About Engaging Families

Engaging Families in Children’s Education, explores the rationale for better engagement with families, and the legislative/policy background which requires it.  Programme materials include a summary of resources and practice which can be shared with colleagues and families. The material also includes links to websites and materials where further and more detailed information is available.

Aims and Objectives

This programme is designed to support classroom teachers and senior staff within schools in effectively engaging families in their children’s education.

Learning Intentions

Delegates will leave the workshops having:

  • Developed a good understanding of the benefits and challenges of engaging families in children’s education;
  • Co-constructed approaches to improving engagement with all families;
  • Experienced an innovative participatory workshop approach, modelling approaches which SPTC recommends when working with families.
Learning Objectives

1.            Understand the ways in which effective engagement with families can impact on outcomes for young people.

2.            Understand the roles and responsibilities of Parent Councils.

3.            Work effectively with the Parent Council and wider school community.

4.            Review their school’s current engagement with families in their children’s education.

5.            Identify the factors that affect relationships between families and the school community.

6.            Understand the six types of engagement with families.

7.            Understand effective planning for improved engagement with families.

8.            Identify and prioritise areas for improving families’ engagement, with particular reference to the school improvement planning process.

9.            Examine and share best practice in engaging families.

10.         Develop a practical action plan for improving families’ engagement.

11.         Develop criteria for evaluation of the action plan.

12.         Understand legislation requiring schools to engage families in their children’s education.


Pre-work and preparation

The programme is designed to take place over two half days, each session comprising three hours of course participation.  Delegates are asked to read background materials before the first workshop in order to take part in professional discussions during the course of the programme.

Delegates are also asked to complete a homework task involving them in critical reflection on their current practice; this will prepare them to begin planning the changes they intend to make following the second workshop.

A Customised Approach

Engaging Families in Children’s Education is designed to provide explicit opportunities for differentiation based on local challenges.  Each group of delegates, by bringing their own experiences and the contexts in which they work, will help to shape the focus of the workshops they attend.

The Wider Context

This training programme is one part of SPTC’s strategy to make parental involvement in Scottish schools as good as it can be.  Working with local authorities, schools, professionals and families, SPTC is building a community of interest which it will nurture into the future through a range of activities and partnership work.

This programme continues after the two workshops, with an optional online facilitated meeting for delegates. Delegates are invited to share updates on their action plans, completed actions, outcomes, challenges, evaluation and impact on the school community.  Delegates receive resources and reference material in digital format, so they can be shared and cascaded within the school and its community.

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