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A1 A lot depends on the setting, I’d say, but in our school, the “open door policy” of encouraging interaction with parents regularly developed a climate of mutual respect and engagement. #UKEdChat
Are you taking poetry seriously at your school?
Thank you Emily Clare Morris for a magnificent poetry day at Messingham Primary yesterday!! #scunthorpe#nlincs#ukedchat
A1 I think there’s a lot to be said for the manner in which the staff communicate. Approachability is very important, though professionalism maintains the boundary. #UKEdChat
A2 When a family joined the school with little hope that their child would last a term, having been expelled twice previously in another setting, actually working closely with them to create consistent strategies and access support led to that child improving hugely #UKEdChat
A1: most of our schools try to encourage teachers to reach out regularly with positive contact, as a way of establishing relationships w/families. Then, if something negative occurs, it makes collaboration more likely. #UKEdChat
A2 There’s no better feeling than knowing you’re improving a child’s life experience than making a positive impact on their home life; especially when it’s a difficult situation. Sometimes, gaining trust leads to massive progress for all. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat does anyone run workshops for parents? We offer a free parent workshop at end of our story writing and puppet making workshops but we've had a mixed response on schools offering it to parents, not sure why?
A3 I suppose the challenge of time is always a limiting factor. With increasing class sizes and responsibilities, lots of teachers struggle to find time to communicate in the way they might like or at the perfect time. #UKEdChat
A1 Inviting parents to learn alongside their children during science week, visits to places that are free to go (local museums, parks...) and when visitors come in such as an archaeologist. #UKEdChat
#ukedchat A3
The belief that "it's your job not mine." You really want to inspire parents engagement but you can so often be rubbing up against a society where parents are less engaged in their child's learning.
A3 finding time! Making phone calls home is great and I prefer the discussive nTure over emails but trying to fit it in around teaching and other professional responsibilities is so difficult! Especially when parents are often unavailable until late evening! #UKEdChat
A3 I would also say that, for some teachers, confidence is a big factor when communicating with parents. There’s certainly a fear of saying the wrong thing or being on the receiving end of high-running emotions. #UKEdChat
A2. One of my tutor group was a pain behaviourally for a good few years. After three years of frequent contact with home and lots of joint effort he is now a year 11 and an absolutely brilliant student! #ukedchat
A2 The first maths workshop I did was some time ago. One of the girls had asked her aunt to come. She told me she hated maths at secondary school. All of the adults did some tangram puzzles alongside the children and at the end the lady asked me "When's the next one?" #UKEdChat
I've done maths workshops and the science leader has done science workshops during science week. About a third of parents come along to these. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q4
How does your setting target the ‘hard to reach’ parents/caregivers to ensure they remain invested in their child’s education?
▶Please use the hashtag & A4◀
A3 Time! At the end of the day I often want to see certain parents (if a child has had an injury or felt unwell etc) but it limits the time to talk to other parents. I found text messages saying thank you for attending a workshop were appreciated by parents and carers. #UKEdChat
A1 My LM put forward that we are a family, our students are also our children, not just the parents. So engagement/communication should focus on all the good and bad. It's quite rewarding speaking to a parent to say how much a student has progressed and how proud we are #UkEdChat
#UKEdChat A4
Not sure it's 'targeting' but we basically do all we can for their child then go out of the way to tell them how well their child is doing when things improve. From my experience the greatest game-changer for a 'hard to reach' parent is their child being successful.
A4 We offer meeting times at different times of the day to accommodate parents. Often they have limited English so I use the ability to speak other languages or ask someone to translate for me if it is another language. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q4 again
How does your setting target the ‘hard to reach’ parents/caregivers to ensure they remain invested in their child’s education?
▶Please use the hashtag & A4◀
A4 We had parents meetings this week. One of the parents said I can't help because I can't speak English. I said ask your child "what did you learn today?" That would let her child know that education is important to her mum. I said it doesn't matter about language. #UKEdChat
A4: It's tough, because hard to reach can be a lot of by guess and by God, but being able to demonstrate that you know the student well, so that they know, when you do talk, that you're not just using generalization. #UKEdChat
A4 I once worked in a school when a certain supportive parenting course, which was via discreet invitation, offered Tesco shopping vouchers if the parent attended all sessions. Not sure how I feel about it, but attendance was 100%! #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q5
What additional help does your school provide to pupils where the support from parents/caregivers cannot be ideal?
▶Please use the hashtag & A5◀
A5 We divert additional human/financial resource to help bridge the gap. I’ve driven children to and from school, provided breakfast, bought and set up an alarm clock, taken PE kit home to wash #WhateverItTakes#UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q5 again
What additional help does your school provide to pupils where the support from parents/caregivers cannot be ideal?
▶Please use the hashtag & A5◀
Yeah, not sure it would have been my preferred route, but to be fair... those parents started attending because of free vouchers and ended the course with new friendships, greater understanding and developed skills. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q6
What partnerships with local community activities does your school undertake to help bridge the gap between school and parents/caregivers (and the wider community)?
▶Please use the hashtag & A6◀
A6 This is at the core of our school’s vision. To be an active contributor to our community is a privilege and responsibility of each child, in some way. #UKEdChat
A5 I think providing experiences for all children benefits those children who may not have support at home. Making sure they know you care can have a massive impact. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q6 again
What partnerships with local community activities does your school undertake to help bridge the gap between school and parents/caregivers (and the wider community)?
▶Please use the hashtag & A6◀
A6 Adults support the children in fundraising during the period of Lent each year - driven totally by the children themselves. In 5 years, a school of 92 has donated in excess of £12k to local, grassroots charities. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat A5
We've identified a few pupils to be mentored by an adult in the school with whom they have a special connection. It's working really well.
On an academic note, some children are receiving some free tuition - again, with an adult they connect well with. They love it
A6 The school council is effective in building community links. A big dig was organised to clear up an area so that a new walkway could be planted / built. Parents volunteered to come in with their children on a Saturday alongside other members of the community. #UKEdChat
A6 We have worked a lot with local businesses too. Our children have experienced many different workplaces and job sectors by the time they’re 11. And - they relish it! #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q7
What place, if any, does technology have in helping improve ongoing communication between schools and families without adding further work to teachers?
▶Please use the hashtag & A7◀
#ukedchat Good point! We have a shop teacher who has partnered with builders groups to coach the kids on how to build a tiny house from top to bottom (or I suppose it's the other way round really).
A7 Technology can be a great enabler, but it can also act as a divider... Some parents are practically invisible because digital communication provides them with all they feel they need. #UKEdChat
A7 We use text messages to remind parents about events we'd like them to come to if they can, to thank them when they do and to keep them updated. Their feedback about it is positive. I'd like to use something like @ClassDojo or @Seesaw to keep parents updated. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q7 again
What place, if any, does technology have in helping improve ongoing communication between schools and families without adding further work to teachers?
▶Please use the hashtag & A7◀
It involves the opposite of technology I suppose but a simple book review sticker that went home in Y10 & Y11 books worked really well to start a conversation between teacher & parents. Very low workload! #UKEdChat A7 https://t.co/oz3dnUFS46
A7 In terms of time saving though; our school uses digital communication for almost all letters, consent forms etc. That’s saved a few trees worth of paper and increased efficiency. Parents prefer knowing the reply got to school directly, too! #UKEdChat
A7: Skype, etc. can be used when it's just too hard to get the schedules to work out. Not ideal, but an option. Having Google Translate if necessary... Stuff like that is helpful. Also being able to proactively keep calendars, announcements online, etc. #UKEdChat
A7 The school’s Twitter has a big following amongst our parent and community population. It acts as a wonderful ‘memory book’ of all the things we’ve been up to. #UKEdChat
#ukedchat A8: Parents who have an idea of their child’s strengths and weaknesses. A meeting which is a discussion about the child rather than just a spiel from me or the parents
A8 Ideal parents evening... It wouldn’t be necessary. Honestly, if the lines of communication are strong and teachers have time made available to them to communicate as they’d wish to, then a 5 minute, rushed chat wouldn’t add a thing... #UKEdChat
I think schools have to be careful they don't overdo it. So many parents get fed up of being bombarded by emails, texts etc. about every little thing. We survived school without all of this! #ukedchat
In reply to
@keran77, @ukedchat, @ClassDojo, @Seesaw
A8 I released each of the teachers in my year group for a pm so we started at 1.00. I was able to share how their children has settled into a new class, answer any of their questions and talk about targets. It was open and honest and most importantly 2-way. #UKEdChat
A2: Famous 5 mail. 5 letters home a week for something incredible in the class that week. Parents adore the positivity and praise for their children & it focusses their conversations towards the learning they’ve been doing.
Behaviour/work/manners/homework
#UKEdChat
A7 #UKEdChat Our school has an app for parents that syncs with SIMS so they can see achievement/behaviour points logged and any homework set. We’ve even done away with planners this year.
A2 mixture of in class with parents looking at books on mass (regular) and one evening starting early till mid evening where mire confident. Refreshments for all! #ukedchat
I think communication en masse ought to be sent by one or two key staff members only (who are best placed to do it). That avoids five staff members all emailing parents concurrently. #UKEdChat
In reply to
@helenpengelly, @keran77, @ukedchat, @ClassDojo, @Seesaw
A3 #UKEdChat Language can be a big barrier if the English is not their first language. I’ve had parents evenings where the student has translated for their parent.
