5 tips for effective parent communication
Use these tips to help improve communication with parents in your school.
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We wrote these tips based on advice from Paula Ledger, the headteacher of Prendergast School in Lewisham.
Talk about the positive, not just the negative
You don't want parents to dread getting a phone call or email from school.
Encourage teachers to talk to parents about the positive things, and not wait until there's an issue or a child is in trouble.
More regular communication about both the good and the bad helps turn parents into partners. Pupils spend most of their time outside of the classroom, so having parents as partners is critical.
It may be time-consuming, but the time spent is well worth it.
Email is fine, but phone calls are better
If you do need to
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Also in 'Resolving issues with parents'
- Aggressive parents: zero tolerance posters
- Complaints procedures: guidance (academies)
- Complaints procedures: guidance (maintained)
- Handling persistent or aggressive complaints from parents
- Handling requests to withdraw pupils on religious grounds
- Parents' complaints about other families: how to respond