Parent Engagement

All parents and carers are equally valued as part of our school community. Children’s learning is improved when we work in partnership with their parents or carers, and their wider family. We therefore believe in close cooperation with all families, and in regular consultation between the home and the school.

At Ark Dickens we know that parental engagement has a large and positive impact on children’s learning and we aim to work with parents so that they feel empowered to play their part in helping their children to reach their full potential. At the Class Briefings, at Parent Meetings and at Parent Workshops teachers explain how to support learning at home. There are also events where parents are invited into school to share the learning that has taken place and celebrate the outcomes with the children.

Information is also added to the website, Facebook and the weekly newsletter. The Head of school is highly visible throughout the school and readily meets with parents. Parents are well informed and active partners in the school and give positive feedback and suggestions. We listen to all suggestions and action those that are appropriate.

You can share your feedback via these channels:

• Ofsted's Parent View tool. This survey consists of 12 short questions around topics such as teaching and behaviour, and will feed into our ongoing development plan
• Directly with a member of our staff. Teachers are present at the end of each day and appointments can be made to meet with staff at other times.
• The annual parent survey.
• The main school office

Parents asked if the homework could be less project based; We introduced a new homework policy with more online learning.

Parents asked if there could be improved communication; We introduced Facebook, an updated weekly newsletter and ensure we send letters regularly to parents on email.

Parents asked if the Reception class induction period could be shorter; We introduced a shorter settling in period for the Reception class