Building partnerships - overcoming obstacles
Clear communication between partners is an essential aspect of effective partnership working.
Parents will often make assumptions about how professionals work. They may assume that information is passed on in schools and between agencies, and they may be dismayed to find this has not happened.
Issues around communication are critical and can lead to parents feeling angry, frustrated, upset, defensive and irritated. Here are some comments parents have made about their relationships with schools:
- 'I feel at ease to ask his teacher about any problems or worries of my child.'
- 'I can ring or approach the school at any time with queries.'
- 'Having structured regular appointments to talk about my child's progress and problems really helps.'
- 'That the school focuses on my child's strong points.'
These comments show us the importance of communication.