Parent Councils Parent Councils Parents as Partners in their Children’s Learning.

Parent Councils Parent Councils

Parents as Partners in their Children’s Learning

Why parental involvement?Why parental involvement?

The Scottish Schools The Scottish Schools

(Parental Involvement) (Parental Involvement)

Act 2006 –Act 2006 –

Where parents are Where parents are involved, children do involved, children do

better and achieve more.better and achieve more.

Scottish Schools Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006(Parental Involvement) Act 2006

The law aims to help all The law aims to help all parents to beparents to be::

involved with their child's involved with their child's education and learning education and learning

welcomed as active welcomed as active participants in the life of the participants in the life of the school, and school, and

encouraged to express their encouraged to express their views on school education.views on school education.

So, as a parent, what’s my So, as a parent, what’s my role?role?

Parents as Partners in their Children’s Learning

What is the Parent Forum and What is the Parent Forum and Parent Council?Parent Council?

Every parent with a child at the Every parent with a child at the school is a member of the school is a member of the Parent ForumParent Forum..

TheThe Parent Forum Parent Forum can choose can choose to have their views represented to have their views represented through a Parent Council. through a Parent Council.

Parent CouncilParent Council is a smaller is a smaller body that can represent parents’ body that can represent parents’ views to the school, local views to the school, local authority and HMIe.authority and HMIe.

What does the Parent Council What does the Parent Council do?do?

Support the school in its work with pupilsSupport the school in its work with pupils

Gather and represent the views of parents Gather and represent the views of parents and carersand carers

Encourage links between the school, Encourage links between the school, parents and carers, pupils, pre-school parents and carers, pupils, pre-school groups and the wider communitygroups and the wider community

Be involved in appointment of senior staffBe involved in appointment of senior staff

What can the Parent Council What can the Parent Council do?do?

Support the school in developing strong Support the school in developing strong home / school partnershipshome / school partnerships

Capture the wide and varied skills, Capture the wide and varied skills, interests, knowledge and experience interests, knowledge and experience parents can offerparents can offer

FundraiseFundraise

Assist at and organise eventsAssist at and organise events

What the Parent Council is notWhat the Parent Council is not

A group with responsibility for what goes on in schoolA group with responsibility for what goes on in school A group to which the Head Teacher is ‘accountable’A group to which the Head Teacher is ‘accountable’ A group independent of other parentsA group independent of other parents A group which ignores the views / wishes of the A group which ignores the views / wishes of the

majority of parentsmajority of parents A group which majors on the views / wishes of a A group which majors on the views / wishes of a

minority of parentsminority of parents A group which seeks to ‘divide and conquer’A group which seeks to ‘divide and conquer’ A single interest groupA single interest group

NB. The PI Act allows for members to be removed from NB. The PI Act allows for members to be removed from the Parent Councilthe Parent Council

Key word - PartnershipKey word - Partnership

How can parents get involved?

Offer your skills to the school

Organise / offer to help with an extra curricular activity

Help with outings / trips Help at parents evenings Help with fund-raising Set up / help with breakfast club Organise a walking bus

How can parents get involved?

Get involved in the eco schools initiative

Run a settling in day / evening Get a newsletter going What about a parents’ website? Offer to get involved in the Parent

Council Ask what’s needed and offer to do

anything helpful to the school!

Offer your skills to the school – Partnership!!!

What about finances?

Parent Council bank accountParent Council bank account

Annual allocationAnnual allocation

Public liability insurancePublic liability insurance

Useful websitesUseful websites

ParentzoneParentzone http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/parentzone/index.asp

National Parent Forum of Scotland National Parent Forum of Scotland http://www.parentforumscotland.org/

Scottish Parent Teacher CouncilScottish Parent Teacher Council http://www.sptc.info/

Useful ContactsUseful Contacts

Elaine KirkhamElaine Kirkham

[email protected]

0146370292701463702927 Ros BellRos Bell

[email protected]

0146321662701463216627