Engaging parents

First things first: Do fewer things better and do not forget the obvious

Context:

• Engaging parents is a national priority

• Engaging parents makes sense to increase some pupils’ life chances

Possible initial steps:

• Clear the first hurdle and check your entrance: Is it welcoming or forbidding? Are there any easy wins?

• Is the responsibility for promoting parental engagement drive clearly allocated or is it part of someone’s ‘catch-all’ remit?

• Is the parental engagement drive organised around challenges? What can you do which requires parents, pupils and staff to work together?

• Social events are good to get parents through the doors. An approach based on a common challenge will keep them coming back.

• Adopt a long perspective. To get the unwilling, be ready to build a community of the willing first.

• Keep track of numbers going through the doors and outcomes from day 1

Related documents (Estyn):

* Good practice in parental involvement

* Arfer dda o ran cynnws rhieni mewn ysgolion cynradd

#Engagingbasics #Parents