WELCOME TO OUR New YEAR 7 PARENTS

1. WELCOME TO OUR New YEAR 7 PARENTS

2. Year 7 Introductory EveningForging Successful Home-School Partnerships S.Hubbard Deputy Headteacher L.Mowatt Deputy Headteacher

3. Aims of this part of the Evening! • To welcome you to the first step in a positive relationship with the school that we hope will last five years-or more; • To share with you findings about the value of Parental Involvement; • To share with you some aspects of the way we are developing effective learners; • To give you some advice about different ways of supporting your daughter at home;

4. 2 “DEFINITELEYS”, 2 “POSSIBLYS” 2 REJECT • The influence of Parent Involvement on school achievement depends on the parents’ income, level of education, and employment status. • Parental Involvement is easier at Primary school than Secondary school. • The school can do a great deal to improve parental involvement . • Parental Involvement in Secondary school, is most important in KS3 and Transition. • As a parent, the best way to get involved in my child’s education is by joining the local parents’ organization. • Parental Involvement can cause embarrassment to pupils.

5. The Context • More families where both parents work; • More anxiety amongst parents generally; • More information and Performance Data about schools; • More unsupportive pulls on a child than supportive- peer pressure, cyber bullying etc. • Less control over what shapes your daughter’s values.

6. “Willing but not sure how able…”

7. Parental Support is more influential than.... INCOME ETHNIC GROUP THE EDUCATION OF THE PARENTS THEMSELVES!!!

8. Three kinds of parental involvement are associated with higher student achievement • Actively organizing and monitoring a child's time, • Helping with homework and discussing school matters, • Giving the school feedback and listening to our feedback.

9. The Homework Issue • What homework activities were you set as homework when you were at school? • How did you get involved with homework activities when your youngster was at Primary School? • The Planner/ Homework Diary • SAM LEARNING

11. Parent Curriculum Booklets

12. Parental Involvement to Support Reading • Reading aloud to children/listening to children read is the most important activity that parents can do to increase their child's chance of success IN ALL SUBJECTS; • Leaflet with further details available at back of the hall; • Peer mentors to support readers at lunchtime. • New Reading Scheme will be launched as part of Literacy Drive. • Letters out next week to parents with Reading Ages on and support strategies.

13. Giving us Feedback • Filling in questionnaires and evaluations; • Telephoning the school with comments/queries/concerns; • Telling the school what you are doing at home and asking for advice; • Telling us what we do well and how we can improve;

14. Questionnaire Feedback -The Best Things • The quality of staff and their teaching skills; • The focus on achievement; • The individual help and support provided; • The after school clubs and activities;

15. The Feedback we give to You • Levels on work and effort grades in books, • Monitoring reports, • Parents’ Evenings, • School Reports, • Phone calls home, • Feedback on website • Praise letters, • Information letters home, • Messages in the planner.

16. Teaching and Learning: What is it like in a lesson in Secondary School in 2011? • Challenge • Support • Group Work • Interactive learning • Progress Checks • Review • Interesting questioning

18. Parental Support –the big picture! How good Learning Habits support good learning and achievement.

19. Attendance/Punctuality • Impacts on learning and achievement • Influenced/controlled by parents • Parents responsible • If in doubt about illness leave it to us • Hardest habit to break or change • Let us know if there is a problem- we can help • Term Time holidays NOT allowed • In exceptional circumstances only the Headteacher can authorise up to a maximum of 10 days off school. • 1 day authorised for Eid/religious celebrations

20. Organisation • Alarm clock • Healthy breakfast • Pack bags the evening before • Check school planner • Check homework done • Healthy lunch • Talk to your child about their day

21. Mobile phones • Switched off and in bags during lesson time • At breaks and lunchtime can be used in emergencies in the playground • Staff will confiscate if pupils do not adhere to these basic rules

22. Behaviour • Firm emphasis on rewarding pupils for making the right choices. • End of term rewards • Praise postcards • End of Year Rewards • System of sanctions • Detentions

23. Any problems? • Peer Mentors/ Prefects • Drop-in sessions • Team building activities • Paired reading • Form tutor • Any subject tutor a pupil gets on with • Head of Year • Pastoral Team (CER room/ Learning Mentors) • Deputy Heads/Headteacher/SMT

24. Any problems? • Talk to your child • E-safety • Friendship issues • Bullying • Academic concerns • Contact the Year Head • Make an appointment • Give us time to resolve things

25. Feedback about Tonight What did you find useful? What do you want to find out more about?

26. Websites • http://www.sellyprk.bham.sch.uk • http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/parentalinvolvement/pwp • http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm • http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk • http://www.parentingideas.co.uk • http://www.childnet.com