The core documents that we use for completing the IIF accreditation process are:
The Assessors Report:
an account of the assessor’s visit, which will capture the ethos and atmosphere in the school
The Activity Upload Forms:
each school completes these using the online form on the dedicated IIF Library website. All registered schools will receive a password and details of how to complete the online form.
We have built an online library of effective practice which IIF members can use as a resource to assist them in undertaking new activities to improve their work with families.
As schools complete their portfolio of evidence, they upload their activities to the dedicated website. Activities that will be of interest to other schools are then added to the library.
The library is already the largest ideas bank of innovative practice in family and community engagement.
There are over 450 school activities and we are adding to them regularly, as more schools complete the accreditation process.
Registered schools have unlimited access to the library which can be found here.
The following sections offer a range of examples of the activities that settings have developed as they work towards the award. The IIF library will contain detailed examples of activities that schools and other settings have successfully undertaken.
Examples of activities for each core aim
Core aim 1: Flying start in life
Training for parents in ICT and safe Internet use
Pre-school ‘Tiny Tots’ group for parents – run by volunteer parents
Home-school tasks to enhance parent participation
‘Parent friendly’ information
Parental questionnaires on curriculum and pastoral issues
Parents working in class and around school
Curriculum events – at times convenient for families
Family friendly transition/induction programmes
Mothers Day concert to value the relationships
Reading partnership schemes – training and support for parents
Effective Early Intervention team to support families
Involving parents in the key transition points (e.g. Reception, lower to upper school, Year 6 to Year 7, Post 16)
Specific support (e.g. transition workers) to support pupils with specific needs at transition
Core aim 2: Comprehensive range of education and learning opportunities
Improving attendance programmes
‘Open days’ to share new information/technology
Basic Skills award – evidence of raising standards/support for pupils and families
Parental consultation in IEPs and targets for individual children and young people
A diverse range of methods of communication e.g. letters, certificates, text messages used to encourage good attendance
Use of home/school tasks from the SEAL materials to promote home learning
Home learning activities, based on the ‘Family Values’ program
SIMs Learning Gateway accessed by parents online to track pupil progress
Core aim 3: Best possible health, free from abuse, victimisation and exploitation
Parent workshops on health issues
Health visitor workshops – e.g First Aid
‘Baby Massage’ provision classes held in school
Breakfast club – for parents!
Support for disabled parents to allow access to all information
Healthy Schools actions and events that fully engage parents
Inter-generational projects
Oral health project e.g. Design to Smile
Cooking Plus activities (children & families learning together)
Individual care and support for pupils with specific medical needs
E-safety sessions for parents and carers
Use of tools such as PASS and the NBAR sociogrammes to inform discussion with parents
‘Walking Bus’
Core aim 4: Access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities
Family use of sports facilities – organised in partnership with parents
Comenius scheme – families benefit from cultural exchange visits
After school clubs – some with transport provided
Exercise logs – overseen by parents
Travel plans/walk to school schemes
Community musical productions
Dads and lads fishing day – organised by a dad
Themed sports days
Parental involvement in school cultural activities (plays, concerts)
Parental contributions to school cultural activities (assemblies, concerts)
Family and community support for gardening projects
Class talks by individual family members around historical or cultural subjects (family members who have lived or worked abroad)
Family involvement in Eisteddfod
Core aim 5: Listened to, treated with respect, have race and cultural identity recognised
New intake meetings to welcome new parents/build partnerships
Charity work on behalf of families
Eco School work involving parents
Buddy/befriending schemes – reassurance for parents
Community garden development
Local ‘dad advisor’
Organisation of a Parent Council to feed in to school planning
Consultation with parents on the planning of family learning
Evaluation of schools events and activities for parents
Core aim 6: Safe community and home which supports physical and emotional wellbeing
Consultation with parents on range of policies
Designated parents room in school to host meeting/advice service
Support and regular links for looked after children
Support for families from the Community Police Liaison officer
CAMHS support for individual families
Bereavement counselling
Counselling/youth mentoring project
Kerb Craft – children and families taught together about road safety
Behaviour management sessions run for families
E-safety workshops for parents
‘Family Values’ programme
Parents involved in planning ‘safer routes to school’
Core aim 7: Not disadvantaged by poverty
Weekly savings scheme for parents
Money management courses for parents
Fund raising to support costs of school excursions/visits
Staggered payment schemes
Parental entrepreneurial initiatives
Support in completing “official” forms
Support to claim free school meals
Lending library to encourage family literacy
Credit Union savings scheme
School shop run by volunteer parents
Encouragement of parent volunteers to undertake qualifications and/or paid employment
Sponsorship of school equipment (e.g. sports, science etc) by local and national business or other organisations