There’s no-one who would deny that a parent cares deeply about their child’s education. However, there are many who simply don’t know how t...

There’s no-one who would deny that a parent cares deeply about their child’s education. However, there are many who simply don’t know how to best represent their child’s interests and intervene, when necessary, to make sure that they’re getting the best education possible. As such, here are a few tips to help you be your child’s advocate at school if you’re feeling a little lost.

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Understand how the school runs

Schools run on budgets, they run on curriculums, and they run on a limited amount of time and ratio of teachers to students. As such, it’s a good idea to get involved with parent-teacher meetings as run by PTA.co.uk, both to better understand how the school uses the resources it gets, to have a say in that, and to help raise the funds that can improve school life not just for your child but for the whole school. Being more closely involved with aiding the school helps you build a collaborative relationship with them, rather than a combative one.

Get to know the department personally

You cannot get an accurate picture of your child’s education simply by seeing what homework they bring with them and what they say about the school. Every parent should make an effort to learn what they can about the department educating their child and to visit it personally, as recommended at Leicesterhigh.co.uk. That way, you can see the kind of education environment they are in, the culture amongst the students (such as how polite and energetic they are), and get to meet their teachers personally.

Make sure they have the space to continue at home

Homework is the part of the education experience that sees the student continuing their learning in their own time. It should be given as much focus and importance as it needs. It’s not just a chore for them to do when they get home, it’s essential to their education. As such, make sure your child has all the time, space, and support as they require to do their homework and be there to help them engage in it better if possible. Just make sure you don’t end up doing it for them.

Be prepared for meetings

Don’t simply go to parent-teacher meetings expecting to hear a report on your child. If you’re paying attention to their education, prepare your own questions. Be ready to ask about their progress, what difficulties the teacher has identified, and if there is anything they can recommend you do to help at home. It’s a good idea to bring a partner or a friend with you, especially if you’re meeting multiple teachers at once, as it can be pretty daunting. There’s nothing wrong with bringing a little support.

The vast majority of teachers in the vast majority of schools do have your child’s interests at heart. It would be a miserable job for them if they did not. However, as the parent, it’s your responsibility to speak up when necessary too.