The Parental Involvement Act was launched on the 12 September 2006. It aims to support and encourage more families to become engaged in the education of their children.

"A once in a generation chance to take a fresh look at how parents are

Robert Brown, Depute Minister for Education and Young People

Research shows that when parents are involved, children do better and achieve more. Parents, carers and family members are by far the most important influences on their children’s lives. By becoming involved in the life of their child’s school they can show their child that education is important to them.

Peter Peacock, former Minister for Education and Young People

This Act encourages active involvement in three ways:

Learning at Home: Where schools can support Parents by providing information on what their children are learning and how they can help.

Home/School Partnership: Where schools encourage parents to have the opportunity to engage and contribute to the life of the school through a variety of ways.

Parental Representation: Which ensures that all parents can express their views and, if they wish, be involved in a decision-making representative group on behalf of other parents. To help achieve these three main aims, all parents are automatically members of the Parent Forum at their child’s school and will be encouraged to have a say in what happens at the school.

As a member of the Parent Forum you can expect to:

                                     parents at your school

Your school’s new Parent Council should be parent-friendly. Its role is to:

A leaflet, A New Law to Support Parents, has been produced by the Scottish Executive, which explains more about the new legislation. This leaflet, accompanying a letter from the Head of Service, Jan Ward, has been distributed to all parents in North Ayrshire Council.

During October/November 2006, a series of ten Roadshows for parents have been held in a variety of venues in North Ayrshire. There has been a presentation to raise awareness of the implications of the new Act and an opportunity to talk with a variety of different contributors to children’s education ie Home/School Inclusion Team, Active Schools, Community Learning and Development, Library and Information Services, Family Clubs, Children’s Outreach Services, Countryside Ranger Services.

(selection of photographs of Roadshows)

Whilst the numbers of parents attending these roadshows were relatively small, there were some excellent discussions with a wide range of contributors with a focus firmly on involving parents in their children’s learning.

In conjunction with the Head Teacher, parents will now engage with their own Parent Forum to decide on what’s best for their school.

There may be open meetings, working groups established, surveys issued, a variety of events – each local community will develop the way forward themselves.

North Ayrshire Council will be providing a draft sample Constitution and by Easter the Authority should be informed by every school the position their Parent Forum holds on developing a Parent Council for their school. During the summer term of 2007 NAC will approve the individual constitutions and the schools will arrange for the selection of the members of their Pupil Council to commence in August 2007.

Parental Involvement Act 2006 - how you can become more involved in your child's education

Copyright © North Ayrshire Council. All rights reserved.
Revised: December 03, 2008.