How can you improve relationships with parents?
Strong relationships with parents is crucial and better home-school relationships ‘oils the machine’ and makes life easier for all involved. Try these six speedy ways to develop stronger connections with your pupils’ parents.
1. Be visible
Being available ensures parents can approach you if they so wish. So, make yourself visible not invisible! Make sure you are around during key transition times is vital.
2. Focus on the good
Ensure that their child’s successes are celebrated and communicated regularly and effectively. Use a mixture of face to face, phone call, letter or email as options!
3. Explain your actions
If you need to inform parents of a concern, be ready to share your actions for improving the situation. This avoids the conversation becoming a ‘moan’.
4. Chat
Holding regular informal conversations with parents can help foster better relationships.
5. Empathise with parents
Spend a short time reflecting on how a parent might be feeling. Show them you understand and can relate.
6. Connect over caring
You can show how much you care by regularly reaching out and sharing your concerns, experiences, stories and news.
Top Tip
So, why do this? Read ‘Working with parents to support children’s learning’ by the Education Endowment Foundation to explore research around developing parental engagement.