Pathfinders - Parents
Pathfinders - Parents
Introduction
"Changes have recently been made to the law to help parents and schools work together as partners in children’s learning. The Scottish Parliament has passed the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 to encourage and support more parents to become involved.
Because parents have such a vital role to play in their children’s education, the Act aims to make it easier for parents to become involved in their own child’s education and in their child’s school more generally."
Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) ACT 2006
The Parental Involvement Act was launched on the 12 September
2006. It aims to support and encourage more families to become engaged in the
education of their children.
"A once in a generation chance to take a fresh look at how
parents are involved in their children’s learning and in schools more
generally."
Robert Brown, Depute Minister for Education and Young People
Research shows that when parents are involved, children do
better and achieve more. Parents, carers and family members are by far the most
important influences on their children’s lives. By becoming involved in the life
of their child’s school they can show their child that education is important to
them.
"Schools need the support of parents to be truly ambitious
and excellent."
Peter Peacock, former Minister for Education and Young People
This Act encourages active involvement in three ways:
Learning at Home: Where schools can support Parents by
providing information on what their children are learning and how they can help.
Home/School Partnership: Where schools encourage parents
to have the opportunity to engage and contribute to the life of the school
through a variety of ways.
Parental Representation: Which ensures that all parents
can express their views and, if they wish, be involved in a decision-making
representative group on behalf of other parents. To help achieve these three
main aims, all parents are automatically members of the Parent Forum at
their child’s school and will be encouraged to have a say in what happens at the
school.
As a member of the Parent Forum you can expect to:
receive information about what your child is learning
know about activities and events at the school
get advice on how you can support your child’s learning
be told about opportunities to be involved with the school
have a say in selecting a Parent Council to work on behalf of all parents at your school
What is a Parent Council?
support the school in its work with pupils
represent the views of all parents
encourage links between the school, parents, pre-school groups and the wider community report back to the Parent Forum
What’s happening in North Ayrshire Council?
A leaflet, A New Law to Support Parents, has been produced by the Scottish Executive, which explains more about the new legislation. This leaflet, accompanying a letter from the Head of Service, Jan Ward, has been distributed to all parents in North Ayrshire Council.
What happens next?
In conjunction with the Head Teacher, parents will now engage
with their own Parent Forum to decide on what’s best for their school.
There may be open meetings, working groups established,
surveys issued, a variety of events – each local community will develop the way
forward themselves.
North Ayrshire Council will be providing a draft sample
Constitution and by Easter the Authority should be informed by every school the
position their Parent Forum holds on developing a Parent Council for their
school. During the summer term of 2007 NAC will approve the individual
constitutions and the schools will arrange for the selection of the members of
their Pupil Council to commence in August 2007.
Parental Involvement Act 2006 - how you can become more involved in your child's education
Parental Involvement Strategy Booklet.pdf
Books - Education Resource Service
Reference
Resource Pack: Everything You Need to Create
YOUR Parents Online Event
Additional Support for Learning: Information for
Parents (North Ayrshire Council) Ref 371.9
CPD
371.9144 Parents on Dyslexia
372.4 Preparing for Early Literacy
with Parents
371.9 Working with Parents of Children with Special Needs
370.19
Developing Parenting Programmes
371.91 From Me.. To You: Advice to Parents of Children with Special Needs
CPD Thematic Collections -
PRIMARY - Parental Links
Please contact your
school's ICT Coordinator regarding these resources:
Parents
and Schools: Partners or Protagonists?
Activating
Partnership in Schooling
School,
Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action
Parent
Partnership in the Early Years
Working
With Challenging Parents of Students with Special Needs
A
Practical Guide to Working With Parents
School
Behaviour and Families
Every
Teacher's Guide to Working With Parents
Involving
Parents
Involving
Parents in their Children's Learning
Project
Loan Collection
306.9 EDW Saying Goodbye to a
Parent
Early Education
E306.2 When Mum Turned into a Monster
E306.1 Why Are All Families Different?
E306.1 My Family
E306.2 Supermum
E306.2 Don’t Forget to Come Back!
School Library
Dewey Numbers
306 Family
relationships
Websites
Guidance on the new legislation (Commencement of the Scottish Schools
(Parental Involvement) Act 2006
Parental Involvement Act - Parentzone
Parents As Partners in Learning (Learning and Teaching Scotland)
Parentzone
Parenting Across Scotland
(PAS) - "Ok to Ask" telephone helpline and website service
Scottish Network for
Parental Involvement in Children's Learning
Scottish Parent Teacher
Council
Scottish Parent Council's Association
Talk to Your Baby
Contacts
Parentline
Tel: 0808 800 2222
Scottish School Board Association (SSBA)
Newall Terrace, Dumfries, DG1 1LW
Tel: 01387 260428/260488
Fax: As above
Email: ssba@schoolboard-scotland.com
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since 13th February 2009