Welcome parent and community input of support, expertise, and resources
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Involving parents and whānau in planning and preparing for the transition to the new space’
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On this page:
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Go to top of current page: Welcome parent and community input
Go to top of current page: Welcome parent and community input
Value parental knowledge
Value parental knowledge
Invite families to share approaches that are successful at home to build continuity and strengthen engagement and learning approaches.
- Consider furniture options and physical supports that work well (for example, chairs, table heights).
- Assimilate known interests, such as favourite colours, sports, and music, into the class.
- Identify successful calming strategies and replicate these (for example, objects, cushions, dark spaces).
- Align eating and personal routines with what happens at home.
- Consider visuals that can be used both at home and school to support understanding.
- Invite families to bring objects and items from home that are meaningful and offer support for their children.
- Engage in conversations to identify potential barriers and ask families for solutions based on their personal experiences and expertise.
- Use phrases and communication techniques that are effective and successful at home.
Listen to families
Listen to families
Parents, Dayna and Phil, explain how sharing successful approaches and incorporating their daughter’s interests reduced anxiety and provided consistency between home and school.
Utilise parent expertise
Utilise parent expertise
Parents, Nina and Melanie designed and purpose-built furniture for Waimairi School. They explain the importance testing furniture in spaces.
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Work with local iwi
Work with local iwi
Early engagement ensured the appropriate protocols were considered, including blessing prior to works commencing, relationship/orientation of spaces, reference to mana, whenua narratives through the design of the whare, and pōwhiri for welcoming all new students and other formal occasions.
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Work with parents and whānau”:
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Guide to Index of the guide: ILEs
Understand:
Strategies for action:
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Collaborate to develop an inclusive ILEShow suggestions for Collaborate to develop an inclusive ILE
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Develop inclusive teaching practicesShow suggestions for Develop inclusive teaching practices
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Design for all from the outsetShow suggestions for Design for all from the outset
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Involve students in transition to new spaceShow suggestions for Involve students in transition to new space
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Work with parents and whānauShow suggestions for Work with parents and whānau
- Provide ongoing discussion opportunities
- Introduce new learning approaches
- Welcome parent and community input
