'We created new ways of getting views from the Parent Forum, including a closed Facebook group for parents and focus groups at school. Based on the information we gathered from the parent forum, we created a three year parental improvement plan based around three key areas that were identified.
These were
- communication and progression information
- the school grounds
- food and nutrition.
From this, we introduced a new communication App for families and school to use. We have set up focus groups of parents and teachers to identify new ways of sharing progression and learning in order to promote family learning and parental engagement. We have created amazing outdoor learning spaces as well as a fruit and veg garden that the pupils look after. The Parent Council held many different fundraising events throughout the year to fund these new resources.
The Senior Management Team, teachers, pupils, families, local community organisations and the Parent Council were all involved.
Our new communication App is the biggest success to come out of the Parental Improvement Plan so far. It has greatly increased parental engagement and has helped parents to feel more informed about what's going on at the school on a daily basis.
Overall, we would have liked to have spent more time talking to the parent forum regarding the content of the plan. We would also like to look at more sources of funding so that we can make sure that these changes are sustainable.
We are going to continue to work on the action points in the Parental Improvement Plan. Our next focus will be on improving food and nutrition within the school and our families. We will also be looking at taking all of the ideas and information gathered in the progression focus groups and launching a new way of keeping parents informed on a more frequent basis, rather than just parents evenings and report cards.
The Parent Council fundraises throughout the year in order to cover the costs of all our projects. However, we hope to look at other sources of funding over the next session.'
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