Getting parents and carers more actively involved in their children’s education really matters. Communication is key to successful partnerships and technology is successful in enhancing communications.
Parents matter
Research by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) found that
working more closely with parents consistently leads to improvement in student behaviour and achievement.
According to Ofsted (2007), pupils’ achievement clearly improved in schools where parental involvement was judged to be ‘outstanding’.
From September 2009, Ofsted have been inspecting the effectiveness of a school’s engagement with parents and carers. Ofsted inspections (opens in a new window as a PDF) will also evaluate the quality of parental communications.
Communication matters
67% of teachers said parents not in regular contact didn’t realise the importance of their support to their child’s development.
89% of parents say technology can help keep them in contact with their child's school
Parents want information about their child and want to be able to discuss it with their child’s school. It’s not always possible to do this face to face, which is where technology can help. It can provide parents with information and two-way dialogue at a time and in ways that better suit their lifestyle.
Technology matters
Keeping in touch via technology brings real benefits to the learner, to parents and to schools:
• parents are kept up to date with their child’s learning and development
• children are motivated by their parent’s interest and involvement
• schools are more efficient and effective in developing parental involvement.
Teachers can save the equivalent of up to one lesson per week by using technology for reporting.
What’s involved?
Many schools are already using a wide variety of technologies to keep in touch with parents:
• websites, portals and learning platforms
• text and phone messaging
• email and electronic newsletters
• podcasts and school radio.
Online reporting
You may have heard the term ‘online reporting’ – but what does it really mean? It’s about using various technologies to communicate with parents, create partnerships and involve them more in their child’s learning.
It’s about giving parents secure access to information they want on their child’s:
• progress
• achievement
• attendance
• behaviour
• special educational needs.
Different schools have different needs when it comes to communicating and involving parents. They have varying technologies available, too. Similarly, not all parents have easy access to all types of technology. You will need to discuss and agree with parents what information to make available and how best technology can support this.
This website will give you guidance and ideas on using technology to keep in touch and develop partnerships with parents.