safeguarding & Parent Support

The Importance of Parental Engagement

'Our Parents Matter'

School partnerships are about focusing on the young person. They are about considering the needs of both the school and the family in creating the best environment for young people. They aren’t about schools taking over responsibility for parents.  Parental engagement is a little different to parental involvement. It's all about taking learning out of the classroom and keeping it going at home.

Benefits of Parent Engagement

For young people

• Young people perform better at school when their parents are involved in their education.

• Young people settle better into school when parents are involved.

• Young people feel valued and important when their parents take an interest in their lives. 

• Young people observe and learn positive interactions through watching others interact.

For staff

• Staff experience a higher level of job satisfaction in an environment that encourages listening, respect and appreciation.

• Staff stress levels are reduced when staff and parents work in partnership and communication is strong.

• Staff can develop important social skills when they communicate with parents.

For parents

• Involvement gives parents the opportunity to discuss their child’s interests with staff and have some input into the program.

• Parents who are familiar with a program feel more comfortable about raising concerns and negotiating solutions with staff.

• Positive partnerships with staff can relieve parental concerns and help parents better support the school with their daughters learning.

Practical ways for parents to expand their role in schools

Parents who take an active role in their children’s education are offering the support their students need to see success at school. But determining how to get involved can be tricky, especially for parents who are also juggling a full-time job.

Our experts recommend these simple ways for parents to expand their role in their students’ education.

1. Be present at school when possible

Parents who make an effort to be present around their children’s school are showing that they care about their education—and that it’s important enough to deserve their attention. This doesn’t mean busy parents have to sacrifice all their free time to volunteer at school! Classrooms have many opportunities to get involved, so parents can choose the ones that work best with their schedules.

2. Show interest in students’ schoolwork

Parents who are genuinely interested in their childs’ education are in a good position to provide support or find outside help if they notice a child is struggling. They also build connections with their children as they share excitement over their successes and help them work through disappointments.

3. Keep a positive attitude towards education

Parents might think that cracking down is the right way to handle children who say they dislike school or don’t want to do their homework. However, parents who keep a positive attitude about education are more likely to pass that sunny outlook onto their children.