Parents and Carers as Partners
Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers
At Brierley Primary School, we believe that children achieve most when school and home work together. Parents and carers know their children best, and we value the knowledge, experience and insight that families bring. We want every family to feel welcomed, listened to and part of our Brierley community.
Our partnership with families reflects our school values of Nurture, Aspire, Believe and Achieve. By working together, sharing information and supporting one another, we can give children the strongest possible foundations for their learning, wellbeing and future success.
A Warm Welcome
We want Brierley to be an approachable school where families feel comfortable talking to us. Members of staff are present at the beginning and end of the school day to welcome children and families. These everyday conversations are an important part of the relationship between home and school and provide opportunities to share information, celebrate successes or let us know if something is worrying your child.
Sometimes a conversation needs more time than is possible at the classroom door or on our yard. If this is the case, we will arrange a suitable opportunity to talk properly. We encourage families to speak to us early if they have a question or concern. Very often, open communication allows us to understand what is happening and work together to find the best way forward.
Sharing Your Child's Learning and Progress
We want parents and carers to understand how their children are learning, what they are doing well and where they may need further support. Throughout the year, families have opportunities to discuss their child's learning, progress and development with school staff.
This includes:
regular informal communication with teachers and staff
two formal parent-teacher meetings during the school year
a detailed written report about your child's progress each year
communication through SchoolSpider
newsletters and information on our school website
information about learning taking place within classes
opportunities to discuss additional support or individual needs where appropriate
We believe communication should work in both directions. The information families share with us can be just as important as the information we share with families.
Parent Workshops
We regularly invite parents and carers into school for workshops and information sessions designed to help families understand how children learn at Brierley and how learning can be supported at home. These sessions provide opportunities to meet staff, see some of the approaches used in school, ask questions and develop greater confidence in supporting children's learning.
Workshops may focus on different aspects of school life and learning, depending on the needs of our children and families.
We want these sessions to be useful and relevant, and we welcome suggestions from parents and carers about areas where they would like further information or support.
Supporting Children Together
Every child is different, and there may be times when a child needs additional help with their learning, wellbeing, attendance, communication or personal development. When this happens, we believe the best outcomes are achieved when families and school work together from the beginning.
We aim to identify children's needs and any barriers they may be experiencing as early as possible. Staff regularly review children's learning and progress and consider whether any additional support that has been put in place is having the intended impact. Where additional support is needed, we want families to be involved in conversations about their child and to understand the support being provided. This is particularly important for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. We value parents' and carers' knowledge of their children and want their views, alongside the views of the child, to contribute to the support and decisions made around them.
Listening to Families
Being in partnership also means listening. We want to know what families think about Brierley and about their children's experiences at school. We gather the views of parents and carers in a variety of ways, including conversations, meetings, questionnaires and other opportunities for feedback. We celebrate what families tell us is working well and use feedback to help us reflect on where we can continue to develop and improve. Not every concern can always be resolved in exactly the way someone might hope, but we will listen carefully, communicate openly and treat concerns respectfully.
Getting Involved in School Life
Parents, carers and extended family members are warmly welcomed into the life of Brierley. Throughout the year, there are opportunities for families to join us for school events, celebrations, performances, workshops and other activities. We also value the time, skills and experiences of parents and community members who would like to support school activities. Some people may be able to help regularly, while others may only be able to offer their time occasionally. Every contribution is valued.
Families can also get involved through our Friends of Brierley group.
Friends of Brierley plays an important role in bringing families together, supporting school events and raising additional funds for our children. Fundraising helps us provide extra resources, experiences and opportunities that enrich school life. There are lots of ways to support Friends of Brierley. You might be able to help organise an event, volunteer on the day, contribute an idea, support a fundraising activity or simply come along and take part. It is also a lovely way to meet other families and become more involved in the wider Brierley community.
Any volunteering arrangements within school are organised in accordance with our safeguarding procedures. Appropriate checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where required, will be completed depending on the nature of the volunteering role.
Keeping in Touch
We communicate with families in a variety of ways so that important information is clear and easy to access.
These include:
face-to-face conversations
SchoolSpider messages
newsletters
the school website
parents' evenings
written reports
parent workshops and information sessions
questionnaires and opportunities for parent voice
appropriate social media updates and celebrations
If you are ever unsure about something, please ask. We would much rather have a conversation than leave a family worrying or wondering.
Our Commitment to Families
At Brierley, partnership with parents and carers is not something that happens only at parents' evening. It happens in the conversations at the school gate, the workshops we share, the celebrations of children's achievements, the support we put in place when things are difficult and the decisions we make together.
We want our families to know:
You are welcome.
Your knowledge of your child matters.
Your views are valued.
We will listen.
We will work with you.
Together, we want to give every child the support, encouragement, opportunities and belief they need to:
Nurture, Aspire, Believe and Achieve.
