David Butler: Parents have a central role to play in schooling

Perhaps the most significant recent political statement concerning parents' relationship with schools statement came from the Prime Minister: "Parents have a central role to play in supporting their children through school, and schools rightly see them as partners." Why is this so important? The answer is because it makes a difference.

Last year the Department for Education and Skills published a research review commissioned from Professor Charles Desforges. His review found that parental involvement had a significant positive effect on children's achievement and the impact was evident across all social classes and all ethnic groups.

As parents are children's first and most enduring educators, it is hardly surprising that the Desforges study found that the greatest impact on children's educational achievement was through "at-home good parenting". Demonstrating the value of lifelong learning in your own life and encouraging your children to have high aspirations can have a positive impact on your children's self-esteem, educational aspirations and motivation.

The most effective way of supporting your children's learning at home depends upon the age of your children. Younger children benefit from help with the skills they are learning and developing at school. Older children need support with activities that promote independence and autonomy. But remember that this works best in a partnership environment, so talk to the school about how you can best support your children's learning at home and look out for schemes which provide practical support such as ContinYou's Share project.

The best schools also encourage parents to get involved in their children's learning at home and at school. Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) provide a fantastic opportunity for promoting home school links and getting involved in school life and your children's education.

PTAs (and I include Parents Associations and Friends Associations) mean different things to different people. For example:

*An opportunity for parents and staff to socialise

*A band of willing volunteers raising money for extras for the school

*A focal point for the local community

*A way for parents to get actively involved in improving their children's education.

*Helping parents and children get the best out of school days

*An opportunity for parents and teachers to liaise and work together

Some PTAs get involved in all these activities; others choose to focus on particular areas. A PTA can be whatever the head, parents and staff think will best meet the needs of their school and its children.

Traditionally PTAs are seen as fundraisers (we estimate National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA) raise some £70m a year to improve the education of children at their schools) but there is more to your local PTA than the annual school fête.

With the start of a new term just round the corner, I'd encourage all parents to make a New School Resolution to get more involved in their children's education by: (1) getting involved in your PTA and (2) supporting your children's learning at home.

For more information about how NCPTA can support your PTA, visit www.ncpta.org.uk or call us on 01732 748850.

David Butler is Chief Executive of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations. He is also a governor of a secondary school, a member of the Administrative Council of the European Parents Association and a trustee of the e-learning Foundation