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You are here: Projects Starting School Project FAQ

FAQ's

1. Explain the outline of a session

A wraparound session that schools can use as an opportunity to invite all parents; the presentation and discussion should last no longer than an hour. It is advisable to add on another hour around the presentation to give parents the opportunity to meet informally, to offer refreshments and to make time for discussion about the content and questions.

For more information please click on the following links:

Starting School FAQ - Jo Hook TIS Consultant 
Ten Top Tips for Schools 
How to use the Primary Toolkit 
How to use the Secondary Toolkit 

2. Share ideas on how to reach hard to reach parents

A flexible format for a session allows local adaption to meet needs identified in local consultations with parents. Please see link for ideas of innovative ways of working to involve hard to reach parents.

For more information please click on this link:
Harder to Reach Groups 

3. The background to Starting School Information Sessions for Parents

The Starting School project is part of the wider Department for Education and Skills programme for developing parenting support through extended schools.

For more information please click on the following links:
www.familyandparenting.org/startingSchoolUserGuide
Starting School FAQ Jo Hook TIS Consultant 

4. Brief description, how it fits in with what is already happening

The DfES published Every Parent Matters in March 2007 and the report is available at www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/familyandcommunity/workingwithparents/everyparentmatters/

5. The tasks and roles of the facilitator

The facilitators task; organise, run and follow-up starting school information sessions for parents in partnership with school staff so that events run smoothly and achieve their purpose.

Please see the following link:
Tasks and Roles of Facilitator 

6. Should we consult with parents before we start to plan the information sessions?

In each school
Yes, try to introduce the idea of sessions as early as possible. Send a pre invitation written by the children and young people to alert parents. Involve parent governors and ask them to take forward consultation with parents as the schools 'parents champions'.
In your local authority
Ask your local Children's Centre to take this role on the behalf of the school or your local voluntary and community sector providers who have good community links.
Local authorities may have results of wider consultations with parents, or be planning to consult parents as part of drawing up a parenting strategy.

MORE USEFUL LINKS

www.parentscentre.gov.uk
www.teachernet.gov.uk/casestudies
www.surestart.gov.uk
www.scie.org.uk/publications/tra/index.asp