JOY Burch has launched a new publication, “Progressing Parental Engagement”, and handy fact sheets to help families and schools to better understand what parental engagement is, why it matters, how it works, and how it is best achieved.

“Parents play a critical role in their child’s learning. This suite of resources highlights this role and the importance of developing strong and effective partnerships between schools and families,” Joy said.

“The resources, including a fact sheet specifically for parents and carers, outline the simple things that can be done at home, and with the school, to help children to do their best. These include showing children that education is important, building their confidence and connecting with their school to help shape each child’s learning and wellbeing.

“The resources bring together research undertaken by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) in partnership with the ACT Education and Training Directorate, the Catholic Education Office and the Association of Independent Schools.

“Parental engagement is not the same as parent involvement. Parent involvement includes things like attending parent group meetings, running a stall at the school fete or volunteering at the canteen. Parental engagement is the broader role parents play in supporting their child’s learning. This new work defines parental engagement as family-led learning focused on high aspirations for children, and family-school partnerships that encourage positive parent-teacher relationships, communication and engagement.

“We know that parental engagement leads to improved academic outcomes, greater engagement in learning, children being more motivated to do well, developing better relationships with others and improved behaviour and greater confidence.

“As Minister for Education and Training I urge school boards and parent associations to use this document to generate conversation about parental engagement and what it looks like in their schools. I hope that these conversations will energise and stimulate the already high level of parental engagement that exists in our community.”

The Progressing Parental Engagement resources are available online.