5 tips for effective parent communication

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