Parent Forum Monday 25 th April 2016 Engagement of Parents and Carers “Parental engagement is a powerful lever for raising attainment and recognising achievement in schools. Where parents and teachers work together to improve learning, the gains are significant.” A Harris

Parental engagement Parents have the greatest influence on the achievement of young people through supporting their learning in the home. It is their support of learning within the home environment that makes the maximum difference to achievement. Schools that successfully engage parents in learning, consistently reinforce the fact that ‘parents matter’. They develop a two way relationship with parents based on mutual trust, respect and a commitment to improving learning outcomes.

Self Improvement Tools 2. 5 Family Learning and 2.7 PartnershipDeveloping as a community of faith and learning

HGIOS Family Learning Focuses on increasing the positive impact of working with families to improve learning and achievement with an emphasis on literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing.

HGIOS Partnerships Focuses on developing and maintaining strong partnerships which are based on mutual trust and respect

DIF Developing as a community of faith and learning Focuses on the commitment to an integrated education and formation of the whole person, in close partnership with parents and carers as the first educators of their children.

How can we engage our parents and carers? Supporting parents to help their children learn Eg – Curricular information – Study techniques Personalising provision for parents as learners Eg – Learning workshops eg Numeracy and Literacy skills

How can we …… ensure that our partnership working with parents and carers is based on mutual respect? enable parents, carers and families to contribute to the life of the school and get involved in school improvement? support parents and carers to actively engage in their children’s learning, attainment and achievement? ensure that all parents and carers are fairly represented by the Parent Council and any views or complaints are acted upon in an effective and timely way? support parents and carers to participate in, contribute to and understand their child’s learning? ensure that we communicate effectively with parents and carers about the progress, attainment and achievement of their children? use creative approaches to engage families? demonstrate that parents and carers feel included? ensure that parents and carers are able to contribute to evaluating the life and work of the school? help parents, carers and families to participate in the liturgical life of the school? effectively communicate with parents and carers, especially those who are harder to engage? provide parents and carers with the necessary information on the curriculum to help them support their child’s learning at home?