This year, we are putting teacher and parent voice at the heart of our work. Our Supporting All Families events provide a space for teachers to discuss their challenges and solutions to supporting every family in their class. We bring sector specialists along to share their insights and teachers discuss best practice and reflect on their own experiences.
We have had a wealth of great discussions and contributions from organisations including Parent Ping, Family Links and National Numeracy. All events are free for any primary teachers to join, and we look forward to seeing you there. Here we would like to share two broad themes that have come out of our discussions: developing supportive relationships; and supporting learning at home.
Developing supportive relationships
This year presents a real opportunity to further enhance parent-teacher communications and strengthen collaboration. Our discussions focused on how teachers can develop positive relationships with their pupils’ families.
- Establish connection before content. Family Links, the Centre for Emotional Health, stressed how families’ emotional health and wellbeing is central to children’s ability to thrive
- Help families to feel valued as partners in their children’ learning. Parent Ping survey data shows that the majority of parents would prefer to be called by their name, rather than ‘mum/dad’. Small changes in communication can help to foster a collaborative relationship with parents.
- Differentiate your support for families. School Home Support shared the importance of meeting families where they are most comfortable, both physically and emotionally.
Supporting families’ learning at home
Over the last year, we have seen the remarkable work from both parents and teachers to support children’s learning. Here are two tips that came out of our discussions this term.
- Reassuring families goes a long way. National Numeracy highlighted that by demonstrating positive attitudes to learning, parents can help their child’s relationship with the subject and support their confidence.
- Share how you question and develop your pupils’ curiosity. The Economist Education Foundation shared how to help parents actively watch the news with their child. This includes asking effective questions to develop curiosity and help the child form opinions on the world around them.
- Share strategies to nurture effective learning behaviours –Kirsten Mould from the Education Endowment Foundation discussed how to work with parents to support children’s learning behaviours across home and school.
Many thanks to all those teachers who have come along, and to the organisations who have given their time to share their insights and advice.
Sign up here to find out more and to join the conversations.