Parent associations can play a key role in helping early years parents feel welcome in their school community. Parents, carers, and relocated families, can find their initial contact with the school community especially daunting. P&Cs provide a friendly face for families to connect with other families in the cohort.
Council encourages P&Cs/PPAs to promote a role for early years parents on the committee to be a voice for parents of the junior cohorts. Download the 'EL parent rep' role description template for ideas on defining this role.
Other ways for associations to engage new families include:
- Share parent resources with your new parent community: 'school parent resource pack' and the essential nature of 'Play' for brain development - supporting children's play,
- Consider creating a space for a small parent/carer Library
- Apply for grants to create a family 'welcome' kit' or to hold an activity to engage new families (such as a playdate or bbq),
- Download a pre-designed invitation for your early learning parent representative volunteers (see the 'thank you' template too),
- Provide multi-lingual resources for new parents like this one: 'why PLAY is important for health and brain development'
Arabic (PDF: 395kb), Dari (PDF: 398kb), Dinka (PDF: 308kb), Hakha Chin (PDF: 301kb), Karen (PDF: 216kb), Persian (PDF: 197kb), Simplified Chinese (PDF: 329kb), Swahili (PDF: 304kb), Tamil (PDF: 705kb), Vietnamese (PDF: 322kb)
Early Learning Parent Forums
Council runs annual online parent forums (live webinars) with guest speakers including 'Play & Brain Development' and 'Transition to School'. For notifications please join Council's early learning This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Learn about how other P&Cs get the job done through '...at our P&C' designed to share the stories and expertise of all P&Cs '...at our P&C'
- Role of the Preschool Parent Committee or parent representative
- Council resources for parent associations
- Training
- Handing over well
- Preschool Parent Associations (PPAs) that are considering becoming a subcommittee of their primary school P&C can download the PPA process guide to becoming a P&C subcommittee.