Positive Relationships: Learning Together - Meet the schools
Ruth Thomson
Monday, November 4, 2013
For parents unsure about the school application process, events offering guidance can be invaluable, says the Children Centre Teacher Team from the Birth to Five Service at Lincolnshire County Council.
Just as a new intake of children settle into their reception classes, the application process begins for the class of 2014. The fact that this process begins so soon is often a surprise to parents, particularly if their child has celebrated their third birthday in the summer holidays.
Some parents approach the 'search for a school' in an organised, methodical fashion, arranging visits and chatting to friends and relatives for advice, but for others it is a confusing and often frightening time. They may simply not know where to begin.
Even when the choices are clear, there is now the online application form to contend with, and this can cause difficulties, particularly for families with poor literacy skills, English as an additional language, or no internet access.
In some areas of the Lincolnshire county, the number of late applications is high and it is not uncommon for some families to miss the application process altogether.
Through discussions at our regular transition cluster meetings, it became apparent that schools and pre-school settings shared our concerns regarding parents being suitably informed about the online application process, and the need to give parents the knowledge and support to assist them in making an informed decision regarding the choice of school for their child.
SHOWCASING PROVISION
To guide parents through the process, Meet the School events are organised across the county. These are held in children's centres and all infant schools, primary schools and academies in the locality are invited to attend. Local pre-schools, nursery classes and nursery schools distribute invitations to parents, who can then choose to attend the most relevant event.
These events offer an opportunity for schools to showcase their provision and distribute information, but more importantly they enable teachers and head teachers to be friendly faces for parents.
Head teachers often bring school diaries to the sessions, allowing them to make appointments for visits as well as answer questions or discuss concerns. Events are held on different days and at different times to cater for as many parents as possible.
Children's centre teachers are on hand to talk through the online application process, offering time in children's centres and the use of a computer if necessary.
Children's centre leaders and parental engagement officers also attend Meet the School events, to highlight the work of the centres and signpost families towards activities promoting school readiness.
At some of these sessions, one of our multilingual workers has been available to assist with translation, allowing us to support all families. Nursery and pre-school staff often accompany parents to these events as a familiar face, and as another source of support and guidance.
This year, it has also been wonderful to have colleagues from the school meals team joining us at these events, particularly in light of the recent news regarding free school meals for all children in reception classes from September 2014.
Feedback from parents is very positive. One parent remarked, 'I didn't know I had to apply online - I was waiting for a paper form.' Another said, 'It was good to see schools and be able to ask questions.'
Partnership work is vital if we are to provide a high-quality service for children and families, and Meet the School events are an excellent example of many agencies working together for the benefit of all.
