Fostering parental engagement for pupil success and wellbeing

Issues like the overwhelming use digital technologies and social media, uncertain economic prospects, the climate crisis and geopolitical instability can put pressure on young people’s wellbeing and development. It is therefore vital that schools and parents/guardians work together in educating and supporting children and young people.

Parental engagement in education is about active collaboration and meaningful involvement of parents in their children’s education. It extends beyond simple participation in school activities, and represent a continued commitment to supporting their child’s learning and development.

Existing research confirms the importance of parental engagement for children and young people. For instance, children whose parents are actively committed to their education tend to achieve better academic outcomes, as involved parents promote learning at home and create an environment that values education. Moreover, parental engagement has been shown to improve social skills and behaviour in children. When parents actively participate in school activities and are engaged in open communication with teachers, children are less prone to exhibit behavioural problems and more likely to develop positive relationships with peers and adults. Children with involved parents often experience higher self-esteem and confidence, which are crucial ingredients for their positive development.

Parental engagement is not only beneficial for children and young people, but also for schools and parents. It contributes to a more positive school culture, with better home-school communication and collaboration, which increases quality of education, overall student performance and wellbeing. Deeper parental involvement also empowers parents, increasing their sense of connectedness with the school environment and their commitment to their children’s educational progress and success. Engaged parents improve their parenting skills and are more able to support their children's learning. Moreover, schools can provide learning opportunities for parents, in a lifelong learning perspective.

An example of parental engagement to support disadvantaged learners is provided by the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL), promoted by the Irish Department of Education. The scheme is targeted at pupils who are at risk of not reaching their full potential in the education system. HSCL focuses directly on key adults in children’s lives, empowering them to better support the children’s participation and retention in the education system. In this initiative, teachers receive targeted training and become HSCL coordinators for five years. The diverse activities under the initiative are agreed upon by the coordinator and the school to ensure their suitability for that specific school. The programme, which has run since 1990, has shown significant results in improving school success for children and young people at risk, and in bringing together the school and the community.

Parents and educators have distinct, yet similar roles, and can join their knowledge and efforts to provide a comprehensive support system that addresses the academic, social and emotional needs of pupils. This approach encourages home-school collaboration to equip children with the knowledge, skills and resilience to overcome increasingly complex challenges and become active, critical and responsible citizens.

Programmes like HSCL are important to support schools and parents in better catering for the needs of all students. For more resources linked to parental engagement please see:

• Parents’ Briefcase (France) – a programme implemented in France that seeks to involve parents more in their children’s education;
• Mothers’ café (Germany) – a local programme targeting parents with a migrant background that aims to provide them with a safe environment for exchanging experiences and support them in improving language skills;
• Parents’ Space in schools (France) – a dedicated space for parents in schools is not only a meeting place but also enhances their understanding of the school and relationship with school staff;
• NIACE Family Learning (UK) – a programme promoting learning activities that involve both children and adult family members which contributes to a culture of learning in the family;
• The POTHOLES initiative (Ireland) – this programme seeks to engage parents who may feel isolated or unfamiliar with the school system;
• AFEV (France) – a programme where university student volunteers accompany parents who feel poorly prepared to support their children’ schooling;
• Boa Água school (Portugal) – an example of a school that applied the INCLUD-ED methodology to become a learning community that involves families in the daily functioning of the school;
• Parental Involvement report – a report focused on the importance of parental engagement in education, specifically for preventing early school leaving.