POLICY FOR HOME/SCHOOL/COMMUNITY LIAISON BALLYDUFF CENTRAL NATIONAL SCHOOL

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Erik Osborne
8 years ago
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1 POLICY FOR HOME/SCHOOL/COMMUNITY LIAISON BALLYDUFF CENTRAL NATIONAL SCHOOL Home School Community Liaison addresses the development of parent/teacher partnership and collaborates to enhance the nurturing of the whole child. This implies meeting the personal, educational, curricular and leisure needs of parents to promote their self confidence so that they become involved in Partnership. It also implies the development of staff and teacher attitudes and behaviour so that the school becomes a community resource. The initiative is focused on adults rather than on students but will impinge over time on student s lives. H.S.C.L co-ordinator is an agent of change. AIMS: o To provide opportunities for parents, teachers and relevant members of the local community to work together as partners. o To develop a caring, open environment where information and guidance are provided and shared among the whole school community. o To establish dynamic and supportive link between the home and school. o To enhance the students uptake from education, their retention in the education system and their attitudes to life-long learning. o To raise awareness in parents of their own capacities to enhance their children s educational progress and to assist them in developing relevant skills. OBJECTIVES: o Home visitation. o Net-working with local community agencies. o Supporting an active Parent s association.

It also implies the development of staff and teacher attitudes and behaviour so that the school becomes a community resource.

2 o Holding a Parenting Course annually (once a week for eight weeks) targeting Infant Parents. o Organising Parent Teacher meeting (formal and Informal) o Drawing on the expertise of the local community to provide training for our parents. o Adult Education classes organised and held within the school building in the parent s room. Crèche provided where necessary. o Directing parents to other sources of training within the community. o Regular communication with Principal, staff and Board of Management. o To develop links with feeder Secondary schools. o To provide literacy and numeracy programmes with parent volunteers within the school community (Group reading, Maths for fun, Reading challenge) o To develop training for parents who may in turn visit other parents in their own communities. o Parents and Teacher working together on Policy Formation. o Local Committee with parents, teachers, local agencies and 5 th class pupils examining issues which impinge on children learning. o Strong and positive communication between school and parents to promote attendance and homework. o Encourage parental involvement in the homework club on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. o Use parent/community skills within classroom (i.e.) knitting, planting shrubs. o Information night for pre-infant parent each April. Two present Junior Infant parents give a brief talk on their own experience of their children starting school. Principal Infant Teacher and H.S.C.L. Teacher all present and speak briefly. o Pre-Infant programme, run for 5 sessions, once a week for 40 minutes starting in May. Each week one pre-school skill is explored with the involvement of parents.

o Adult Education classes organised and held within the school building in the parent s room. Crèche provided where necessary. o Directing parents to other sources of training within the community.

3 o H.S.C.L. Teacher visit families of all incoming Junior Infants in May/June to fill in detailed enrolment form and deliver information packs to parents, formulated by Local Committee sub-committees. o Parents are requested to assist at Swimming Pool, School Concert, Games etc. PRACTICALITIES OF HOME/SCHOOL/LIAISON CO-ORDINATOR Teacher must be very trustworthy as a lot of time could be wasted. S/he must have great respect for people, especially the poor and marginalised. There must be a core group of parents that the co-ordinator can call on for support. HOME VISITS are the most important part of the job. Roughly 30 minutes for each visit but this varies. I always let the parent know beforehand that I am calling as time is otherwise wasted. A lot of parent are working. Sometimes I visit after school but it s better to work 1-3 WHO ARE THE DISADVANTAGED? Unemployed, single or lone parents, bereaved, those on medical cards, educationally disadvantage = no Leaving Cert, all living in Council housing. Often you have to go to the home to discover disadvantage.. LOCAL COMMITTEE: Consists of parents, agencies, teachers, students. Meets every month in Parent s Room to discuss relevant educational issues. (e.g.) bullying, homework, green schools, being active, substance abuse. Minutes of this meeting have to be sent to the National Co-Coordinator at the Department. Also give to Management and hang up in Staff Room.

S/he must have great respect for people, especially the poor and marginalised. There must be a core group of parents that the co-ordinator can call on for support.

4 COMMUNITY There has to be integration with local agencies and voluntary groups e.g.: Public Health Nurse Guard Community Welfare Officer M.A.B.S. L.I.N.K. Resource Centre K.E.S. N.K.T. Speech Therapy Department V.T.T. Kerry County Council Social Workers V.D.P. COURSES: The co-ordinator has to arrange courses through the Adult Education V.E.C. in Tralee/Listowel for disadvantaged parents. It is obvious when visiting homes who would be suitable or would like to do a course. These are recreational, personal development, computer skills, literacy or numeracy courses. INSERVICE: There are two national in-service courses each year either in Dublin or at a regional venue. There are a number of Regional cluster meetings in Limerick each year. Then there are regular monthly meetings of the local co-ordinators in the County. The coordinator in this local cluster include Causeway, Ballyduff and Mounthawk. LOCAL COMMITTEE PROJECTS: Over the past years the committee has undertaken the production and distribution of information mats on : Bullying. Homework and Study Skills Health Promotion Skills Recommended

It is obvious when visiting homes who would be suitable or would like to do a course. These are recreational, personal development, computer skills, literacy or numeracy courses.

5 STAFF DEVELOPMENT: o Report at Staff Meetings o Report on a regular basis to the Principal. o Give a copy of H.S.C.L. weekly Plan to the Principal each Monday o Encourage Parents and Teachers to work together on policies. RECORDS: Records of all visits, meetings etc are kept each week a copy is given to management. Minutes of local Committee meetings are also displayed on H.S.C.L. notice board on the staff room. When Requesting Parent Volunteers o Parents allowed work with groups in an open area eg: group reading in School Hall with door open. o Parents work with individuals or groups within classroom eg: knitting/homework club. o Parents selected for outings based on past experience of working with groups eg: Teams, Youth Club etc. o On no occasion will parents work with individual pupils without teacher being present. o Parent working with groups of children for school reading will be provided with training by H.S.C.L. Teacher. o If parents volunteer for activity, eg: supervision of changing room for swimming, it will be monitored closely by teacher and the presence of additional adult / s will be ensured where reservation exists. o Garda Clearance? o Code of dress/appearance? o Notes

When Requesting Parent Volunteers o Parents allowed work with groups in an open area eg: group reading in School Hall with door open.

6 1) Ballyduff C.N.S. 2) Why encourage Parental Involvement? Improve Co-operation. Happier Atmosphere. Improves Teaching. Improves Pupil Learning. 3) Parental Involvement. Board of management. Parents association. Policy formation. Parent Teacher Meeting. L.I.N.K. H.S.C.L. 4) Pre-enrolment. Parents meeting Pre- infant programme. Home visitation. Parent to parent visitation. 5) Pre- Enrolment Meeting. Aim: to welcome and inform parents. Speakers: Principal, class teacher, H.S.C.L. Co-ordinator and parents. Presentation of booklets. Arrangement for home visitation. Decide on suitable day for pre-infant programme. Arrange distribution of mats via parent visitation. 6) Pre-Infant Programme. 7) Pre- Infant Programme. Aim; To assist child in starting school. Parent and child visit school for 1 hour each week. Participate in activities including jig-saw puzzles, play dough, colouring and cutting. Exchange library book and activity pack each week. Pupils attend school for 3 half days in June. Pupils have short days for week in September. Parent and child visit for school sports day.

5) Pre- Enrolment Meeting. Aim: to welcome and inform parents. Speakers: Principal, class teacher, H.S.C.L. Co-ordinator and parents. Presentation of booklets. Arrangement for home visitation.

7 8) Home School Community Liaison. Home visitation. Parent courses. Networking with Kerry Vec. Kerry Arts Council etc. Local Committee. Sub committees. Parent to parent visitation. 9) Parents Working Within School. Knitting. Group Reading. Maths for Fun. After School Support Club. Library Committee. Covering books for Library and rental scheme. 10) Knitting. 11) Group Reading. 12) Reading Challenge. 13) Maths for Fun. 14) After School Support Club. 15) Parents Association. 16) Family Fun Day. 17) Parents Courses. Yoga. Colour me Beautiful/Beautician/Hair care. Flower arranging/christmas crafts. Arts & crafts. First Aid. A Time for Me. Parenting. The Power of Encouragement. Basic Computers. Basic Irish. Read to Succeed.

11) Group Reading. 12) Reading Challenge. 13) Maths for Fun. 14) After School Support Club. 15) Parents Association. 16) Family Fun Day. 17) Parents Courses. Yoga.

8 18) FETAC Certified Courses. Foundation level computers. Computer Applications. Level 3 & 4. Foundation Level Child Development and Play. Level 1 Child Development and Play. 19) Parents Courses. 20) When Parents and Teachers Work Together the Children are the Winners.

Home, School and Community Links

Home, School and Community Links Good communication between home and school is essential to the environment we work to create. The home is central to the development of the child. Both WETNS and the family