3. Different perspectives

Parents, carers, practitioners and governors may have different perspectives on what a partnership is and how teamwork makes a contribution to a child’s education, wellbeing, safeguarding and development. This raises important issues for governors when working with practitioners, parents and carers, and for practitioners when seeking to involve parents and carers in their work with children. This section highlights four particular points that can help to inform the development of partnerships with parents and carers, and the work of the governing body in:

• recognising parents and carers as individuals
• understanding why some parents and carers decide not to become involved
• working with ‘challenging’ parents and carers
• acknowledging family structures.