ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of parents in infant schooling. A sample of parents was interviewed every summer from 1982 to 1985, that is, from the time when their children were about to enter the infant school reception class until these children had completed three years of schooling. The results are presented for the total sample of parents, except where statistically significant differences existed between the black and white parents. Fewer of the black than the white men were in professional or managerial positions, and the black families were on lower levels of income than the white families. The proportion of parents who had contact with teachers each year was high, but contact was more frequent between teachers and white, rather than black, parents. The authors found that the onus had been very much on the parents to find out what was happening in the schools, by looking at children's work, and attending meetings.
