Carmel Hewitt

Parent Engagement in Learning & Wellbeing

“Whatever you would have your children become strive to exhibit in your own lives and conversation”

Building relationships is core work of school communities

Parental engagement is one of the most

important factors in the educational

attainment of children and

youth

Parental engagement

recognises that both parents and teachers

play an important role in

children's learning,

development and wellbeing

Children generally do better when

there are connections between the

different spaces they learn in

“Schools that improve and

sustain improvement almost always have engaged the community and built strong

links with parents.“

Parental engagement

Children learn everywhere, at any time. Learning has shifted from school-centred to student-centred learning. Working from this stance, there are many influences on learning that need to be elevated. One of the most powerful of these is family engagement, in children’s Learning, development, health & wellbeing.

Involvement and Engagement:What’s the difference?

Our School Our P&F Our DPC

Moving beyond just involvement

• School directed • Set agenda• School focus

Involvement

• Inclusive Partnerships

• Informed decisions

• At school & at home

Engagement

What’s the difference

EngagementBroader role parents and school play in supporting children's learning

Involvement parent participation at formal and informal activities at school

Impact

s outc

om

es

Facilita

tes

rela

tionsh

ips

Learning Partnershipswhat matters most

• family-led learning focused on high aspirations for children, shared reading, a positive environment for learning, parent-child conversation, a stimulating home environment and support for social and emotional well-being

• family-school partnerships that encourage positive parent-teacher relationships, communication about children’s progress, and engagement in the school community, while equipping parents to effectively support and encourage their children’s learning and well-being

Engagement in Learning is …

Giving parents the tools and the confidence to collaborate

around learning

Providing opportunities for families to fit together their

knowledge and experience with that of the schoolOur School Our P&F Our DPC

Belief in importanc

e of education

Sense of control

over their progress

Confidence in their abilities

Skills for learning

Social and

emotional wellbeing

Motivation and

engagement in

learning

Outcomes

for the child

Building capacity

Leadership and reflection are critical to being

strategic and to enable effective parent

engagement.

There is always somewhere to start and

always somewhere to improve.

No single strategy fits all schools.

Questions and ideas help us to adapt

strategies to our needs.

Parent Education Program (PEP)The Parent Education Program (PEP) is designed to assist schools in building effective learning Partnerships with families and develop the important connection between home and school.

Workshops have been developed in alignment with the Broken Bay Catholic Schools Office and are available to support schools with their parent/community engagement strategies and the goals identified in School Improvement Plans.

The Parent Education program has been developed as a result of current educational research which indicates the importance of Parent Engagement and family/school partnership and the significant outcomes for students learning and wellbeing.

These courses are available to all schools throughout the

Diocese and can be adapted to suit the needs of the individual

school.

Carmel Hewitt, Education Officer –Parent Liaison

Carmel.hewitt@dbb.catholic.edu.au 98470366

Jo Spek, Parent Education CoordinatorJo.spek@dbb.catholic.edu.au

Parenting Programs

The Power of Social & Emotional Skills for Children’s LearningSocial & Emotional Stages of DevelopmentBrain development , supporting SEL at home

Resilient childStrategies to develop ‘Mental Health Fitness’ in children. Based on Positive Psychology

123 magicParenting strategies for positive behaviour, based on SEL skills.

Seasons for Growth ProgramsChildren's companion program: resilience strategies to deal with grief and lossParent program: Strategies for parents to support their child when families experience separation and divorce