PARENTS
In an average
example a parent with a visual impairment may prefer
to hear about parents’ evenings and school events via a
school at least
one parent in
Including
telephone conversation rather than in writing.
As well as ensuring that all parents are fully
informed about events at the school, this more flexible
approach to communication will also help to create
a more informal atmosphere in general, encouraging
nine will be
parents to feel able to communicate with the school
about any issues or problems.
disabled. Tony McAleavy
explains how schools can
all parents
Creating an inclusive environment to encourage
involvement and developing informal communication
methods are positive ways for schools to engage with
parents, but our research also showed examples of
good practice which should help to improve a child’s
ensure that these parents
performance in the classroom.
Children perform better when parents can support
are not marginalised from
their child’s learning at home by helping with homework
and creating informal learning opportunities. Parents
their child’s school life
said that the following types of approaches and support
work well:
• Providing information in advance about homework
assignments allows parents to plan ahead on how to
OR A system that aims to be truly support their child with their homework.
F
inclusive for all groups within society, • Parents with learning disabilities benefit from
schools need to ensure that disabled teachers explaining children’s homework to them
parents are not marginalised from the orally.
school community and are included in • Homework clubs can help parents whose
all opportunities. impairments make them tired or mental health
There is a growing body of research issues make concentration difficult.
that shows that children whose parents are actively • Parent-child learning and support groups are helpful
involved in their school perform better in school than for all ages.
those whose parents remain excluded from school • Dedicated staff, including pastoral care staff and
life. parent liaison officers, and extended school services
Parents are now seen as partners with schools to to support families where a child needs extra help
improve educational standards, extending informal can be an invaluable support.
learning opportunities at home as well as in school. Schools have made great improvements to support
For disabled parents, however, involvement in their disabled children and young carers within mainstream
child’s school life can be difficult. It is the duty of Terri Balon, a trustee and local network link for staff undergo disability awareness training. This should schools; the next step is to recognise that disabled
teachers and senior management within the school to the Disabled Parents Network, said: “The biggest ensure that there is a consistency of understanding and parents may have specific support needs which if met
adapt working practices to ensure that all parents are barrier for disabled parents is attitude, full stop – and a shared ethos throughout the school. can help to improve the school experience for the
included in school life. it costs nothing to change attitude. Anyone of us could It is also important that in all sources of information, whole family.
CfBT Education Trust and the University of become disabled at any time and if you have kids, that “disability language” is avoided as some parents will Any changes in practice or interventions do not need
Strathclyde have developed a best practice guide for disability doesn’t mean you will automatically be a find this difficult to relate to; using inclusive language to be costly or involve large scale upheaval. There are
schools and teachers to improve their working practice to worse parent.” which includes a wide range of support needs will be many small adaptations to practice that all teachers can
create a more inclusive environment for all parents. By establishing a clear, welcoming and inclusive much more effective. take on board to create a more inclusive environment
A key issue identified by the initial research environment that explicitly supports parents with their By establishing a relationship of trust with parents for all parents. SecEd
was disabled parents’ concerns about the potential individual needs, disabled parents concerned about who may have specific support needs, teachers can
consequences of disclosing their impairment. disclosing their circumstances will feel reassured that then work with them to address their individual needs to • Tony McAleavy is education director at the CfBT
The stigma attached to disability is still a problem in doing so they will not be marginalised. enable them to become more involved in school life. Education Trust.
in society and some parents will be concerned that by Having an awareness of the issues faced by disabled Communication is often a big issue for all parents,
disclosing their situation they will bring unnecessary parents and the types of support that could help them to particularly when their children move to a much larger
Further information
attention to their family which might have a negative become more involved in school life should be the first secondary school. Schools should try and communicate • www.cfbt.com
impact on their child’s education. step for all teachers; it is important that all members of with parents in the most accessible format for them; for • www.disabledparentsnetwork.org.uk
Psycho babble
Sweet dreams
MONKSEATON HIGH School, a comprehensive time. It signals readiness to sleep. Its onset typically
in North Tyneside, has delayed its school starting precedes bedtime by about an hour, so many teenagers
time to 10am in order to encourage students to are not physiologically ready to sleep until 11:30pm.
get the recommended 9.5 hours of sleep per night In your early 20s, the biological clock drifts back
required for optimum concentration. The decision earlier, so the argument that later school times will
was based on research by Professor Russell Foster, negatively affect their ability to rise at an appropriate
from Brasenose College, Oxford, who found that time in later life can be discounted.
teenagers need more sleep than the rest of the In a nutshell, puberty appears to cause a change in
population because of the toll taken on their bodies the mechanisms that trigger when the adolescent needs
(and minds) by puberty. to go to sleep and to arise. Forcing the adolescent to
Students are, not surprisingly, convinced that the get up early does not seem to alter the cycle, as they
later starting time is a good move, and glowingly simply can’t sleep earlier.
report that they are getting more sleep and The result is that the adolescent who is “out
also have time for a decent breakfast. of sync” becomes sleepy and moody. Several
There is good science behind studies have found that the average teen is
the move. Apart from Prof Foster’s existing on around six hours of sleep
research, several studies in the US per night, which is woefully inadequate
have found that children who get and may explain many of the mood
enough sleep report a better ability and irritability issues, as well as poor
The Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies
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In contrast, those with a Avi Sadeh believes that: “A good
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higher “sleep deficit” showed student may actually benefit
impairment of the ability to more from an extra hour of sleep
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than you think
learning, logical reasoning, and In the US, there is a growing
mathematical calculation. They trend to push back enrolment times
Hair and Beauty Studies is leading the way forum. For more information visit:
also found relationships at home for teens. Several schools took part
in the successful delivery of Diplomas. And www.diplomainfo.org.uk/SmartScreen
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Critics of the later start suggest that this is The role of parents in ensuring that kids have a
planning and assessments,
setting kids up for difficulties later in life and say healthy sleep routine, and time to wind down before
The FREE Teacher Resource Zone provides giving you the confidence to
that adolescents should simply go to bed earlier. bed, can’t be underestimated, and it is worth reminding
easy and instant access to Schemes of Work, start teaching in September
However, it’s worth noting that adolescents are in them of the importance of sleep. Having said that, if
Guidance Notes, Student Handbooks and 2010. For the new dates visit:
a unique position. Research has found that teenagers kids can’t get to sleep any earlier than the witching
Principal Learning Specifications – as well www.diplomainfo.org.uk/Preparing-To-Teach-
appear to run on a different circadian (internal) clock hour, perhaps it is time to look at alternatives.
as other assessment materials and even free Meetings Remember to book up early to avoid
than children and adults. Before adolescence, circadian It’s obviously a choice that individual schools and
moderator visits. any disappointment.
rhythms typically lead most children to fall asleep boroughs will need to make; however, if you find your
For more information visit:
Give yourself a head start. Talk to our
naturally around 8pm; however, puberty changes this students are inattentive, grumpy and failing to achieve
www.diplomainfo.org.uk/H&B-TRZ
Diploma Support Team on 08700 24 24 66.
internal clock, and can delay the time that teens even at an expected level, you may want to consider
Talking and sharing questions, thoughts and
begin to feel sleepy. sending them back to bed.
ideas
Melatonin secretion, which starts about 9:30pm Get in touch with subject experts and fellow
in prepubescents, begins at roughly 10:30pm in • Karen Sullivan is a bestselling author, psychologist professionals through our DiplomaTalk Online
adolescents. Melatonin serves as a marker of circadian and childcare expert. Email kesullivan@aol.com
www.diplomainfo.org.uk
H&B_SecED_188x136.5_v1.indd 1 13/11/09 11:39:23
SecEd • November 19 2009 7
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