Purpose:

The Parent Helper Program enables parents/guardians to participate as valued members of the community by:

• Enabling the learning of students by providing additional support to the classroom program
• Contributing to the delivery of a differentiated curriculum model – parents working with students on their individual needs, determined by the teacher
• Developing the parent’s understanding of the educational practise ‘Gradual Release of Responsibility Instructional Model’ and how teachers facilitate the learning of all students
• Applying this understanding of instructional practices in literacy and numeracy, so as to be involved in the learning of their child/children
• Assisting with programs in sports and the arts

If the above points are observed, the Parent Helper Program will contribute to the growth and achievement of our students.

Responsibilities:

It is the responsibility of classroom teachers to:

• Collate parent interest and determine their Parent Helper Timetable.
• Review/revise this timetable (at least once a term) to ensure maximum parent involvement.
• Display the Parent Helper Timetable outside or in the classroom or send the timetable home to parents
• Determine the role of the parent helper for each session and communicates this clearly to the parent and students.

It is the responsibility of parents to:

• Participate in the Parent Helper Induction session (this is required prior to working as a parent helper).
• Read and become aware of this policy
• Communicate availability with their child’s/children’s teacher
• Assist in the classroom program under the direction of the classroom teacher by:
  •   Working with individual students
  •   Working with small groups of students
  •   Providing a role model for learning
  •   Supporting students to complete tasks
  •   Assisting with collecting assessment data for the teacher
  •   Completing general class tasks

It is an expectation that Parent Helpers will: 

• Avoid making educational judgements
• Act on the understanding that all children can learn
• Act on the understanding that children learn at different rates and have different learning needs
• Act on the understanding that children have different strengths
• Communicate with the classroom teacher any difficulties (appropriateness of task, behavioural issues, social relationships)

• Refer discipline issues to the class teacher
• Ensure they are comfortable with the role they are taking on

Confidentiality – Parent Helpers will:

• Retain confidentiality at all times
• Respect the privacy of children and parents
• Avoid mentioning the names or learning needs of students in front of their own child/children or other parents
• Be aware that children can be hurt by harmless remarks from their peers and adults

Process

• We request that parents participating in the Parent Helper Program have a current ‘Working with Children’ Check
• Parent Helper Induction sessions will be advertised in the newsletter
• Two sessions (am/pm) will be run in at the beginning of the school year
• Parents communicate their interest in attending this Induction session via a permission slip, email or in person to the leadership team
• Parents complete the Induction Session run by the Wembley Literacy Coach and or Literacy Consultant
• If there is significant demand for a future parent training session, staff may be able to cater for this, or alternatively, new parents to the school may be trained by buddying/shadowing an experienced helper
• Teachers will receive the names of the parents of students from their grade who have participated in the Parent Helper Induction session
• Once the Induction session has been completed, Parents communicate with classroom teachers their availability (days and times)
• Classroom teachers establish a timetable based on one parent per session or a maximum of two parents
• Parent Helpers will sign in at the Office and receive a Visitor’s Badge prior to commencing their role in the classroom
• Parents are asked to not bring younger children to the classroom when acting as a Parent Helper. This will enable optimum focus on student learning
• Parents will work in the classroom at all times under the supervision of the classroom teacher