The Parent Ambassadors Enhancing Communication with Vulnerable Families Film
This film was commissioned by Securing Success, explains and celebrates the Parent Ambassador Initiative which is
operating in some Barnet, Harrow and Ealing primary and secondary schools.
It showcases 2 schools, Edgware Primary and
Hatch End High and includes interviews with headteachers, teachers, parent ambassadors and parents.
The Parent Ambassador Initiative
The Parent Ambassador Initiative works with vulnerable families, including refugees and asylum seekers,
to support parents to help their children to meet their academic potential in school.
Parent ambassadors are employed by mainstream schools to:
- facilitate effective communication between parents, families, and school
- support the successful induction and inclusion of pupils and students
- aid the integration of parents and families through engagement with schools and signpost other services e.g., ESOL classes, supplementary schools
- enhance the understanding of school staff regarding the challenges faced by some communities
The Becoming a Parent Ambassador Course
This successful course explores the work of the parent ambassador,
builds the confidence of participants and prepares them to take on the role.
It is a nine-module course covering six key learning outcomes which are:
It is a nine-module course covering six key learning outcomes which are:
- understanding the roles and responsibilities of school staff
- understanding policies and procedures relevant to a school
- understanding the types of information required by parents and school staff
- knowing how to communicate with parents and school staff
- understanding barriers to learning
- understanding the safeguarding requirements within school
Participants on a recent course said the following in their evaluations:
"I thoroughly enjoyed the course it was well paced, and I gathered amazing and valuable ideas."
"All the aspects of the course were useful, but for me the most important thing is that now I'm able to help more parents and children from school and be more confident about the role."
"Every part of the course was useful. The most useful part was learning about types of abuses and how to deal with them."
"I found the detail and how it was explained so useful. It was very interactive and engaging."
"The aspect I found most useful was how to do this exciting role and the importance of the parent ambassadors."
"It was helpful to talk about cultural difference."
"The training has given me confidence."
"I found all the information and the discussions with the other parent ambassadors very useful."
"All the aspects of the course were useful, but for me the most important thing is that now I'm able to help more parents and children from school and be more confident about the role."
"Every part of the course was useful. The most useful part was learning about types of abuses and how to deal with them."
"I found the detail and how it was explained so useful. It was very interactive and engaging."
"The aspect I found most useful was how to do this exciting role and the importance of the parent ambassadors."
"It was helpful to talk about cultural difference."
"The training has given me confidence."
"I found all the information and the discussions with the other parent ambassadors very useful."
Course content:
- overview of the success of the Parent Ambassador Programme
- the contribution of parent ambassadors to children's progress
- responsibilities of the school in supporting the parent ambassador role
- the rationale for the Becoming a Parent Ambassador Programme
- delivery of the course including the scheme of work, lesson plans and assessments
Other Training
Bespoke short courses for small groups of parent ambassadors who join
schools after the main course has run are by arrangement.
One parent ambassador who attended a 1 day Becoming a Parent Ambassador course for newly appointed Parent Ambassadors said:
"As a new person in post, I found it very helpful to meet others and to hear more about the
parent ambassador role and what the job is. It put me in a good position and made me determined
to stay and get to the next level."
Train the Trainer courses also available. These workshops prepare practitioners in educational settings to train parent ambassadors. This option works well with clusters of schools.
Contact:
All training may be accessed and purchased through Securing Success. To find out more,
contact Joy Collins, CEO, Securing Success.
| Charity Registration No. 1164630 (est. 2016) | CEO: joycollins1@outlook.com |  |