples and activities

Example 1 - involving parents in planning parents' evenings

Parents at a primary school in North Lanarkshire were consulted on how the the school could improve their partnership with parents.  Many parents felt that the arrangements for parents' evenings could be improved.  The meetings were held in the school hall and waiting parents could overhear what the teacher was saying to others.  This meant that parents could feel uncomfortable about raising issues with the teacher.

To solve this problem, the layout of the hall was changed.  Plants and dividers were used to separate tables from waiting areas.  Soft music was also introduced to help prevent others overhearing what was being said.

At a secondary school in North Lanarkshire, parents' evenings were held between 4.00 pm and 6.30 pm after parents were asked which time they preferred.  Parents were encouraged to bring their children with them to parents' evenings.

Example 2 - parents developing the school library

A parent-led library was set up in partnership between a primary school in Renfrewshire and its parent body.  The decision at the outset was that it would be financed and operated by parent volunteers.

In setting up the new library, some parent volunteers decorated the room while others attended a workshop at the local public library to learn how to use the library classification system.

The library is now managed and operated completely by parent volunteers, who make a weekly commitment to working with pupils.

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