What's Next?

Many thanks to all the local authorities who have been involved in piloting information sessions for parents and in planning for 2008. The challenge now is to sustain the delivery of the information sessions in schools each year. The 20 demonstration areas came together at a lessons learned event last November. These are their recommendations for achieving sustainability from April 2008, based on their own experience of delivering sessions in 50 schools or more in each local authority.

Local authorities need to identify ongoing sources of funding and consider options such as schools buying in a session facilitator's time within a cluster

Local authorities and schools need to allocate resources to kick-start the rollout of sessions to all schools

School students can play an important role in organising sessions and publicising events to parents

Local authorities and schools can identify appropriate job roles to take forward session delivery e.g. parent support advisors, learning mentors, family learning staff, extended school co-ordinators

• Link the development of Transition Information Sessions to local and national strategic plans to ensure that it is seen as part of a route to effecting positive outcomes and meeting local and national targets.e.g CYYP/ Parenting Strategies/LAA targets.
• Effect change on the culture and mindset of staff and schools
• Support the development of a dedicated co-ordinator within the local authority to support schools and facilitators, bring together resources and agencies to support the sessions and work to identify most effective methods of engagement for all mothers, fathers and carers.
• Explore the role of newly appointed staff who could take the project forward or ensure that developing and facilitating the sessions is embedded within new job descriptions for appropriate staff e.g. PSA's
• Pool budgets and resources to support themes in parenting support across the LA and provide funding for staff release time.
• Adopt a business link approach and maximise the use of sponsorship and support from local businesses to fund costs other than staff time.
• Develop a co-ordinated approach to developing sessions in groups of schools, across clusters/ geographical areas.
• Ensure that a wide range of professionals sign up and support TIS to avoid excess pressure on individual teams e.g bringing in wider school and area based teams.

The full lessons learned report 07-08 will be available on the FPI website at the end of March.

Please e-mail Anne Page  if you would like a copy of the full report and updates on FPI's work in schools. We will be working on a project in 2008 – 2009 to develop appropriate support for parents of teenagers age 14 and upwards, as well as offering consultancy and a listening to parents package for local authorities and schools who would like to expand their consultations with parents.