How to effect a step-change in engagement for disadvantaged parents and carers.

Disadvantaged students are already 4.6 months behind their peers when starting school. It is crucial therefore that parents and carers are actively supported from day 1. Parental engagement is evidenced by the EEF to improve outcomes for early years and primary pupils by up to 5 months so if properly executed can close the attainment gap.

Disadvantaged pupils are less likely to benefit from having a space to conduct home learning. Evidence also suggests that disadvantaged pupils make less academic progress, and sometimes attainment levels even regress during the summer holidays, due to the level of formal and informal learning activities they do or do not participate in.

By designing and delivering effective approaches to support parental engagement, schools and teachers may be able to mitigate some of these causes of educational disadvantage, supporting parents to assist their children’s learning or their self-regulation, as well as specific skills, such as reading.

Proplr have been running trials in Multi-Academy Trusts to support early years and primary settings in improving parental engagement by using social media as an additional communication tool. You can see our first Impact report here and how we have achieved an 80% increase in engagement.