× EXIT Opening the School Gate | Ongoing support Catering for cultural dietary needs Parents need to be reassured that their child’s religious and cultural needs, including their dietary requirements, will be met at school and during extracurricular activities. It can be straightforward to discuss and cater for these needs, allaying parents’ fears and making them more likely to allow their children to participate in school activities. What you can do List a selection of dietary requirements (for example, ‘Halal, Kosher, Vegetarian, and Other’) on consent forms. This will give parents the feeling that the school is aware of their needs and will respond to them. Take a school canteen list to a parent meeting and ask for ideas, or work on a school canteen policy together. Families are happy to provide advice if the school is struggling to adapt meals and wants to make sure food is culturally appropriate. Consider asking a parent or parents to provide advice to canteen staff on culturally appropriate dishes. Is there also an opportunity for some part-time work for parents who are interested? Resources 0 Course menu Introduction 1 Welcome tour 2 Getting started 3 Overview 4 Benefits of engaging families 5 Issues for migrant and refugee families 6 Issues for schools Planning for engagement 1 Overview 2 Involving key staff 3 Identifying the target groups 4 Targeting communities 5 Working with community partners 6 Setting objectives 7 Allocating resources Planning meetings & events 1 Overview 2 Deciding on a format 3 Setting the agenda 4 Seeking parent and student input 5 Choosing an appropriate time 6 Finding a suitable location 7 Arranging childcare 8 Arranging catering 9 Arranging transport 10 Inviting families 11 Translating information 12 Arranging interpreters Meeting management 1 Overview 2 Arranging seating 3 Preparing and managing interpreters 4 Greeting parents 5 Keeping the discussions on track 6 Building trust 7 Exploring expectations about school involvement 8 Explaining practical systems and roles 9 Seeking feedback from parents 10 Sustaining parent involvement Ongoing support 1Overview 2Creating a welcoming environment 3Seeking consent 4Addressing parent concerns about camps 5Catering for cultural dietary needs 6Discussing welfare concerns with parents 7Addressing discipline issues 8Reporting on student progress 9Holding parent-teacher meetings 10Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements Resources 0
× EXIT Opening the School Gate | Ongoing support Catering for cultural dietary needs Parents need to be reassured that their child’s religious and cultural needs, including their dietary requirements, will be met at school and during extracurricular activities. It can be straightforward to discuss and cater for these needs, allaying parents’ fears and making them more likely to allow their children to participate in school activities. What you can do List a selection of dietary requirements (for example, ‘Halal, Kosher, Vegetarian, and Other’) on consent forms. This will give parents the feeling that the school is aware of their needs and will respond to them. Take a school canteen list to a parent meeting and ask for ideas, or work on a school canteen policy together. Families are happy to provide advice if the school is struggling to adapt meals and wants to make sure food is culturally appropriate. Consider asking a parent or parents to provide advice to canteen staff on culturally appropriate dishes. Is there also an opportunity for some part-time work for parents who are interested? Resources 0 Course menu Introduction 1 Welcome tour 2 Getting started 3 Overview 4 Benefits of engaging families 5 Issues for migrant and refugee families 6 Issues for schools Planning for engagement 1 Overview 2 Involving key staff 3 Identifying the target groups 4 Targeting communities 5 Working with community partners 6 Setting objectives 7 Allocating resources Planning meetings & events 1 Overview 2 Deciding on a format 3 Setting the agenda 4 Seeking parent and student input 5 Choosing an appropriate time 6 Finding a suitable location 7 Arranging childcare 8 Arranging catering 9 Arranging transport 10 Inviting families 11 Translating information 12 Arranging interpreters Meeting management 1 Overview 2 Arranging seating 3 Preparing and managing interpreters 4 Greeting parents 5 Keeping the discussions on track 6 Building trust 7 Exploring expectations about school involvement 8 Explaining practical systems and roles 9 Seeking feedback from parents 10 Sustaining parent involvement Ongoing support 1Overview 2Creating a welcoming environment 3Seeking consent 4Addressing parent concerns about camps 5Catering for cultural dietary needs 6Discussing welfare concerns with parents 7Addressing discipline issues 8Reporting on student progress 9Holding parent-teacher meetings 10Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements Resources 0
