7.5 Key messages

7.5 Key messages

Partnerships with parents

■Partnership in education is a crucial element of an effective education system. Schools, parents and

communities working together in a genuinely participative way can benefit the learning and wellbeing of children and young people in our schools, ELC settings, centres for education and other education settings.

■COVID-19 has highlighted the role that effective partnership and communication between schools

and families can have in supporting wellbeing and learning among children and young people.

■There is potential, across ELC settings and schools, to improve aspects of communication and to

secure the benefits brought by a strong culture of collaboration and partnership.

■Inspection findings indicate that, while ELC settings and schools have established effective practices

for sharing information with parents, there is scope to strengthen the role of parents in school governance and decision-making.

■Parental involvement in school self-evaluation (SSE) is an evolving feature of practice. The

forthcoming Education (Student and Parent Charter) legislation has potential to support parental engagement in SSE processes to better effect in schools.

Partnership with children and young people

■There is a growing awareness at national, system and setting/school levels of the importance of

valuing and facilitating the voice of children and young people.

■There is a need for increased pupil/student participation in decision-making in schools. Inspection

surveys indicate that a majority of pupils and students in primary and post-primary schools feel that they do not have a say in how things are done in their school.

■Surveys and focus groups conducted by the Inspectorate during the September to December 2020

period show how pupils and students can provide valuable insights into their learning; such insights are important for schools and the education system.

Parents, learners and inspection

■The meaningful engagement of learners and their parents in education is a key priority for the

Inspectorate. The Inspectorate has been working to enhance parents’, children’s and young people’s engagement before, during and after inspection.