ACTION NEEDED TO ENCOURAGE MORE PARENT VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOLS SAYS COUNCILLOR

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jun 2009

More parents should be encouraged to get involved in their children's educations both at home and as volunteers in schools York's Executive Member for Children's Services has told a senior government advisor.

Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, Councillor Carol Runciman made the comments to Sir Jim Rose, the man charged by Ed Balls to review the primary curriculum, at a meeting in York yesterday.

Councillor Runciman said, "Getting parents into schools as volunteers to help with reading and other activities has a very positive impact on children's education. It also helps the school build up a closer relationship with parents to ensure children are getting the most out of their time at school."

"We must all do what we can to encourage more parents into schools as volunteers and I made this clear to Sir Jim. I hope that it is something that the government will look closely at in the near future."

Councillor Runciman met Sir Jim Rose at a meeting of head teachers and senior education officials held to discuss his report on reforms to the primary curriculum.

Councillor Runciman praised the report saying a lot of the proposed changes were very welcome. She said, "His recommendation to give parents a guide to the curriculum is especially welcome. It will help parents to understand what their children are learning at school so they can support their children more effectively."

"Education needs to be a partnership between pupils, schools and parents and any steps to help strengthen that partnership should be welcomed."