Starting School Parent Information Sessions (TIS) are intended to be:

A wraparound session that schools can use as an opportunity to invite in all parents, including parents who have not often had contact with their child's school.
A flexible format for a session that can be adapted locally to meet needs identified in local consultations with parents.
A session where parents can exchange experiences about how their child is settling into school.
A session where parents can discuss what helps to keep their child safe, happy and learning.
A session where parents will be able to find out more information about
the new extended services in schools
A session where parents will be able to find out more information about specialist services that can help with particular issues e.g. helplines, local agencies, local voluntary sector projects.
A session where parents can find a first point of contact with their child's school
A session that gives the message to parents from schools that:
parents do a very important job
support for parents is available
A session where LA facilitators work closely with designated school staff, head teachers, school support staff, childcare staff and Children's Centre teachers where they are co-located, to build on existing arrangements for transition.
A session that can be included as part of existing induction activities for parents eg meet the tutor class meetings for parents.
A session where parents can take home TIS fact sheets and other important information from the school.

Starting School parent information information sessions materials:


There is a core module for primary school parents called Settling into School.
There is a core module for secondary school parents called Moving On.
The core modules cover all aspects of how parents can help their children to keep safe, happy and learning at school.
Additional materials are downloadable for each topic mentioned in the core module, to enable facilitators to cover individual topics in greater depth.
Starting School factsheets are downloadable for parents to take away from the session. The factsheets include information about the school, extended services and local and national services for parents.
Each factsheet includes a space for adding local information.
All the materials include a space for adding school logos.

Credits

Thanks to the following organisations and individuals for their contributions to the materials.
4Children
One Plus One
Fathers Direct
Trust for the Study of Adolescence
Titus Alexander
Kirsten Foster
Jane Smith Parenting UK Consultancy

Last updated: 12th June 2008 at 03:06:38