Parents as Partners
Working Together
At St Chad's, we believe that children thrive when the important adults in their lives work together. Parents and carers know their children best, and we value the knowledge, experiences and perspectives that families bring to our school community.
Strong relationships between home and school help children to feel safe, secure and understood. By sharing information, celebrating successes and working together when things feel difficult, we can build a shared understanding of each child's individual needs and help them to flourish.
Our partnership with families helps us to:
- understand children's individual strengths, interests, needs and experiences;
- help children feel safe and secure as they develop relationships with the adults around them;
- share information about children's learning, development, wellbeing and changing interests;
- understand anything happening at home that may affect a child's wellbeing or learning;
- develop shared expectations and approaches that support children across home and school;
- work together to make transitions between Nursery, Reception, classes and schools as smooth as possible; and
- continually improve our practice and outcomes so that every child receives the support they need to thrive.
We know that relationships are built through everyday interactions. A friendly conversation at the beginning or end of the school day can sometimes make all the difference.
Communication
Open and honest communication is an important part of our partnership with families. We encourage parents and carers to speak to us about anything that may affect their child, whether it is something they are celebrating, a question they have, or something they are worried about.
Class teachers are available for brief conversations at the beginning and end of the school day. If you need more time to talk something through, we can arrange an appointment with your child's class teacher, a Co-Headteacher or a member of our Inclusion Team. Our Family Support Team are also available to listen, offer advice and help families access further support where needed.
We value the information families share with us. We can only understand what a child may be experiencing and respond appropriately when we know what is happening.
Keeping Families Informed
We want families to feel connected to school and know what is happening in their child's learning and wider school life.
Class Dojo is our main channel of communication and is used regularly to share information, reminders, celebrations, learning opportunities and important updates. We encourage families to check Class Dojo regularly so that they can stay connected with what is happening in school.
Information about school events and forthcoming activities is also shared through our half-termly newsletters and school calendar.
Attendance: Working Together
Regular attendance is an important part of helping children feel secure, develop relationships, enjoy their learning and make progress. We recognise that there can be many different reasons why a child's attendance may become a concern, and we approach attendance through our Inclusive Attendance approach.
Parents and carers have a right to know how their child's attendance is developing, and we are committed to keeping families informed. Attendance is discussed regularly with parents and carers, including as part of parent consultations and in end-of-year reports.
Where attendance begins to cause concern, we will not simply wait until a formal meeting or report. Depending on the individual circumstances and attendance pattern, families may receive a phone call, letter or invitation to meet with a member of the attendance team. Where appropriate, our Family Support Worker may also work alongside families to understand and address any barriers that may be affecting attendance.
Our approach is one of support and partnership. We seek to understand what may be affecting attendance, work alongside families to identify any barriers and, where appropriate, help families access additional support. Our aim is always to work together to improve attendance and ensure that every child has the opportunity to benefit fully from school.
Sharing Children's Learning and Progress
Parents and carers are an important part of understanding and celebrating their child's development. Throughout the year, we provide opportunities for families to talk with teachers about their child's learning, progress and wellbeing.
Parent consultations provide an opportunity to share children's achievements, discuss their progress towards their individual targets and look at their work together. Towards the end of the academic year, families receive a written report outlining their child's progress across the different areas of school life and identifying next steps for continued development.
We value the knowledge that parents bring to these conversations and encourage families to share their own observations, questions and aspirations for their child.
Being Part of School Life
We love welcoming families into school and creating opportunities for parents and carers to experience their child's learning and celebrate together.
Throughout the year, families are invited to take part in a range of events and activities, which may include:
- Open Mornings;
- Collective Worship;
- religious festivals and celebrations;
- curriculum workshops;
- Stay and Learn sessions;
- parent and family learning sessions; and
- whole-school celebrations and special events.
These opportunities help children to see the important people in their lives sharing in their experiences and being part of their school community.
Learning Together
We want every parent and carer to feel confident in playing an active role in their child's learning. Our Family Support Team works alongside families throughout the year, helping parents to access information, advice and opportunities to develop their own knowledge and skills.
We offer a range of parent workshops and classes throughout the year, including sessions linked to children's learning, development and wellbeing. These may take place in our school hall, Rainbow Room or other spaces across school.
We are also proud to host weekly ESOL classes in school with the support of Derby City Council's Adult Learning Service, providing opportunities for parents to develop their English language skills within their own school community.
Details of parent workshops, classes and other family learning opportunities are regularly shared through Class Dojo.
Your Voice Matters
We believe that families should have a voice in the life and development of our school. Parents and carers see and experience our school from a different perspective to staff, and their views help us to understand what we do well and where we can improve.
We regularly seek feedback through parent questionnaires, parent voice surveys, informal conversations at the school gate and organised drop-in sessions. We welcome honest feedback and use what families tell us to reflect on our practice and consider how we can continue to make St Chad's the best possible place for children and families.
We may not always be able to make every change suggested, but we will always listen, consider and respond.
A Partnership Built on Relationships
At St Chad's, being a parent partner is not about getting everything right. It is about knowing that we are on the same team, with a shared commitment to helping every child feel safe, loved, valued and ready to learn.
We want families to feel that they belong here, that their voice matters and that they can approach us whenever they need to. By working together with openness, trust, compassion and respect, we can create the strong relationships that enable children, families and our whole school community to flourish.