Following the closing summary of Iain Ellis, Chair of  The National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS), Angela Constance, Minister for Children and Young People adds her thoughts on the NPFS conference this year and our recent online discussion.

When I took up the post as Minister for Children and Young People, I was particularly pleased to add Parental Engagement to my portfolio. I am clear that partnership with parents has to be at the centre of everything we do to improve the life chances of children, just as it is central to achieving the aims of Curriculum for Excellence. I want to make sure that we improve and deepen parental engagement so that as a Government, we ensure our policies and actions are relevant and helpful, and make a difference. That was why I was pleased to see the level of activity on the National Parent Forum of Scotland’s online debate, and to have had the opportunity to take part in both the online discussion and the NPFS Conference on 1 October at Bishopbriggs. It has highlighted a number of important areas that I will ask officials to take forward and raised others that we will reflect on and consider as we continue to drive forward an improved culture of parents as real partners.

I am grateful to the NPFS for giving parents a chance to raise their issues and concerns, and for giving myself and my Ministerial colleagues an opportunity to contribute.

As I said at the conference, I am looking forward to having weekly conversations with Parent Council Chairs across the country to see what more we can do to support parents to be involved in their child’s learning and their school community and how we can deepen parental engagement at all levels. I look forward to an on-going partnership with NPFS so that together we can do what we can to get the best for all our children in Scotland.

Angela Constance, Minister for Children and Young People

Related links:
NPFS Online Discussion 2011
NPFS Online Discussion – Summary (PDF)
Iain Ellis, NPFS Chair’s Closing Summary