ParentsMatter Issue 11 | January 2008
Staff edition for schools & early years settings Annual Parent Conference The Ecology Pavilion at Mile End was filled with parents, carers and school staff attending the Annual Parents Conference in November last year. The event provided an opportunity for parents to share their experiences and to celebrate the achievements of parents who had successfully completed the Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities parenting programme. Councillor Claire Hawkins presented certificates to 70 parents who had successfully completed the course. Parents took part in a number of workshops and everyone one left with plenty of ideas to take back to school.
02 Strengthening Families 03 Good news about schools 05 Working with fathers 07 Dates and training
Issue 13 | January 2008
School /setting activities with parents and carers Secondary Schools Engaging Parents in school life and their child’s learning Several secondary schools in the borough have been engaging parents/carers of Year 7 children through a range of information sessions and short courses run by the NRF Targeted Year 7/8 Project. Sessions were delivered in school by project facilitators and school staff during July and September.
“ I’m learning so much and feel less nervous” Oaklands parent
Year 7 lessons, meet key school staff, ask questions and raise any concerns. Session content included practical activities and discussions around communication with the school, behaviour and attendance policies, parental involvement and supporting children’s learning at home. “ This course has been really good, I’m learning so much and feel less nervous about being able to help her. I’ve already signed up for the parent’s ICT workshop” Denise Hickford, Parental Engagement Co-ordinator
Langdon Park School, Bethnal Green Technology College, Central Foundation and Oaklands School all held courses and information sessions to introduce parents/carers to the secondary school system. Parents/carers were given the opportunity to tour the school, observe
International Event Old Ford School
Family Learning Week
This annual event, supported by local restaurants and diners donating FREE dishes was a great success. A number of families tried food they had never tasted before and even though it was a wet, miserable night many families attended.
Shapla Primary School recently celebrated Family Learning Week with a PiP meeting for parents of Foundation Stage children, and two fantastic playbased curriculum workshops for nursery parents.
Maureen Padmore, School Home Support Worker
We also planned an activity that would be suitable for family groups to attend and which would build on the previous workshops. ‘Arts for All’ ran a Family Feltmaking day which was really successful and produced a stunning felt wall hanging for the school. Anant Burt, Deputy Head Teacher
2
Parents Matter Newsletter
January 2008 | Issue 13
Gorsefield Residential The EPPa (Effective Partnership with Parent) team from Manorfield School in Poplar organised a residential trip to Gorsefield Rural Studies Centre early in September. Children and parents took part in a range of activities including a walk through a nature reserve, archery and cycling. Everyone had great fun working together as part of a team, planning activities and getting to know other families. All agreed they would like to do something similar again and are hoping to get back to Gorsefield soon.
“ Everyone had great fun working together”
Linda Martin EPPa Co-ordinator
Cake Making Workshop Stephen Hawking School consulted with parents to find out how they would spend a recently received Family Learning grant. The majority agreed that cake making was an activity they would like to try and a date was set and the session prepared. Everyone had great fun selecting recipes, weighing the ingredients and cooking the cakes. The children were involved with all the above and it was a new experience for many. Everyone agreed that they had learned new skills, met new people and had fun: eating the cakes was definitely the best part! Danni Field, Teaching Assistant, Stephen Hawking
Parents Matter Newsletter
3
Issue 13 | January 2008
Extended Services Extended Services are all about supporting the achievement of all children and young people by offering a range of support to their families through local schools and community centres. Parents should be able to get advice and information on: • •
•
• •
Affordable year-round childcare 8-6pm for children aged 5-11yrs After school activities such as sports, arts or music activities including homework clubs and study support Parenting support, from information about schools and study, to classes and programmes to support parenting skills Access to specialist services such as counselling services, dieticians, etc. Access to schools resources such as sports centres and adult and family learning programmes
Schools across the borough have been working closely with the Extended Services team to ensure the new funding that is available is used to improve and develop a wide range of services. Schools will soon be rolling out programmes which include breakfast clubs and information regarding local education, employment and training. All aimed to improve opportunities for children, parents and families in Tower Hamlets. Lorraine Hachou, Joint Head of Extended Services for Tower Hamlets said “We are really excited that we are helping schools offer services to parents. For a lot of parents their child’s school is already the place they go to ask for help and advice or get information about local services. We are really pleased that, thanks to our help, parents and their families are going to be able to access a wider range of things through schools.”
For more information on Extended Services call 020 7364 4206
1.
School Health Advisor for Bow Boys School and Central Foundation Girls School
Extended Services funding has been used to improve family health in Bow thanks to the appointment of a new School Health Advisor. The Health advisor will develop a programme of activities designed to help families in Bow lead healthier lifestyles.
2.
Parenting Support spaces at Chisenhale and Old Palace Primary Schools
Extended Schools Chisenhale and Old Palace Primary Schools are developing a dedicated space within the school building for parents. Both schools are converting parts of their building to offer a space for parents to meet, learn and have fun together. From April 2008 both schools hope to use these new spaces to offer a wide range of activities to parents including: English, IT, and arts and crafts workshops for the whole family.
4
Parents Matter Newsletter
January 2008 | Issue 13
3.
Social Care Advice Surgeries
Parents across Tower Hamlets can now take advantage of a new ‘drop in’ service thanks to support from Extended Services. Through the surgeries social workers will be offering a wide range of specialist advice and support for families and school staff. For more information e-mail
[email protected] Nimo Ali Extended Services Social Worker >
4.
Marner Schools Brain Boosting Breakfast Club welcomes children from St. Agnes and Old Palace
Extended Services funding has helped expand Marner Primary Schools successful Breakfast Club to offer places for children at St. Agnes and Old Palace Primary Schools. For just 50p a day children can get a breakfast including wholegrain cereals, fruit juice, toast and super tasty smoothies made for them by pupils at Ian Mikardo School. The ‘Brain Boosting Breakfast Club’, so called because of the effect a good breakfast can have on children’s concentration levels starts at 8am with children from all three schools now enjoying breakfast together. Parents drop children off at Marner school where they are met by staff from Old Palace and St. Agnes who, once they’ve had their breakfast then walk children back to school fully ready to start their day.
5.
Fresh Fruit Smoothies form part of the Marner breakfast >
Young people get promoting across schools in Bow and Mile End East
Schools in Bow and Mile End East will soon see the introduction of Schools Promoters. With the support of professional promoters young people will research, inspect and compile information on local activities available to children and young people in, through and outside their schools. These promoters will make sure children, young people and their families have up to date information on activities in their local area.
Young people will be promoting sports activities available across Bow and Mile End <
Parents Matter Newsletter
5
Issue 13 | January 2008
Parental Engagement Team Services to Schools, Children’s Centres and Early Years setting The Neighbourhood Renewal funding which has enabled an exciting range of parental engagement initiatives to be developed in Tower Hamlets is coming to an end. As part of the project exit strategy all schools and early years settings will continue to be able to access free advice and support which can include:
Option 3: Parent Information Point From 2008 all schools are required to offer a transition meeting for parents of children about to start school or transfer from one phase to another. This option includes a PIP co-ordinator to work alongside a member of school staff to plan, co-facilitate and evaluate a PIP session.
a)
Option 4: Passport to Learning This option includes a parental engagement facilitator to work alongside school/setting staff to introduce the Passport, deliver workshops and help schools explore how they can support parents own learning and help them to become more confident about their skills and knowledge as parents.
b) c) d)
A review of current school practice using the Parents Matter self-evaluation toolkit Support in creating an action plan Help in exploring effective recruitment, communication and publicity strategies School or cluster-based training for teachers and/or support staff (including Parent information Point)
In addition, the team will offer the following costed services: Option 1: Curriculum focused workshops This option includes a parental engagement facilitator to work alongside a member of school/setting staff to plan workshops which are designed to inform and engage parents in their child’s learning. Option 2: Consultation with parents (Parent Voice) This option includes a parental engagement facilitator to support schools to organise Parent Voice events which help meet the OFSTED, SEF requirement to obtain the views of parents on the effectiveness of the work of the school.
Option 5: Induction and short course programme for parents for children in Yr7/8 This option includes a parental engagement facilitator to work alongside a member of school staff to plan, deliver and evaluate a series of workshops and information sessions introducing parents to secondary school life. Packages are negotiated on a daily, termly or yearly basis, subject to staff availability, and include all relevant resources, training and information for school / setting staff. For more information contact: Sarah Gale Head of Equalities and Parental Engagement Tel: 020 7364 4153
[email protected] Jill McGinley Parental Engagement Advisor Tel: 020 7364 4946
[email protected]
6
Parents Matter Newsletter
Top left: Bottom left: Top Right:
BGTC Parent Voice meeting Year 7 Workshop, Stephen Hawking School PIP event
Parenting programmes
Pathfinder Project Supports Schools with Parenting Programmes During the last year a government funded Pathfinder Project has been helping schools to run Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities Parenting Programmes. Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities is a well established programme from America and is managed by the Race Equality Foundation in Britain. With funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families members of school’s staff and voluntary organisations have been trained and supported to run the thirteen week programme in schools and community locations. Refreshments and child care provision have allowed the parents attending the programme the opportunity to have quality time for themselves, developing skills for the benefit of their families and communities. Those that completed the programme were invited to a graduation ceremony and party with their families where accreditation certificates were presented. Schools which took part in the Pathfinder Project will continue to have access to advice and “top up” training for school facilitators through the Parental Engagement Team. Schools that wish to start running the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities Parenting Programme can now buy in this training and support. For further information contact Tom Morris (020 7364 1537
[email protected] ) or Andy Simons (020 7364 1536
[email protected])
Women Like Us Women Like Us is an award winning social enterprise that helps women with children to find flexible parttime employment. We reach women through their children’s schools, offer them coaching and advice, then connect them to local part-time, flexible work through our bespoke recruitment service. In doing so we support primary schools to deliver on the Every Child Matters agenda by offering employability services in schools. If your school would be interested in partnering with us, please contact Karen Mattison on 0207 281 6522 or
[email protected]
The funding which has enabled schools and settings to access Parenting Programmes is coming to and end. As part of the exit strategy the Parental Engagement Team will offer the following services. Schools which took part in the Parenting Early Intervention Pathfinder Project in 2007/08 (the roll-out of the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities parenting programme across Tower Hamlets) will continue to have access to advice, parent workbooks and “top up” training for school facilitators through the Parental Engagement Team. Schools that wish to start running the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities parenting programme for the first time have two costed options: Option 1 The school needs to identify two members of staff who can be released to train as SFSC facilitators on the one week training programme. They will need to run their first course with support from an experienced facilitator from outside the school. This package includes: • an experienced facilitator to work alongside the school facilitators to cofacilitate the 13 week course • workbooks for parents • subsidised training costs for the 2 school facilitators • ongoing access to free support as outlined above once the first course has been delivered. Option 2 The school buys in two experienced facilitators to deliver the 13 week course for a specific group of parents on a one-off basis (schools may choose to move on to Option 6 at a later stage). The package also includes: • workbooks for parents • advice on strategies to recruit and retain parents • an evaluation report.
Parents Matter Newsletter
7
Issue 13 | January 2008
Training Programme For school and setting staff developing work with parents Passport to Learning Wednesday 6th February 4.15-5.30 Communicating with Parents Ensuring parents have a voice primary Primary Wednesday 13th February 9.30-12.00 Supporting Children’s Learning and Development Primary Tuesday 4th March 9.30 – 12.00 Supporting Children’s Learning and Development Primary Monday 17th March 9.30-12.00 All workshops will take place at the PDC, English Street, E3 4TA For information or application forms, or to register by phone please contact the Parental Engagement Team on 020 7364 4127 or
[email protected]
Recommended websites
Parents’ Advice Centre The Parents’ Advice Centre provides information, support and advice to parents and carers of children with special educational needs, children at risk of exclusion or excluded from school and children needing a school place. PAC Drop-in Advice: No appointment needed. Tuesday 9.30-3.30 Welfare Benefits Advice – Claim the Max! Thursdays 9.30- 12.00 noon. (Appointment required) Educational Psychologist Advice: First Tuesday of every month, 9.30 – 12.00 noon (Appointment required) SEN Parents’ Support Group: An open group for parents and carers of children with special educational needs. Thursdays 10-12 noon. Choice Admissions Advice: Advice and support for parents and carers looking for a Year 7 place for their child. Contact Rashmi Deb (PAC) Lifeline London: Drop-in substance misuse advice for parents and carers. 3rd March 2008 9.30 – 12.00 noon
Family and Parenting Institute
[email protected]
Dates for your diary:
Why not consider setting up a Parent Council in your school?
Celebration of Parental Engagement in Schools 11th–12th March 2008 Look out for your invitation!
www.governornet.co.uk To obtain a free pack designed to provide practical help and guidance to: • Governing Bodies • Parents • Head teachers and staff For further support contact the Parental Engagement Team on 020 7364 4946
8
Parents Matter Newsletter
Future editions on Parents Matter will focus on definite themes including transition and involving parents in their child’s reading. If you would like to share any of your work please contact: Jill McGinley (Parental Engagement Advisor) on 020 7364 4946 or
[email protected]
