The document outlines a session focused on engaging parents to raise student achievement, as part of the SSAT initiative. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the majority of student-related issues at home and includes activities aimed at improving strategies for parent engagement, identifying hard-to-reach parents, and overcoming obstacles to parental involvement. Participants are encouraged to share best practices and develop practical strategies for working with parents.

1. Teachers are from Mars Parents are from Venus Bradley Stoke Community School

2. 2007-9 Engaging Parents to Raise Achievement SSAT initiative Research based & funded Explored links between parental engagement and raising achievement Over 200 case studies (see SSAT website) Led to Parental Engagement Quality Standard (PEQS) EPRA…

3. Why do schools keep on putting 100% effort into addressing 20% of the problem? Key question for us… Home 80% School 20%

4. Involving parents Engaging parents Informing parents A journey…

5. DAMASCUS Don’t forget…

6. An opportunity to discuss school-specific issues Learn from each other’s practice Develop a ‘tool-kit’ of practical strategies Model a CPD activity for use in your school Aims for this session

7. Group ONE Dealing with difficult parents. How do you de-escalate a situation? Discuss and describe strategies to reduce parents from a rampant boil to a gentle simmer… Activity

8. Group TWO How can we identify and better engage ‘hard to reach’ parents? What makes a parent hard to reach? What do we currently do to reach this group? What can we do differently? Activity

9. Group THREE What are the obstacles to parental engagement at your school? Discuss the obstacles Offer some solutions Don’t get bogged down discussing ‘hard to reach’ parents Activity

10. Group FOUR Imagine you are mentoring a new colleague. What guidance would you offer when dealing with parents? Discuss the issues Write a checklist for new staff for use at parental consultation events Activity