ERO publishes booklet to help parents ask questions of schools

Date: 21/09/2012

A new publication from the Education Review Office aims to help parents ask schools about how their child is doing at school.

ERO says the booklet is part of an ongoing commitment to provide support for parents wanting to know how their child is progressing.

Dr Graham Stoop, Chief Executive and Chief Review Officer for the Education Review Office, says it is every parent’s right to ask questions of schools.

“Our new publication suggests questions parents can ask teachers in primary and secondary schools about their child’s learning and wellbeing at school, and what they should expect. It also looks at what makes a successful school.”

Dr Stoop says that for the past 18 months ERO has been working on providing support to parents, including revising its school review reports so they are more easily understood by parents.

“The main audience now for our school reports is parents. We have also recently undertaken a series of focus groups with parents to see if further work is needed on the reports.”

The new booklet for parents is part of a series ERO will be producing, with the next one being for schools’ boards of trustees.

The booklet, "How is my child doing? Questions to ask at school', can be viewed on ERO’s website and copies can be requested from info@ero.govt.nz.