We appreciate that time can be a factor in busy families, but there are ways of being involved in your child's education without feeling overwhelmed. If you are a non-resident parent, it is equally important to be involved in your child's learning too. This can give your child far greater goals and inspire them to try their best where they can. 

Try to give encouragement and show appreciation of your child’s achievements, whether great or small, as this can help boost their confidence. Teach them basic organisation and time management skills, so they are not overwhelmed with projects or homework. Be realistic and avoid putting your child under pressure by having over-high expectations. Let your child develop at their own pace, but if you do have concerns, please speak to their teacher.

Try to give feedback rather than criticism, for example, saying ‘that didn’t seem to work’ rather than ‘you got it wrong’. This helps them think about where they went wrong and how they can improve in future, rather than just feeling like a failure.

You might find contacting the school or talking to your child’s teachers difficult, or think they will not have time for you. But finding out more about their school life and what they are learning shows your child how much you care about their education. And getting to know us all at school and the teachers is the best way of finding out more.

Tips to help you keep up with what is happening at school:

• Check your email daily to look for letters that are sent home.
• Read the weekly Newsletter on a Friday.
• Look out for notices and posters for parents.
• If you can, check the school website or visit out Twitter page.
• Try to make it to the fun events, like school fairs, and to parents’ evenings.
• If you are worried about anything, go and talk to a teacher. They will want to help.