When a student’s behaviour suddenly starts to decline or their attendance drops to a point that their teacher is concerned about, the underlying reasons aren’t always apparent in the classroom.
However, issues going on in the school corridors, lunch hall, or even at home, could be affecting the child’s learning and wellbeing.
Behaviour has now overtaken workload as the top concern for primary teachers, with over 48% stating it as a major issue in a 2025 TeacherTapp survey – up from 36% two years earlier. Parents and guardians play a critical role in helping to address poor behaviour and attendance in school.
So, how do schools strengthen home-school links and ensure the right information is communicated at the right time, without adding to staff workloads or bombarding parents with too much detail?
From consequences to conversations
Imagine a Year 5 pupil we’ll call Leo has been sent out of class several times for disrupting a group activity. The usual response at his school might be a missed playtime and a quick message home to let his parents know. But on their own, this approach might miss the bigger picture.
Now imagine Leo’s teacher notices he consistently lashes out during literacy hour, just after being asked to answer a question or speak in front of his peers. If this piece of information was shared with his parents, it could lead to a much more meaningful conversation. One that reveals Leo finds expressing himself really difficult, both in lessons and at home.
Rather than focusing on the consequences of Leo’s disruptive behaviour, the conversation shifts to exploring whether Leo is struggling with gaps in vocabulary, low confidence or a possible speech and language need. Teachers and parents can then work together to support him, through some targeted language development, confidence building activities or perhaps a referral to an education specialist.
This small change could make a big difference to a child’s experience in school – and the progress they make in their learning.
A partnership for pupil progress
Sharing the right information at the right time builds trust and strengthens the relationship between teachers and parents.
Whether a child has suddenly stopped engaging in maths, developed a reluctance to complete homework or fallen out with their best friend, informed and engaged parents are better placed to help reinforce the strategies schools put in place to help. Teachers can then spend less of their time managing avoidable disruptions and more time delivering exciting lessons for their pupils.
But engaging parents isn’t about sending more emails and messages, it’s about making sure families get the information they want, how they want it.
Communicate with purpose, not just frequency
Every family is different. While some parents appreciate real-time notifications from the school app about how their child did in PE and what they had for lunch, others might prefer a weekly email or a phone call to keep them up to date.
The best way to find out what information parents want and how is to ask them. A survey or quick chat during parents’ evening can ensure the wealth of information schools gather on pupils’ behaviour, attendance, achievement and wellbeing can be used to support progress.
Data can make it easier to spot trends over time too, such as a student who regularly arrives late on Monday mornings. A quiet conversation with the family might uncover that transport is an issue or the child is with a relative who lives further away. Knowing this means the school can take steps to help the child settle more quickly at the start of the week, before the later start begins to affect their learning.
Similarly, if the attendance of Year 6s drop sharply two weeks before SATs, the leadership team can plan a targeted campaign to remind families of the importance of being in school and offer practical support to help pupils manage anxiety relating to assessments.
Turning communication into collaboration
Effective parental engagement starts with understanding the challenges of busy family life and rethinking how schools can better communicate with parents to enable them to provide the support their children need.
Students like Leo won’t benefit from repeated sanctions. What makes a real difference is the valuablesupport that comes when home and school work together to help children reach their full potential. One way to build this partnership is through the four pillars of effective parental engagement.
Four pillars of effective parental engagement
1. Offer a rounded picture: Share a broad range of information including learning progress, attendance, wellbeing and positive achievements. This gives parents a fuller understanding of how their child is doing and helps keep them engaged.
2. Know parents’ communication preferences: Use surveys or informal feedback to find out what information matters to parents and how they want to receive it. When communication is tailored, parents are more likely to stay involved.
3. Communicate the strategy: Let parents know what information will be shared, when, and how to build trust and sets clear expectations.
4. Be consistent: Reliable, regular updates make it easier for families to support their children from home, reinforcing what’s happening in school to help every pupil succeed.
