Sharing Good Practice
TIPS ON GETTING PARENTS MORE INVOLVED
IN THEIR (SEN) CHILD'S EDUCATION
BY TALAT KHAN
T
he parent-teacher and school
relationship can be a rather
tricky threesome. Quite often
the parents of a SEND child
feel just as vulnerable and inadequately
informed as the pupil. However, there
are those demanding parents who will
expect the class teacher or school to
take full responsibility for their child,
whilst being parental locus. They are
far too busy to get involved with their
child’s education and find it difficult to
understand that in order for their child
to make progress, they must interact
with the child and participate in their
teaching and learning. Of course, there
are those parents who are completely
on board and volunteer to participate
in ‘additional work’ activities, as well as
taking on the recommendations of the
SENCO, teacher and school.
So how do we involve SEND parents
in the education of their child?
It is essential to create a healthy rapport
with the parents of a SEND child from
the time they enter the school. If we
neglect this time period, then it can
become more difficult for parents
to Listen, Adhere and Act upon the
advice and recommendations given
by the school.
• Once you have established the
SEND child has additional needs,
arrange to meet the parents with the
Head Teacher or Head of Pastoral
care- show the parents that their
child’s education matters!
• It is important to provide the parents
an opportunity to meet with the
SENCO, form/class teacher before
the child starts school- if this is not
possible, arrange to meet them
as soon as you can, encouraging
them to be part of the teaching and
learning programme for their child.
• If you find a parent struggles to
understand the challenges faced by
their child, then request for them to
observe the child in an additional
learning support lesson- or ask
them to come and watch him/her
play at a particular break time. If
that doesn’t work, recommend they
meet with the Head teacher and
yourself, at a mutually convenient
time, so that you may go through
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some useful tips that will help them
acknowledge the learning needs of
their child.
• Do not be afraid of the parent!
Most parents want what is best for
their child. It’s difficult to appreciate
that the school or SENCO does
not have all the answers and they
will also need to contribute in the
development of their child.
• Do get your school to consider
twilight workshops on different
aspects of SEND for parents.
Advertise these in your school
newspaper, send attractive, colorful
poster emails to SEND parents.
• Use your parent- teacher meetings
to draw attention to the ‘team player
effect’- get parents on board by
positive encouragement, enabling
them to take on board responsibility
for their child’s needs without
pessimism. Try not to use negative
Class Time
language, such as “well if there is
no time being made at home for
learning, then I’m afraid he/she will
not be able to make progress at
school.”
• For the most challenging parents,
encourage their child to show
them the work they have achieved
at school and get them to attend
assemblies
where
they
can
appreciate their child’s contribution
to the whole school, class and year
group.
Remember that all parents want what’s
best for their child. It is not going
to help you or them if there is any
animosity towards one another. The
child needs both you and the parents
to work in collaboration for them to
develop into independent learners.
A harmonious environment, both at
school and at home will allow the
SEND child to flourish.
Talat holds a Master's in Special and Inclusive Education, a post graduate
diploma in SpLD, AMDBA and APC accreditation. This allows her to be at the
forefront of delivering expert advice on SEND education. Learn more at http://
www.advantagesend.com/about-us/