Engaging parents through online reporting - London 26 February 2010

Conference programme

Registration and coffee
09:30 - 10:00

 Time to network for delegates and facilitators

Welcome
10:00 - 10:10
Lorna Thompson

A welcome to the day and Becta's approach to working with advocate schools to develop online reporting and improve parental engagement.

Introduction to online reporting
10:10 - 10:40
Mike Briscoe

An introduction to parental engagement and online reporting in the context of how technology is changing children's learning experiences and the approaches used by schools to communicate with parents.
Though facilitated table discussion delegates contribute to a shared understanding of how ICT can be used to improve parental engagement.

Simple steps to engage parents
10:40 - 11:10
Christine Terrey

An online reporting advocate school describes how they are starting to use technology to engage parents in their children’s learning with a focus on the simple steps that can be taken to use the technology available.

Followed by facilitated discussion.

Break and networking
11:10 - 11:30

A coffee and refreshment break as well as an opportunity to discuss what has been heard and said so far....

Enabling dialogue and conversations
11:30 - 12:00
Val Brown
Simon Pile

An online reporting advocate describes how technology has enabled dialogue about learning, attainment and progress, supporting learner and parent voices and conversations.
With a particular focus on learners with special educational needs or disabilities.

Followed by facilitated discussion.

Empowering learners and parents
12:00 - 12:30
 Christian Hilton
 Becky Greehalgh

Advocates describe how a range of media such as video, podcasting, mobile devices and multimedia rich content and be used with learning platforms and social networking technologies to enable learners to play an active role in engaging parents in their education.

Active lunch
12:30 - 13:30

Networking with other schools, advocates and facilitators
Schools showcasing their activities with parents, Becta resources and videos on display.

"What's available to help me?"
13:30 - 13:40
Simon Shaw

An overview of the resources and support available as well as the opportunities to work with and be an advocate for using ICT to support parental engagement.

"What does all this mean for school leaders?"
13:40 - 14:00
Val Cameron

An advocate leader considers the four strands of school development in the online reporting framework.
A) recording and reporting
B) parental dialogue and engagement
C) workforce involvement
D) exploiting technologies

Keynote address by Kirstie Andrew-Power
14:00 - 14:40

The keynote address by a leading figure on parental engagement presenting the latest research on the impact of improved parental engagement and what schools are doing in practice to improve this.

Delegate discussion led by Mike Briscoe
14:40 - 15:10

What could make a difference in your school?

A leading figure supporting the role of technology in improving parental engagement and school improvement makes the case for why this is important and why we should try and make a difference.

An opportunity for delegates to discuss the things that have inspired them the most and that they will take away with them.

Your questions
15:10 - 15:20
Speakers and presenters

A question and answer panel session giving delegates the opportunity to ask questions of the school and keynote speakers and share their learning from the day.

Plenary and close
15:20 - 15:30
Lorna Thompson

Reflection on the day's discussions and what has been learnt.