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You are here: Projects Starting School Project

Starting School Information Sessions for Parents

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The Starting School project is part of the wider Department for Education and Skills programme for developing parenting support through extended schools.

Many families go through a rapid adjustment phase as each child starts school age five, then later moves to secondary school age eleven. There are few opportunities to exchange information and share experiences between parents and schools, especially for families with older children and adolescents. Yet this kind of contact between parents and schools can often be the most reassuring at a time when families may be uncertain about what to expect.

Starting School Information Sessions for parents are one-off events, lasting about an hour but with extra time for any refreshments and informal discussion. They aim to

• Lay the foundations of effective home/school partnerships by welcoming all parents and carers with a child joining the reception class of a primary, secondary, middle or high school.

• Give all parents - mothers, fathers and other carers - information, ideas and an opportunity for discussion about parenting issues including how to keep their child safe, happy and learning.

• Give parents information about local and national services which offer families information, advice, help and support.

Transition information sessions contribute to the overall school improvement plan and Ofsted self evaluation form. View or download the School Improvement Know How Guide.

The Family and Parenting Institute has been awarded a contract by DCSF to deliver the Starting School project, in partnership with 4Children. This will see training in delivering parent information sessions rolled out across every local authority in England over the next 15 months. Local practitioners will be trained in facilitating the sessions which deliver information to parents at key transition stages in their child's school career, covering child development, supporting children's education and accessing local services.

We are running a forum for all the participating local authorities to discuss their experiences.

You can send us your feedback by emailing Sarie Keating .

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