Research shows, and common sense tells us, that children whose parents are involved in their learning are more likely to fulfil their potential.

According to Henderson*, the most accurate predictor of a child's achievement in school is how far parents have been able to:

1. Create a home environment that encourages learning.

2. Express high, (but not unrealistic), expectations for their children's achievement and future careers.

3. Become involved in their children's education at school and in the community.

So what does this mean for us, as parents? The fact that you have joined Schoolfriend means that you are keen to help your child and that you understand the value of learning. You probably already know that your children learn as much, if not more, at home than they do at school. Perhaps you are already involved in your children's school, or perhaps you feel there is something of a gap there.

Do you have a sense of what your children do in school? Do you feel part of what they're learning? You signed a Home School Agreement, but has your relationship with school gone any further?

The divide between what children learn at home and what they learn at school is a false one and the children who do best in the school system are those with parents that can bridge that gap and make school and home seem like integrated parts of their lives.

How can this be achieved?

Although individual issues may arise when you need to question a school's rules, in general it is helpful to children if you support what the school is asking of them. Where home and school have radically different ideas, children get caught in the middle. You can avoid unnecessary friction for your children if you can:

Some children come home full of stories of what they have done at school. Others mumble that they've forgotten, or only seem to remember what they did in the playground. Whether they remember or not, it is still important to ask children about their day at school, to show that you value and are interested in that part of their lives. If you have a child who is reluctant to talk about school, try talking to their teacher sometime, just to get a feel for how they're coming along. If you work and don't see your children until a few hours after school, they may forget their news. Ask your child carer to tell you what younger children have done and perhaps older children could write down a few items, just to remind themselves.

Other ways you can show your interest in their time at school include:

The research is quite clear that the best kind of parental involvement is not a one way street. Yes, parents should support and value school learning but schools should value and support family learning too. A number of Local Education Authorities are piloting parent partnership schemes, funded by the DfEE. To find out if your LEA is one of them, visit their website. All Local Councils have web sites with education sections, although what you find there varies enormously.

Whether your school has a formal partnership project or not, it should welcome your involvement. Some of the ways of getting involved are:

Most children spend the first 3-4 years of their learning life at home. They then spend an increasing percentage of their time at school. Nonetheless, most of their learning is still family learning. If they enjoy learning at home, they are more likely to enjoy it at school. Children gain confidence from success and confident children are better at learning because they are prepared to take small risks. What's more, family learning is fun! Some ways in which you can encourage children as learners are:

Lastly, try and keep a balance between physical, intellectual and artistic learning so that your child keeps options open for the way they will develop.