Building relationships with parents can bring a welcome relief for teachers. At High Clarence Primary School in Middlesbrough, parental involvement relieves teachers and simultaneously provides the "hands" that are needed to run clubs.
The parent participation programme ensures that pupils have breakfast and it builds good relationships with the community.
Meanwhile, at Trawden Forest Primary School in Colne, two talented parents give their teachers the opportunity for some PPA time in the classroom every Wednesday. Whilst students are learning yoga from parents Caroline and Spanish from Kerry-Anne, the teachers can concentrate on other things.
St Gregory's Primary School in Bolton on the other hand has the Chips group, a dedicated band of parents who call themselves Computer Helpers in Primary School. They not only raise funds to provide the school with new technology but keep themselves up-to-date with computer skills which they then pass on to the teachers. It's a system which benefits the whole school.
