FOI Request - Parent-Teacher Conference Guidance

Request 101002916414

1. What guidance have you issued to schools in your authority regarding parent-teacher consultations, about whether they should be virtual and in-person meetings.
2. What guidance have you issued to schools in your authority regarding parent-teacher consultations, about if there is a specification on time of day meetings are held,
3. What guidance have you issued to schools in your authority regarding parent-teacher consultations, about the importance of meeting the requirement for engagement between parents and teachers.

Response 24-11-21

The Guidance issued to schools, which is regularly updated, is in line with the mitigations in place with the latest version of Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance on reducing the risks from COVID19 in schools version 6.2 which was published on 30 September 2021.  All mitigations and approaches are also agreed and discussed with the joint secretaries of our Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers (LNCT).

Therefore in response to the questions below:

1. What guidance have you issued to schools in your authority regarding parent-teacher consultations, about whether they should be virtual and in-person meetings. - response - in line with guidance this can only happen for individual circumstances, agreed in advance with specific parents.  It is not possible for 'normal' parents' evenings to take place in person and many schools are offering teams or other virtual meetings or a telephone call.

2. What guidance have you issued to schools in your authority regarding parent-teacher consultations, about if there is a specification on time of day meetings are held, response - as agreed and as part of Risk Assessment, schools are sanitised at the end of the school day and so no visitors are allowed unless community access where additional cleaning measures are put in place.  Any meetings agreed with parents are therefore during the school day where this is agreed in advance for individual circumstances.  

3. What guidance have you issued to schools in your authority regarding parent-teacher consultations, about the importance of meeting the requirement for engagement between parents and teachers.  Response - schools continue to engage with parents through methods agreed collectively.