Working with parents – Matt Ellis, reception teacher

Matt Ellis, reception teacher and computing lead at Rosendale Primary School, explains how parents can be a teacher’s most powerful ally in creating a successful online learning environment for pupils. It’s important for teachers to empathise with families and build constructive relationships; while it’s important that parents respect the teacher’s professional expertise, constructive feedback can often offer a helpful insight into what is and isn’t working. Many parents have come together to form closer communities via tools like Whatsapp during the pandemic, and these networks can be a great way to reach less engaged families.