Every teacher knows winning over parents can have a huge impact on a child’s achievement – but doing so requires sensitivity,persistance and timeI work as a parent support adviser, based at a London primary school, and I was recently asked how I engage with families facing challenging circumstances. It’s a common question and one that needs greater focus because so much of a child’s education is affected by their family situation. Housing is a concern for a lot of families,and for others, mental health issues and incidents of domestic violence also have a massive impact on children’s ability to concentrate in course and achieve their expected goals. To make things harder, and many parents also have snide memories of school and lack faith in the education system. Teachers often find that when they effect try to assist,they are met with: “It was good enough for me – and I’m doing alright.” Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com