Parental Engagement: what does the evidence tell us?
There is a well-established body of evidence that illustrates the powerful impact parent engagement has on a child’s education, aspirations and, ultimately, on their outcomes. The effect is greater than schooling itself and there are very few factors that have more impact and which are open to our influence.
By ‘parental engagement’ we mean meaningful engagement in their child’s education, including engagement in learning at home, e.g. encouragement, support, reading with their children, parent-child discussions, and making explicit how much they value education through their own behaviour and modelling.
By ‘parental involvement’, we mean involvement in schoolbased activities, e.g. attending parents’ evenings, reading at school, helping the teacher, sitting on governing bodies and participating in school events such as summer fairs.
Parent Engagement and Partnership
Parents play a vital role in education. When parents are engaged and involved, everyone benefits - students, parents, families, teachers, schools and communities – and our school is enriched as a positive place to teach, learn and grow.
Parent engagement has a positive impact on student achievement. At Higher Openshaw Community School, pupils are supported and inspired to learn in a culture of high expectations in which parents:
- Are welcomed, respected and valued as partners by the school community in their children’s learning and development
- Have a full range of choices and opportunities to enable them to be involved and support student success
- Are engaged through on-going communication and dialogue to support a positive learning environment at home and at school
- Are supported with tools which enable them to participate in school life
What We Know about Parent Engagement
Parents play a vital role in the development and education of their children. Parents and families have the primary responsibility for the development of their children’s character, with the support of their school and community. Research clearly indicates that good schools become better schools when there is a strong connection with parents as part of the learning community. Parents have a primary influence on their child’s attitudes towards school, their learning, and their future success.
How we promote Parental Engagement
- Establish and sustain a positive learning culture and welcoming climate where parental input is welcomed, respected and valued
- Implement strategies to identify and remove discriminatory barriers that limit engagement by pupils, parents and our diverse communities
- Actively explore and utilize opportunities to further engage parents at school and at home to support pupils achievement
- Review existing parent and community partnerships and seek to expand upon these partnerships to reflect the diversity of our parents and the broader community
- Inform pupils and parents about learning expectations and the pupils’s academic progress and make efforts to assist parents who do not understand English
- Actively encourage and support School Councils and parents to share their ideas for improving pupils achievement to help inform school improvement plans
- Support opportunities for parents and pupils to develop or strengthen skills and knowledge (e.g. workshops, various resources such as tips sheets, translation of materials) to support a positive learning environment
- Work towards representation of diverse parent groups on all school committees including school councils
At Higher Openshaw Community school we promote parental engagement in the following ways;
- Particpation school events
- Parent voices group
- Parenting courses
- ESOL courses
- Parenting support
- Parents evenings
- Communication information
- Ready for school events
- Open day events
- School fairs
- SEND drop in coffee morning