Parent | teacher engagement – getting it right!

Supporting the parents in supporting the child with their approach and attitude to school and learning is a crucial part of being a teacher.

Knowing and understanding that children need consistency, need to see that all adults in their lives are being fair and having their needs met is a good starting point.

Working with the parents and carers to give this to the pupils in the class an essential part of your role.

How is this best done?

Beginning with your approach to behaviour management is the best place to start when seeking to work in partnership with parents.

The classroom is the place that you can exercise your ethos and your vison for how you approach teaching and learning and what you expect from yourself and other school staff and the pupils.

Begin by making it clear to the pupils and their families what the ethos and vison of the school is.

With the pupils, this work can be done in the classroom during the first few days of the new school year. Look at the core values and the systems in place that guide, reward, honour and support.

Discuss the mode of behaviour expected and allow the pupils to have input and to discuss. Share the class rules and codes with the families and explain the rationale behind them.

Keep this information short and clear and add images to help. A side of A4 should suffice and they can be sent home for each family to read and then stick on their fridge! e.g. at our school we value one another by listening when someone is speaking.

Outline the reward system and give examples of what they are:

• Head teachers/ class teacher rewards – what they are, why they are given and what one must do to get one!
• Fully explain the behaviour system you adopt and what you hope the reward and sanctions will achieve. Truly think about the impact sanctions will have when giving them and allow time to speak with the pupils about the process.- Being heard and understood is key here as behaviour is a means of communication. Just   take time to think about what the child is trying to communicate before you react.

  – Often behaviour is linked to an underlying need. Lack of focus and concentration can be a way to avoid work that is either too hard, too easy or not understood. View yourself as a detective and try to get to the heart of the problem.

  – Share this approach with the families and make time to discuss with them their child and what they experience or think!

• Outline the support that pupils who wobble with their behaviour, choices or needs will receive. Be clear of the process and also the methods you and the school adopt to communicate effectively with the families when things go wrong.

“…remember that it is your party, but the pupils are very important guests and their parents also need to know, understand and work with you to ensure the party is enjoyable for all!”

Start to think about the above suggestions for September to be able to start with your best foot forwards!

I would make sure the ethos and vision are shared with the pupils and their families within the first few days of the new academic year!

Start as you mean to go on!