× EXIT Opening the School Gate | Meeting management Sustaining parent involvement In order to sustain parent and carer involvement, identify the strengths and skills of participating parents/carers and create opportunities for them to use these skills on an ongoing basis in your school. Some parents will become more involved if they know it is important to their children and they can perform a meaningful role. Others may be interested in being a contact person for an ethno-specific parents’ group (e.g. a Cambodian parents group) and liaising with the school. Some schools have migrant or refugee parents on the school council who represent the interests of a cultural group or community. Many parents/carers just want to attend parent meetings and perhaps encourage other parents to come along. It is important to assist and support parents/carers in these roles. Some parents may be prepared to take on more responsibility for meetings over time. This process of fostering leadership development is likely to happen slowly and may require some support and encouragement. It is not always possible to set up self-management of parents’ associations. What you can do Provide support and resources for parents who are emerging as future leaders of an ongoing group or already play a significant leadership role. Identify key parent leaders to encourage others to attend events. Encourage culturally specific parent groups if parents are interested in managing them. 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 1Overview 2Arranging seating 3Preparing and managing interpreters 4Greeting parents 5Keeping the discussions on track 6Building trust 7Exploring expectations about school involvement 8Explaining practical systems and roles 9Seeking feedback from parents 10Sustaining parent involvement Ongoing support 1 Overview 2 Creating a welcoming environment 3 Seeking consent 4 Addressing parent concerns about camps 5 Catering for cultural dietary needs 6 Discussing welfare concerns with parents 7 Addressing discipline issues 8 Reporting on student progress 9 Holding parent-teacher meetings 10 Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements Resources 0
× EXIT Opening the School Gate | Meeting management Sustaining parent involvement In order to sustain parent and carer involvement, identify the strengths and skills of participating parents/carers and create opportunities for them to use these skills on an ongoing basis in your school. Some parents will become more involved if they know it is important to their children and they can perform a meaningful role. Others may be interested in being a contact person for an ethno-specific parents’ group (e.g. a Cambodian parents group) and liaising with the school. Some schools have migrant or refugee parents on the school council who represent the interests of a cultural group or community. Many parents/carers just want to attend parent meetings and perhaps encourage other parents to come along. It is important to assist and support parents/carers in these roles. Some parents may be prepared to take on more responsibility for meetings over time. This process of fostering leadership development is likely to happen slowly and may require some support and encouragement. It is not always possible to set up self-management of parents’ associations. What you can do Provide support and resources for parents who are emerging as future leaders of an ongoing group or already play a significant leadership role. Identify key parent leaders to encourage others to attend events. Encourage culturally specific parent groups if parents are interested in managing them. 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 1Overview 2Arranging seating 3Preparing and managing interpreters 4Greeting parents 5Keeping the discussions on track 6Building trust 7Exploring expectations about school involvement 8Explaining practical systems and roles 9Seeking feedback from parents 10Sustaining parent involvement Ongoing support 1 Overview 2 Creating a welcoming environment 3 Seeking consent 4 Addressing parent concerns about camps 5 Catering for cultural dietary needs 6 Discussing welfare concerns with parents 7 Addressing discipline issues 8 Reporting on student progress 9 Holding parent-teacher meetings 10 Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements Resources 0
