Parental Engagement

Parental engagement is a cornerstone of student success. When schools and families collaborate effectively, children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Why parental engagement matters

Research consistently shows that active parental involvement leads to:

Better attendance and behaviour

Regular communication between home and school reduces absenteeism and behavioural issues.

Enhanced self-esteem and motivation

Children feel more confident and motivated when their parents take an interest in their education.

Improved academic performance

Students with engaged parents often make faster academic progress, notably in literacy and mathematics.

Moreover, parental engagement fosters a sense of community, encouraging parents to support school initiatives and contribute to a positive school culture.

Barriers to engagement

Understanding the challenges parents face is crucial. Addressing these barriers requires thoughtful, inclusive strategies.

Time constraints: Work schedules and family responsibilities can limit parents’ and carers’ availability.
Language and literacy barriers: Non-English-speaking parents may struggle with school communications.
Lack of confidence: Some parents feel intimidated by the school environment or unsure how to help.
Previous negative experiences: Past encounters with education can influence current engagement levels.
Digital exclusion: Not all families have access to the internet or digital devices to receive emails or make online payments.

Using the right digital tools to support your parental engagement strategy is key to addressing these barriers and making things as easy as possible for school staff, families and pupils to keep making progress together.

Practical strategies to improve parental engagement

Clear, parent-friendly communication

It’s easy to slip into using school-focused terminology when talking to parents, which can feel alienating and impersonal. Excessive acronyms and abbreviations are also common in schools! Use clear, jargon-free language to ensure all communications are easy to understand.

Offer translation support

Even if your message is clear in English, this isn’t always accessible to your audience. Automatic translation of SMS and email based on a pupil’s home language can make a huge difference, as well as in-person meetings with an interpreter where possible.

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Celebrate student successes

Some parents report that they only hear from their school about negative behaviour or requests for payment. Keep things positive by regularly informing parents about their child’s achievements and progress. You can also use newsletters and social media to showcase student activities and accomplishments.

Be flexible with meetings

Parents’ Evenings can be incredibly impactful, but they aren’t always practical for everyone. Accommodate different work schedules by offering alternative times to meet with teachers, and consider hybrid options (using online booking and video conferencing tools) to make meetings more accessible.

Download our eBook for more

Looking for more parental engagement strategies and ideas to help your school get to the next level? Our updated eBook contains everything you need!

Download the digital Parental Engagement eBook to take a deeper dive into planning, tactics and building a truly engaged school community.

Download the eBook

Supporting you to improve parental engagement

Enhancing parental engagement is not a one-size-fits-all endeavour. It requires a combination of clear communication, inclusive practices, and the right tools. By understanding the challenges parents face and implementing practical strategies, schools can foster stronger partnerships with families, leading to improved student outcomes.

Ready to explore how Eduspot can support your school’s parental engagement efforts? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

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