The Role of Parents in Enhancing Their Child’s School Experience
There’s no question that the role of parents in their child’s education is important for maximising a child’s confidence and overall school experience. At Newton House School, we consistently see how active and engaged parents boost their children’s outcomes in the classroom, on the sports field, and beyond. Parents are often the silent scaffolding behind a pupil who flourishes emotionally and academically.
However, parental support may seem like wishful thinking rather than a working system. This rings especially true in many South African communities, based on a comprehensive study by Motshusi, Ngobeni and Sepeng (2024). Their findings from research conducted in the Thabazimbi circuit reinforce what educators see countrywide: while parents dearly want to help, the “how” often proves daunting.
Read on for a closer look at the intricacies of improving educational outcomes with parental support and the many benefits pupils experience when parents are actively involved in their school journeys.
Why the Role of Parents in Education Matters and How to Make it Work
The benefits of parental involvement in education are undeniable. When there’s parent-teacher collaboration, pupils develop resilience and show excitement about learning. However, the study reveals the reality in many local schools.
It’s rarely a lack of caring. Instead, the parents often face real-world barriers, including:
- Gruelling work schedules
- Distance and transport constraints
- Limited literacy or unfamiliarity with changing curricula
South African teachers encounter parents who want to help, but grapple with household responsibilities or anxieties about homework they themselves cannot decode. While the research was conducted in a rural town where many residents work on farms and in mines, it’s safe to state that most parents struggle to juggle it all, regardless of where they live and work or what their circumstances are.
Thankfully, school engagement strategies don’t have to mean re-learning algebra or conducting science experiments. For many families, academic support at home can begin with asking about a child’s day and celebrating small milestones together.
Parent-Teacher Collaboration in South Africa: The Newton House Philosophy
We believe in improving pupils’ educational outcomes with parental support at every step. Newton House creates bridges between families and educators, from the pre-primary phase right through to college:
- Small classes (with a maximum of 13 pupils) guarantee every pupil’s and parent’s voice is heard.
- Flexible communication channels, from email and Google Classroom notifications for all formal communication with parents and students to in-person meetings, mean no one is left in the dark.
- Free support/homework classes and an open-door policy for queries build trust and partnership.
- A multi-disciplinary team, including speech and occupational therapists right on campus, enables collaboration between parents, teachers, and health professionals.
Education support at home is a shared journey. If parents are unsure about their child’s homework, our teachers are just a call or consultation away. When routines or behaviours turn tricky, we offer resources and strategies to support pupils. We value the role of parents in every pupil’s education and provide the support needed to empower families during the schooling years.
Nurturing Confident, Capable Pupils at Newton House School
The role of parents in education has to do with making the effort to consistently show up in the ways that matter. When schools invest in family relationships, pupils blossom into secure, self-assured young people, ready for life’s next challenge.
If you’re looking for a school that acknowledges parents as vital partners in every pupil’s success, Newton House is ready to welcome you. Contact us today.
