Concept

Our school has a strong focus on working together with parents and with outside organizations, such as children hospitals, child protective services and social workers. The idea behind it is that all 3 parts of the triangle (home, school and outside organisations) work together closely, to ensure the best outcome for each student’s private, social and school life. It is also important for the student to know that everyone is working together, that we care, and that school life is not separated from the rest of the student’s life.

In my class there are only 5 students and I therefore have time and possibilities to build strong relationships with my students and their parents. At the beginning of each school year I have meetings and appointments with their social workers and I touch their psychologists, doctors and therapists. I also make sure I see the parents twice a month to stay in touch and with them, to get an idea of the children’s life at home and of their social surroundings.

In order to maintain the positive relations between the parents, outside organisations and the school we hold monthly meetings where we discuss topics like homework, home duties, social life and the student’s behaviour in school and at home. The meetings are discussed in advance with the students and they get support from the school counsellor who works with them on a weekly basis. Usually the students themselves take part in the meetings.

Evaluation

During the past year I have noticed a positive impact of these meetings both with the parents and with the outside organisations.

I personally got a better understanding of the student’s life at home and of their problems. Life isn’t always easy for them and life at home can be difficult. Knowing what they have to deal with at home on a daily basis, knowing their facilities at home (having a table at home where they can do their homework cannot always be taken for granted) helped me to understand their needs and why they sometimes act in school the way they do.

Working together with the school and the outside organisations helped the parents to improve their helping system. They got ideas of what they could do to support their child to ensure the best outcome for their private and school life (e.g. possibilities of therapies, funding for therapies, youth clubs, job coaching).

Seeing their teachers, outside organisations and parents working so closely together also helped the students to focus more effectively on their school career. They don’t have to worry so much any more about things that they actually shouldn’t have to deal with in the first place (debts, money and unemployment of their parents). Of course there will always be problems that come up, but pupils knowing that a lot of people care about them and support them give them a broader view to develop in the best way they can.