Parents of older children, single parents and parents of disabled children are less likely to be involved in their child’s school, a Cardiff conference for professionals in the field of education and policy development will be told (Monday October 16).

Presented by Children in Wales as part of National Parenting Week, the aim of the Conference – "Parents and Schools – Making the Connection" is to explore the relationships between parents and schools - taking into special account ethnicity, class and gender issues and other potential factors in parental participation.

Conference speakers will include Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning and academic and policy experts from Scotland and from the University of Sunderland.

Research carried out by Children in Wales in advance of the Conference shows that parents are less likely to be connected to or involved with events and policy-formation at the local school as their children progressed from primary and up through the secondary school.

Barriers to attending school events and meetings, for example, ranges from work commitments, caring for other children, distance from home to school and home-arrangements necessary for a disabled child.

Jayne Isaac, Policy Officer at NCH Cymru, the children’s charity, said:

"Many schools are excellent at building relationships with parents but this can be more difficult at secondary school level or if parents have had a poor experience of school themselves. Also, there may be problems at home that are obstacles to regular links with the school.

In these circumstances, it is often useful for schools to have links to a service which can bridge the gap and work with families at home.

NCH Cymru’s project in Llanrumney, Cardiff, and another working with schools across Torfaen are just two examples of the support we give to this bridge-building.

Our workers can help children and parents deal with problems and improve the relationship between the family and the school."

Lynne Hill, Policy Director of Children in Wales stressed the need to enhance partnership between parents and schools:

"Parents play a direct and crucial role in helping their children learn, and parental involvement in a child's education has been shown to be a factor in better attendance, attainment and positive attitudes to learning.  It is absolutely essential therefore that the Welsh Assembly, LEAs and schools recognise the importance of parents’ role and provide them with the information and support to develop a partnership to support children’s learning.  Children in Wales’ survey has clearly shown that Guidance for schools on ways of involving parents in their children’s’ education would help give schools confidence to work with parents more effectively."