Advisers are parents' school link

Many parents said they did not know whom to approach at school

Special advisers are providing a vital link between parents and schools, the Training and Development Agency says.

The agency says parent support advisers or PSAs offer help from running settling-in sessions and workshops to accompanying parents to meetings.

The TDA is overseeing the introduction of PSAs across England, following a pilot scheme in 20 local authorities.

The TDA says there are currently 2,254 advisers working to support parents and their children in 7,608 schools.

In a separate poll of more than 1,000 parents the TDA found 42% would not know whom to contact if concerned about their child.

The survey found 53% of parents wanted more interaction with schools and 54% wanted a dedicated point of contact.

Coffee mornings

The survey found parents were interested in interacting with schools in a variety of different ways, from attending coffee mornings and family sports sessions to taking courses such as information technology or foreign language lessons in schools.

Starting or changing school was also highlighted as daunting, with almost half of respondents saying it would be helpful if schools ran settling in sessions for pupils and parents.

I think the school and parents have taken extremely well to my role Nichola Smith, PSA in Durham

Supporting parents and children in transition to primary or secondary school is a typical part of the PSA's job.

Nichola Smith, a PSA at Howden Le Wear primary school in Durham, one of the pilot areas, said: "I think the school and parents have taken extremely well to my role - those who were previously reluctant to meet the staff are now coming into the school.

"At first I did a lot of work with a very disruptive and aggressive pupil who was going to be excluded but after building up a trusting relationship with their parent and getting them onboard he has stopped swearing, being disruptive and is even more helpful at home."

The boy's mother said her son had now avoided the threat of expulsion: "If it had not been for Nichola I believe my son would have been excluded.

"Since she started working with him there has been a great improvement in school and at home."

TDA chief executive Graham Holley said: "Schools play an important role in their communities and are increasingly receptive to parents, with many appointing PSAs to work with parents to tackle barriers to children's learning.

"PSAs can be found running parenting workshops, settling-in sessions, accompanying parents to mediation meetings, liaising with statutory agencies and other organisations on behalf of parents and carers, offering advice, and pointing to sources of further support."

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