Many of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils in our schools also come from families with major issues; mental illness, disability, substance abuse or simply poor parenting.
It is, in my opinion, a bit of a heavy-handed and less than enlightened approach to blame the parents for the behaviours of their children in school. In fact, threatening an already over-burdened, perhaps, single parent with legal action is likely to lead to far greater disaffection and disengagement with the school process.
I really do think more support is the way forward and I think this is a major role for the FLO's (Family liaison officers) and PSAs (Parent support advisors) who do a great job in working with parents and developing positive relationships. They add value to the parent(s) and give of themselves to better the situation for the pupils. To simply wield a big stick seems to make no sense. It's a bit like telling someone who's having a nervous breakdown to 'pull themselves together'
So I think that this may please the majority of parents but will further drive a wedge between parents in challenging situations and the schools - it's divisive and I think totally unfair.
From the article:
Every parent will have to, as part of the admissions process, say they take on board the obligations in the home school agreement, and every parent will be expected to reaffirm that every year.
If other parents feel that the HSA (home school agreement) is not being enforced against other parents they will be able to tell the local education authority.
read more here
First published 24 July 2009
It is, in my opinion, a bit of a heavy-handed and less than enlightened approach to blame the parents for the behaviours of their children in school. In fact, threatening an already over-burdened, perhaps, single parent with legal action is likely to lead to far greater disaffection and disengagement with the school process.
I really do think more support is the way forward and I think this is a major role for the FLO's (Family liaison officers) and PSAs (Parent support advisors) who do a great job in working with parents and developing positive relationships. They add value to the parent(s) and give of themselves to better the situation for the pupils. To simply wield a big stick seems to make no sense. It's a bit like telling someone who's having a nervous breakdown to 'pull themselves together'
So I think that this may please the majority of parents but will further drive a wedge between parents in challenging situations and the schools - it's divisive and I think totally unfair.
From the article:
Every parent will have to, as part of the admissions process, say they take on board the obligations in the home school agreement, and every parent will be expected to reaffirm that every year.
If other parents feel that the HSA (home school agreement) is not being enforced against other parents they will be able to tell the local education authority.
read more here
First published 24 July 2009