INSET Opportunities

INSET Opportunities
with Suffolk Parent Partnership Service

What does the Parent Partnership Service Offer?

Work with Schools/Educational Settings

The Parent Partnership Service offers two kinds of INSET sessions: · 

Both types of INSET are designed to promote and develop partnership working between schools/ educational settings and parents and carers.

The annual INSET programme is delivered in one area per term, covering the whole county in the course of a year (details below).  It has recently been revamped and now consists of three separate programmes:

Programme A – Three sessions targeted at individual practitioners, focusing on personal practice in relation to:

1. Communication with Parents
2. Supporting Parents
3. Promoting Parental involvement

Programme B – Two sessions targeted at policy makers, focusing on whole school policy and protocol in working with parents.  Making links between school practice, local and national strategies and policies re working with parents together with identifying resources and support for developing these areas of work.

Programme C – One session looking at the work of the Parent Partnership Service – exploring how the PPS can support an educational unit’s work with parents.  Includes an explanation of all areas of the PPS work, alongside a particular focus on those areas the units are likely to come in contact with and/or use for support eg: Independent Parental Supporters, Disagreement Resolution, Parent Programmes, INSET and Facilitator training.

Meeting Individual INSET Needs

In addition to the annual INSET programme, INSET sessions may also be developed and designed to meet the specific needs of individual schools or services.  Such sessions have included work with Behaviour Support Assistants, Bilingual Assistants, Early Years Childminders and Early Years Sencos.  Further training is currently being developed for delivery within the Connexions and also the Educational Welfare Service.

Please contact our service direct if you think you have a specific training need that we could meet (details below).

Who is the training designed for?

INSET is aimed at all school staff, including administrative staff and governors, who have regular contact with parents and carers.  Information is distributed to all schools and settings and places are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis.  All training is free of charge.

How is the training delivered?

INSET sessions are delivered by the 3 Parent Partnership Area Co-ordinators and the Co-ordinator for PRUs, working in pairs. 
Each session uses an evaluation process to gather feedback from participants on the effectiveness of the programmes.  Feedback regularly comments on the relaxed and friendly style of delivery, along with the willingness to deal with direct issues that are currently being faced in schools and units.

Want to find out more?

Details for the annual across county Inset programme may be found below, along with contact details for the service for individual enquiries and further information.  Please contact us to discuss your training needs – we want to provide a service that is relevant to you!

Promoting and developing partnerships with parents and carers twilight sessions   

Session contents:

Session 1: Introduction to the Parent Partnership Service

  • Aims and role of Parent Partnership Service
  • Services offered to parents/carers
  • INSET available to schools and LEA staff
  • Parent support programmes provided by Parent Partnership

Sessions 2 & 3: Working in partnership with parents

  • To identify the benefits of parents and carers involvement in their children’s education
  • To explore when and why it might be difficult to engage parents and carers
  • To provide tips and strategies for engaging parents/carers who may be difficult to reach
  • To share examples of good practice
  • Effective communication with parents/carers who may be distressed or angry
  • Exploring support systems for school staff

Target group: All school staff, including administrative staff who have regular contact with parents and carers

Training provider: Suffolk Parent Partnership Service

Fee: No cost

Time: All sessions will last for 1½ hours, from 4.30 to 6.00 p.m.

Further details of sessions can be obtained from the Parent Partnership Service by phoning 01473 832971 or e-mail to:  Parent.Partnership@suffolk.gov.uk