Moving Up: Getting Ready

Parental Engagement Network (PEN) has been working with schools and settings to engage parents and caregivers in their child's learning and development since 2011.   Through their membership, hundreds of schools have developed an approach that fosters communication and understanding, resulting in raised attainment.  

Moving Up is a bridging unit that schools can use to engage and support families with the transition into Secondary School.  The project effectively engages parents through meetings, home activities and other strategies and helps schools to communicate better with parents to share information about the school.  It also gives parents a better understanding of their role in supporting their child’s learning as well as providing opportunities for them to build peer support networks, express their views and access other support and learning opportunities.

The Getting Ready programme equips feeder schools with the Moving Up training and resources to engage and support Primary-aged students and their families.

The practical tips and activities in Moving Up resources have been aligned to core essential skills, with opportunities for students, parents and carers and families to identify the skill step they are developing.  Guided questions support reflection and self-assessment, with clear links made between the use of the essential skills and positive outcomes.