Parents 'should know the teacher'

Ed Balls says parents should take time to know their children's teacher

Children perform better in schools if their parents know their teacher, Schools Secretary Ed Balls has said.

Co-operation between home and school may increase progress and ensure children behave in class, he said.

His comments come as ministers prepared to launch the Time To Talk consultation, to gather parental views on issues from childcare to homework.

Government-sponsored research suggests parents become less involved when their child moves into secondary school.

The survey was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

It concluded that barriers to parent involvement included limited time and a reluctance to "bother" busy secondary schools.

Researchers spoke to 56 parents in four locations around the country.

'Momentum gained'

Mr Balls said: "Parents' active encouragement and support for their children's learning produces academic benefits and children have a more positive attitude.

"But there are still many parents who feel that it is difficult to get involved in their local schools, especially at secondary level.

"I want to keep up the momentum gained in primary schools where parents are far more likely to get involved.

"From these research findings and the Time to Talk consultation events happening over the coming months I hope to be able to pull together a really coherent picture on how we can make it much easier for parents to get involved at every level."

The Time to Talk consultations in Leeds, Birmingham and London are designed to gather information from parents that will be used to formulate policy.

Parents will meet Mr Balls, Children's Ministers Beverley Hughes and Kevin Brennan, and Schools Ministers Jim Knight and Andrew Adonis to discuss their concerns and ideas.