The school has successfully returned to face-to-face teaching and for parents and caregivers I am sure you are pleased to have your children back at school with their teachers. No doubt, the learning@home phase of schooling we have just gone through has presented challenges for you.

However, I encourage all parents and caregivers to remember the significant role they continue to have in the daily learning of their children. Parents and caregivers play an essential role as the first educators of children and it is important to have ongoing family-led learning in every home.

Ideally, family-led learning is focused on high aspirations for children, shared reading, a positive environment for homework, parent-child conversation, a cognitively stimulating home environment and support for social and emotional wellbeing.

Research and good practice points are some specific things parents and caregivers can focus on to support and facilitate their child’s overall learning. The ideas below are a starting point : 

• Build supportive relationships with children and work hard to maintain these when circumstances are difficult.
• Communicate the value of education and the importance of schooling.
• Encourage educational aspirations and career goals; make plans with children for their future.
• Regularly ask children what they are learning and doing at school, and praise real effort and achievements.
• Take an interest in homework, provide help where needed and offer encouragement and support for children to solve problems for themselves.
• Have high expectations for children’s academic success and their behaviour.
• Encourage physical activity and set reasonable boundaries for television, electronic games and online socialising.
• Engage children in meaningful conversations about everyday life and topical issues, and encourage critical thinking and the development of ideas.
• Have positive interactions with teachers; share knowledge, ideas and concerns.
• Participate in class-based, year level or co-curricular activities to show support for children’s learning at school and build relationships with teachers and other parents.

As always, I encourage you to contact your child's teachers if you have any queries or concerns about their learning or wellbeing.

God Bless