“Parents through their unique knowledge of their own child, have much to contribute to their child’s learning programmes” (Learning- Support Guidelines, p. 52). Parents can prepare and support the work of the school by:
• Providing a home environment in which there are opportunities for adults and children to participate together in language, literacy and mathematical activities in the early years before formal schooling begins.
• Supporting the work of the school by participating with their child in such activities as:
• Using Information and Communications Technology (ICT), where available, to support learning in English and / or mathematics.
• Book sharing / reading stories.
• Paired reading (listening to and giving supportive feedback on oral reading).
• Discussions about school and other activities to build vocabulary and thinking skills.
• Writing lists and short accounts about children’s experiences.
• Counting, measuring and other activities involving numbers.
• Visits to the zoo, museum, library etc….to broaden the range of their child’s experiences.
• Talking positively about school and school work.
• Availing of real-life situations to discuss the importance of language, literacy and mathematics.
• Modelling involvement in language, literacy and mathematical activities at home by engaging in and talking about these activities.
• Parents should keep the class teacher informed of the progress that they observe in their child’s learning. They should also let the school know of any learning difficulties that they observe in their child at home.
Parents are encouraged to:
• Develop close links with the school.
• Collaborate with the school in developing the full potential of their children.
• Share the responsibility of seeing that the school remains true to its ethos values and distinctive character.
• Become actively involved in the school at every opportunity.
• Participate in policy and decision-making processes affecting them.