Parent Help Guidelines

Parent Help Guidelines

Thank you for offering to be a Parent Helper in the school.  We really appreciate you giving up your own time to help either in the classroom or within the school.  Below are some guidelines to assist you in the role:

How do I become a Parent Helper?

• Contact your child’s classroom teacher if you are keen to help within the classroom.  Teachers usually develop a schedule, linked to their timetable, so it is helpful if you can indicate a regular time you could be available each week.
• Mr Nassar coordinates the Parent Helpers who assist in the library with making, preparing and maintaining resources.  Please contact her directly to offer your help or let your child’s teacher know and they will pass your name on to Mrs Nassar.
• Parent helpers are often required for school trips or special events.  Classroom teachers will seek expertise in relation to Units of Inquiry. E.g. sharing your culture and traditions, work experience, or family history etc.  We try to frequently use the community as a resource to help the children in their learning and would value your contributions.

Important procedures

• Please ‘sign in’ as a Parent Helper in the school office when arriving at school and sign out once you have finished.  This is a health and safety requirement.  You will have a badge to wear which indicates you are a Parent Helper in the school.

          What do I need to be aware of when working with children in the classroom?

• Confidentially – this is vital for everybody working in a school.  It is essential that what you see and hear within the classroom in terms of specific children’s learning or behaviour is kept confidential.
• Independence is what we are striving for when working with individuals or small groups –This is achieved by asking questions, demonstrating by giving an example, going over instructions again or breaking the task into smaller parts etc.  It is essential that you don’t do the task for children or correct all of their mistakes.  The teacher needs to see the children’s own attempts even if they are not all correct. This is the way children learn and how teachers move their learning forward.
• Try to avoid shadowing or giving extra help or prompts to your own child. It is important that they continue to have independence even though you are in the classroom. Whilst it is tempting, try not to compare your own child’s performance to that of others in the class.  This can place unnecessary pressure on them.
• Liaise with the Educational Assistant if you require any extra help or need to know where to find resources.
• Expect the children to treat you as they do the other adults in the room.  Therefore please ask them to call you Mr .. or  Ms .. and model and praise the use of good manners and work habits.
• Please respond to children positively and encouragingly using a quiet voice.  We try to refrain from using negative instruction eg don’t talk or no running but rather phrase these in positive terms eg remember to walk please, please lower your voice a little so we can all hear etc.
• Communicate openly with the adults in the room if you have any concerns or queries and someone is sure to be able to help you.

On belhalf of all of the staff, thank you for being such a great support to the school.  I am sure you will find the time spent as parent helper, enjoyable and interesting.  Many parents feel this is also a great way to fully understand the way classrooms run and programmes operate. We look forward to continuing working with you.

Kind Regards

Brenda Cook

Principal