| Aims | Tasks | Time frame (suggestions) |
| Identifying issues | - Invite contributions - tell parents and schools what is happening and how they can contribute.
- Hold open discussions to gether views on what the main issues and priorities are for your area. (See examples)
- Arrange support for parents who may need this to contribute effectively, eg because of disabilities, or where English is not their first language.
- Involve relevant staff and keep them updated.
- Think about how to involve pupils, eg involve the school's parent council.
- Tell other people in your local community who have an interest.
| 6-10 weeks |
| Writing the draft strategy | - Set up a working group to develop a draft strategy for consultation.
- Working group can comprise school staff and parents, as well as local authority staff. Continue to offer practical support for parents taking part.
- Build in examples of parents being involved that have worked well in your authority.
- Involve appropriate parent or community groups to ensure that a broad range of experiences and ideas contribute to the strategy.
- Involve key staff such as headteachers, quality improvement officers, home school link workers, integrated children's services staff, educational psychologists, social workers, etc.
| 4-8 weeks |
| Consulting on the draft | - Share the revised draft strategy with parent councils and finalise it.
- Obtain approval from the education committee for the strategy.
| 6-8 weeks |
| Communicating the strategy | - Hold events for people to hear about it. Get publicity for it.
- Get copies into places that are easily accessible for parents; have summary versions available in different formats and languages.
- Organise publicity in local newspapers and radio.
| Launch event and ongoing |
| Implementing the strategy | - Help the schools to think about how they can implement the strategy. Hold a session for staff and parents to look at how the strategy can help promote good partnerships in your school.
- Encourage the parent council to think about how the strategy can be useful to them and promote a good partnership with the school.
| Ongoing with specific targets included in planning |
| Reviewing the strategy | - Feed in points and work in partnership with parents and the authority as issues/points arise.
- Make the links with the ongoing involvement of all parents on a day-to-day basis and the ongoing review.
- Invite schools and parents to take part in a regular review.
- Involve Parent Councils, staff and pupils in what you are updating.
| Suggest every 2-3 years? |
