Parental engagement: a study into the involvement of parents of early years' children

This study examines the use of parental involvement within early years area based initiatives designed to 'raise standards, widen participation and promote social inclusion'. The imperative to involve parents in communities labelled as 'disadvantaged' is explored with reference to one particular community in the north east of England. All three initiatives, a Family Numeracy programme, an Education Action Zone and a Sure Start programme have specific targets to reach in terms of involving parents in an attempt to meet the governments' three key objectives for education. This study consists of two phases and involves analysis of Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Mathematics Test results from twenty four children alongside an interview programme which involves forty two interviews. While it appears that initiative overload is occurring in this small community, interestingly this is not a concern of the parents who participated in the study. For parents involved in the initiatives, aspirations for their children were paramount. The ways in which early involvement in the initiatives impacted upon the parents' personal development as learners, upon family life, community regeneration and parenting, reinforces the value of those early years area based initiatives which encourage parental involvement. However it is the changing roles, responsibilities and recognition of parents, which adds weight to the idea that a new paradigm of parental involvement is emerging in the twenty first century.