ABSTRACT
Partnership with parents is now a priority in schools. Parents are recognised as having a vital role to play in the education of their child and in supporting the work of the school. After all, for most pupils, parents are the one constant factor in their lives; teachers come and go, others contribute at different times along the way, but parents accompany their children throughout their journey through school. Parents have the kind of detailed knowledge about their children that can help teachers understand young people's particular needs, what they enjoy and do well, and what makes them anxious. In addition, parents in homes where English is a second language may be able to provide important information on talents and interests that pupils may not be able to demonstrate at school. Bringing up children and helping them develop their abilities and skills is a shared responsibility, where each person has their own role to play and contribution to make. This sharing of responsibility is especially important where children may have special or additional needs. In such cases, parents need to feel confident that their child's needs are recognised and understood, and will be taken into account when planning what needs to be done to support the child's progress.
