Parents and education —issues, options and strategies

Summary

The research on parental involvement on which this article is based was funded by the Department of Education and Science for a period of three years. Some of the findings are summarized here, and some of the implications for policy formulation, if work with parents is to be incorporated into practice, are considered. This research has shown that developing work with parents can significantly improve what is provided by schools and services but that the potential of this practice is frequently under‐exploited. The findings shed light on some of the complex issues involved in home‐school relations and suggest ways in which current practice may be enhanced and developed.