Joséphine Vigouroux
At école M, the relationship between parents and the teaching team is at the heart of our pedagogical project. Indeed, we believe that it's by working together that we can achieve the most effective results for all children. This implies clear, open and respectful communication between teachers and parents, as well as a welcoming atmosphere at school where everyone feels "at home".
We offer parents the opportunity to take part in the daily life of the school whenever possible. Parents are welcomed in the classroom in the morning and at the end of the day. Between 8:30 and 9 a.m., children can arrive with their parents, settle into the classroom and take part in activities or read a book together. This helps children (and parents) to feel more at ease, and also gives them the opportunity to talk to their child's teachers if necessary.
We then offer a 20-minute time slot for the exit at the end of the day, to allow parents and children to leave in a relaxed manner and possibly to talk briefly to the teaching staff.
Throughout the year, parents can take part in a variety of activities. These include regular outings to the library, as well as other one-off outings, to the theater for example, or our weekly "Play together" workshops. We also encourage parents to take part in our shared breakfasts, giving them the chance to spend a relaxed moment with their child at school, socializing with other parents and chatting with teachers in a relaxed environment.
At the same time, three individual meetings between teachers and parents are held each year to discuss each child's progress and needs. Of course, other meetings can be organized throughout the year, and we are always happy to exchange ideas with parents. Another important support for co-education at école M is the Livret de l'enfant. Each child has a file containing all the objectives of his or her schooling in preschool, as well as a record of exchanges between teachers and parents throughout the year. Twice a year, it will be updated by teachers and shared with parents, so that they in turn can note any changes they have noticed in their child.
One of the most valuable things parents can do for their child is tovalue what they do at school, by being curious. This can be done, for example, by sharing and asking questions, implementing a snack time or looking at photos together on Class Dojo, the parent/teacher app we use to share moments and photos.
At the end of each period, the children take home their Life Binder, to share with their families all the wonderful things they've accomplished at school. Finally, please don't hesitate to let us know of any suggestions you may have for continuing to build this link between school and families. We'd be delighted to support parents' initiatives in this area!
Naomi Savory
