Getting Involved in School
There are all sorts of ways parents can get involved in school. This can be on a regular basis or just occasionally. Most schools have parents' groups and they might be able to advise you how you can help the school. Ask someone on your Parent Council or your Head Teacher. Research shows that when parents are involved, children do better and achieve more. Parents, carers and family members are by far the most important influences on their children's lives. By becoming involved in the life of your child's school you can show your child that their education is important to you.
Daytime
If you're free during the day, you can become involved by helping with certain activities such as art classes, the school library or sports days. Many schools have parent helpers who work on a rota to help teachers in the classroom. Schools usually look for volunteers to help out on occasional class trips and they may need parents to help out with breakfast, lunchtime or after-school clubs.
Evenings or weekends
If you're not available during the day, you could help with evening or weekend activities such as school discos, plays, concerts, summer fairs or other events. Parents' groups welcome new volunteers to help with fundraising and other activities.
Sharing different skills
You will have skills that you can share with the school. If you have green fingers, you could help in the school garden or bring in plant cuttings for the classrooms. If you are artistic, the school might be looking for someone to help the children design and paint a wall frieze or a welcoming display at the school entrance. If you are an electrician, could you help out at the science club or supervise the stage lighting for a school play? If you like reading, you could offer to help children on a one-to-one basis with the school's paired reading scheme. Schools are always looking for people who are willing to share their skills with young people.
Sharing different cultures
Parents from different cultural backgrounds can talk to children about their own culture. Children are often fascinated to hear about different backgrounds. You might feel able to organise English language lessons to help both parents and pupils. Or you might offer to translate school materials or make tapes in your first language to help other parents and pupils who are learning English.
Talking about your own experiences
Your own life experiences can help children to understand topics being studied in school. For instance, grandparents or older relatives who lived through the Second World War could talk to a class about rationing. If you work somewhere such as a fire station, factory or supermarket, perhaps you could help to arrange a class visit to your workplace.
Helping the school from home
If you don't have much time to come into the school, there are still ways you can help out at home by making costumes for a school play, making posters to advertise a school event or producing tickets, programmes or other documents on a computer.
Getting Involved in your Child's School (320 KB PDF)
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