Parents as Partners in Learning
Parents as Partners in Learning

Examples and activities

Example 1 - parents and teachers working with a local young people's project

Teachers and parents at a secondary school in Dundee were concerned about increasing numbers of young people drinking.  They had tried to tackle this within the school and in families, and thought that a fresh approach would help.

They contacted a Young People's Health project.  Staff from the project worked with young people at the school to develop a peer education programme.  Young people designed posters and information cards about looking after yourself, respecting yourself and looking out for your friends.  They had material about the impact of drinking, but in this wider context.

One of the issues that the pupils raised through the project was a growing problem with bullying in the school.  This has now been taken up as a priority by teachers and parents.

The young people, the parents and the teachers are positive about the benefits of the joint project.

Example 2 - a community working together to help the school

Parents at a primary school in the Scottish Borders decided to tidy up the playground over the summer holidays.  This included painting the markings in the playground over the summer holidays, some inside painting and tidying the woodland garden area.

They put up a poster in a local shop asking for volunteers as well as sending a note home with the children.  The work happened over several weekends and there were many helpers.

  • The people who took part included a lot of parents who did not have time to help on a regular basis or through the week.
  • Some older children who were now at secondary school came along to help.
  • Other people who were not parents came because they were keen to help or because they were friends with one of the parents.
  • Some people were there on most days.
  • Others just came for a few hours on one day.
  • People did different tasks.
  • Some people handed in food, so everyone could share sandwiches and home baking each day.

One person took lots of photographs.  They were all posted up inside the school and some of the best and funniest went into the window of the local shop with a big thankyou sign.

The 'Making the most of your community' activity sets out to identify the resources that are available to support children's learning in the community and to share this information with parents through a community directory or a community learning showcase.

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