Parental engagement is an important aspect of the home-school relationship, and one that can take many different forms.

Some parents are keen to be involved: attending parent meetings, supporting children with homework and talking to teachers about any concerns. Mostly this is welcome - although sometimes it can become too frequent, as the recent Tes article on “snowplough parents” discussed.

For other parents, though, engagement with school can be low on the agenda. I’ve heard many school leaders bemoan the challenge of reaching out to parents who seem to have put up impenetrable defences and do not care about their child’s education.

However, while the challenges vary, there are some staple strategies that can improve parental engagement and help develop better relationships.

1. Consider your community

Every school community is different and what works for one when it comes to improving parental engagement may not work for another. But whatever your context, getting to know the parents better will help you focus your efforts accordingly.

Do they work? If so, what are their shift patterns like? Are they carers, do they have young children still in nursery, or children attending other schools too? Do they have ailments that restrict their ability to be fully engaged in school life?

Of course, when children get to Year 6 or secondary, you may be less likely to see parents on the school gates, but this doesn’t stop you checking in via phone calls home or sending out newsletters inviting them to let you know if their personal circumstances change.

There is no expectation that you know these details for every single parent, but if there are parents whom you particularly want to reach, this information is important in building those relationships.

2. Consider their own education experience

It’s also worth understanding that a lack of engagement may come from a parent’s own experience of school.

For example, in settings I have managed, some parents did not go to school in the UK so there were aspects of the British education system that they did not understand, while the expectation that they should play an active part in their child’s education was unfamiliar.

Similarly, some parents may not have had positive experiences of school when they were younger so interacting with teachers may feel intimidating or cause them to feel they need to be on the defensive when dealing with situations.

Making sure parents know they are equal parties in the home-school relationship is important for building trust with parents who may have a distrust of the school system.

3. Consider event timings

Every parent’s schedule will be different and you’ll never find the perfect time, but if meetings are not well attended in person, should you consider offering hybrid meetings instead, perhaps, or ones at different times of the day?

First thing in the morning, lunchtime or early evening may ensure better attendance as it allows for greater flexibility for parents who work, have caring commitments or who need the flexibility of not having to be in a specific place at a certain time.

I’ve had parents attend sitting in their cars, in their work canteen or on their sofa. This is all preferable to non-attendance in growing parental engagement that would otherwise remain dormant.

If you are keen for in-person meetings, it’s never a bad idea to think about how you can entice parents in beyond simply the promise of a meeting.

In a previous school I worked at, a large majority of families were Black African and Caribbean, where food plays a large part in social gatherings. Inviting parents to bring a dish often resulted in a greater level of attendance because the focus was the food and the workshop was secondary.

4. Consider your school culture

To enable positive parental engagement, there needs to be a whole-school approach whereby everyone understands what it is you are aiming to achieve.

A considered approach to involving parents in the life of the school will help to ensure there is longevity and it becomes part of the culture of the school rather than something that falls by the wayside after a few months.

Keeping this on the agenda during staff meetings and including it in your school development plan so that all staff can see the priority it’s being given can ensure the culture becomes embedded in your school.

There will always be parents who will never feel the need to or understand the importance of playing an active part in their child’s development - but this should never deter you from trying to find different ways to engage with them and make them feel like they are an important part of the school community.    

Amanda Wilson is headteacher of St Alfege with St Peter’s CE Primary School in London. She tweets @AmandaWilson910