Guidance on the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006

Ministerial Foreword

Parental involvement is about supporting pupils and their learning. It is about parents and teachers working together in partnership to help children become more confident learners. All the evidence shows when parents, carers and other family members are effectively involved in their children's education, the outcome for their children is better.

Schools need the support of parents to be truly ambitious and excellent. The Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006, as part of our wider system of education reform and improvement, will give more children a better start and greater opportunities in life.

The Act is about improving parents' involvement in their own child's education and in schools more generally. Many schools are already working hard to involve parents and I commend the good work done by School Boards, PTAs and other groups. The Act offers the opportunity to build on the best of this work and to develop and extend parental involvement even further.

Headteachers have a clear role in leading this agenda through developing the partnership with their parent body and in ensuring their school offers a warm welcome to all parents, takes account of their differing needs and circumstances and involves them in all decisions affecting their child's education. The Act provides a framework giving all parents the opportunity to get the information they need to support their child and enabling them to express their views. It introduces a more flexible and inclusive system so that parents and schools can decide what works best locally.

Parents are the first and ongoing educators of their own children and know them best. This Act means that, more than ever before, parents and schools working together will benefit from their shared knowledge and be able to support our children towards reaching their full potential.

Peter Peacock
Minister for Education and Young People