Communication is key: The value of regular school-to-home contact

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we live in a world where it has never been easier to communicate with one another. Smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices enable us to access information quickly and simply, wherever we are.

It is fair to say, that many of us lead busy and stressful lives. Trying to juggle our responsibilities as an employee, mother/father and husband/wife is tough – anything that helps make this, even a little bit, easier should be embraced.

School-to-home communication systems, such ParentMail.co.uk, have done just this. Launched in 2001, ParentMail offers schools a new, modern way to communicate with pupils’ parents electronically.

In the past, communication between schools and parents was a bit haphazard. Letters, sent home in book bags, were easy to miss and notes, handed out at the end of the school day, were often misplaced or lost.

But new software technologies such as ParentMail, enable schools to send out regular emails to parents about school news and events. It can also issue text messages about more urgent matters, such as a sudden school closure, the cancellation of an afterschool club or the delay of a coach returning from a school trip.

There are also Apps, which allow parents to fill out and return permission slips online and book a place at a parents’ evening. They can even help schools collect, track and bank parent payments and give parents access to school calendars, so they can keep on top of all upcoming events.

The responsibilities of parenthood are vast, but it is vitally important we take an active interest in our children’s lives – particular when they enter the world of education. The key to success, in the partnership between parents and teachers, is communication. Good communication with your child’s school will ultimately translate into a better educational experience for your child.

Parents also benefit from being involved in their children’s education by getting ideas from school on how to help and support their children, and by learning more about the school’s academic programme and how it works.

There are other advantages for children, when parents are engaged with their school life — namely, increased motivation for learning, improved behaviour, more regular attendance and a more positive attitude about homework and school in general.

So, if your child’s school hasn’t taken advantage of all the latest communication technology available, now is the time for you to make sure it does.

This article was written by Amanda Walters, an experienced freelance writer and regular contributor to Huffington Post. Follow her here: @Amanda_W84