Parents Approach to Education It has been recognised by the National PTA that effective involvement of parents and families in support of children and their education has produced ‘meaningful and lasting results’. Affirming the significance of parent and family involvement is central to the objectives of MEA. MEA has adopted the PTA standards to ensure effective parent and family involvement.

MEA will ensure:

		Communication between home and MEA is regular, two – way and meaningful.
		Parenting skills are promoted and supported.
		Parents play an integral role in assisting learning.
		Parents are full parents in decisions that affect children and families.
		Parents are welcome at MEA and their support and assistance sought.
		Community resources are used to strengthen schools, families and student learning.

Employing standards increases MEA, parent and family’s ability to:

		Promote meaningful parent and family participation.
		Raise awareness regarding the components of effective programme.
		Provide guideline for school that wish to improve their programmes.

In addition to this parents are then able to:

		Create a home environment that encourages learning.
		Communicate high, yet reasonable, expectations for their children’s achievements and future careers.
		Become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community.

Parentline

Mentoring for Educational Achievement has recently started a new service to offer support, guidance and a listening ear to parents and carers who are experiencing challenging behaviour with their child.

The service is available from 5.00pm – 7.00pm every Monday evening to those parents who need support.

Darren McNeil, our family support Advisor, and Claire Tombs, the Mentor co – ordinator will be available to talk or listen to parents and carers.

To access Parentline, telephone 0121 553 3075

Parent Support Groups

The focus of the support group is to place emphasis on the parent sharing thoughts, ideas, problems and strategies and to provide a context in which individuals come together in order to help each other resolve any issues. It's aim also is to help parents make clear sense of the type of behaviour their children are displaying and why. And to give practical, down to earth suggestions to assist them to transform their child's challenging behaviour.

We also other one to one support to those parents/Carers who feel they require additional support.

For more information on parent support groups or one to one sessions, please contact Darren McNeil at MEA.