So early in a new term, it probably feels that you have more than enough on your plate without worrying about engaging with parents. But this is actually the perfect time to set the right tone and start to build relationships of trust that will benefit both you and your pupils throughout the coming year.

Here are my tips on how you can involve parents in a positive way this term.

1. Start by showing support

Whichever way you look at it, parents are the principal stakeholders in their children’s education. Seek to build goodwill from parents in peacetime, so that you can draw upon their support later on, when you might be facing a host of other challenges.

A simple phone call home with some positive news about something that a child has achieved in the first few weeks of term can work wonders. You can also try to increase opportunities for parents to come into school informally (both physically and virtually) to meet staff and have a voice on policies and issues that affect their families.

This type of engagement can ‘see off’ time-consuming parent behaviours and complaints, but don’t assume you know what support parents need. Make a point of asking them - their responses may surprise you.

2. Recruit classroom volunteers

I don’t need to remind you that resources are tight. Could a more structured approach to parent volunteering help? From reading support to running clubs, now is the time to encourage parents to commit to lend their time and skills to the school.

Parents can come in to talk about careers, help run the library or school office, or become mentors for pupils. Invest in a clear volunteering policy and parent training in, for example, approaches to literacy or SEND before you kick it off. And, of course, make sure that all necessary safeguarding checks are in place.

I know of parents who have started out as volunteers and have become school business managers, classroom assistants and teachers. So perhaps this could help you to do your bit to ease the recruitment crisis, too.

3. Set clear boundaries

We know from our research that often parents don’t get involved in school life because they simply haven’t been asked to. However, parents can also feel overwhelmed by the number of demands placed upon them. 

You are most likely to be successful if you focus on involving them in individual, time-limited projects. This means that they won’t feel they are forever being asked to help out, but still have the chance to do their bit and commit a specific amount of time in a way that works for them and their families.

Set these boundaries early on, in the first term.

For those parents who are eager to do more, there are always opportunities to get involved in a more structured way with the school PTA, where fundraising efforts will always be appreciated, with the parent council or forum, or as a governor or trustee. For those who are interested, involvement in these groups should be encouraged and welcomed.

Michelle Doyle Wildman is acting chief executive of PTA UK.