We can help your school or setting to:
- Effectively engage all parents/carers to support their child’s learning
- Reach out to families who traditionally don’t engage with school
- Motivate and give staff the skills and confidence to develop creative and sustainable work
- Work in partnership with parents/carers
- Recruit and train volunteers. Accreditation can be offered
- Tap into the skills and resources of your communities
- Support schools to meet Ofsted and EYFS requirements
- Access a wide range of good practice and information – saving you time and money
We can work with families to enable them to access information, training and resources to support their child’s learning and development.
It has been a really enjoyable experience being part of the PEN project. It has been extremely beneficial to our school. We will continue to run it and develop it through the school.
Teacher, Whaley Thorns Primary School
Mouse Club project
Mouse Club was amazing, great fun and made Reception a memorable year. We loved taking part and will miss it in the future. Thank you for letting us take part.
Parent
Mouse Club project
The mouse became a trusted friend. Children really connected with this and the way they were able to use this to settle was invaluable.
Teacher, Birchfields Primary School
Mouse Club project
Very informative, good and to the point with lots of tips and strategies to help.
Andrew Collier, Lomeshaye Junior School
Managing Conflict
I learnt a lot about managing situations. Listening to other people’s situations and how they dealt with it was very useful.
Beth Peacock, Lily Lane Primary School
Managing Conflict
I have been very impressed by the uptake and the very positive outcomes from the project. This is exactly what we need – practical fun ways to engage parents in learning.
Headteacher, Newall Green Primary School
Nursery Home Learning Project
It helped me to understand how to help my son. I love all the activities. I would recommend them to all parents.
Parent, Newall Green Primary School
Nursery Home Learning Project
It has definitely improved children’s comprehension skills, and increased the amount parents are helping with reading.
Birchfields Primary School
Family Detective
The best thing was seeing the parents and children reading and solving problems together. It was a great hook for the boys!
Medlock Primary School
Family Detective
It was great and involved 50 out of 60 year 4 families.
Lily Lane Primary School
Family Detective Project
One mum found that her son who got bored quite often loved the activities and now loves numbers.
Newall Green Primary School
FUN Project
It's great to hear about new resources and schemes and share good practice!
Teacher, Chorlton Park Primary School
PEN Membership
The tip sheets are extremely useful - we have used them constantly
Teacher, Chorlton Park Primary School
Tip Sheets for Parents
It has helped his confidence and helped him to concentrate (he can’t sit down for more than a few minutes). They were all great activities. Our best had to be 'Get Active' and 'Shapes'. It helped me to understand how to help my son. I love all the activities, I would recommend them to all parents.
Parent, Newall Green Primary School
FUN Project
The response from Mouse Club has been amazing. It gave us more opportunity to begin to build relationships with parents and also answer any worries before they manifested! The mouse has been a fantastic tool and the children are already very attached to them. It has been reported that they have really enjoyed the activities.
Teacher, Hillside Primary School
Mouse Club Project
I have gained skills in engaging parents in an informal, non-threatening way. I will definitely take forward plans to run termly workshops in the future due to increased confidence.
Teacher, Hollingworth Primary School
Engaging Parents Effectively Project
I have enjoyed spending time with the parents and children and watching their confidence grow. I have loved how some parents in particular have been so proud of their work and have rushed in in the mornings to show me what they have done with their children.
Nursery Teaching Asssistant, Oasis Academy Harpur Mount
Engaging Parents Effectively Project
Mouse Club has been an excellent introduction into school life for my little boy. He was very nervous and anxious when I mentioned starting big school like his brother. Now he is happy, excited and can't wait.
Saxmundham Primary
Mouse Club Project
I feel more welcome in school because they’ve done that. We’ve had conversations and there’s some kind of rapport – I feel listened to. I feel more confident around school and they want to work in partnership with me and not just as they wish. I’m taken notice of.
Parent, Argoed High School
Moving Up Project
Looking at the completed activities was invaluable in helping me get to know the child and their family.
Form tutor
Moving Up Project
It really helped to be able to sit down and talk about the changes that would be coming up.
Parent, Argoed High School
Moving Up Project
It has helped children prepare better and become ours faster. Pastorally I think it’s helped immensely.
Assistant Head, Byrchall High School
Moving Up Project
I have enjoyed taking part in the project and have learnt how important engaging parents in their child’s learning and awareness of expectations for their child to be ‘school ready’.
Whaley Thorns (Charlotte Roper)
General Engagement
I have enjoyed spending time with the parents and children and watching their confidence grow. I have loved how some parents in particular have been so proud of their work and have rushed in in the mornings to show me what they have done with their children.
Harpur Mount - EF/ST project
General Engagement
I learnt how to use the ideas and bags in everyday life as well as incorporating bags into the home environment i.e bathtime, bedtime, playtime. It makes us realise that all learning is fun.
Parent at Hollingworth Primary School
Playclub Project
Even the most challenging of our parents are willing to participate if the appropriate support and activities are in place. I will definitely be taking the whole idea of the project forward next year.
Teacher, Sharley Park, Reception Home Learning Project
General Engagement
The tip sheets taught me many things I was unaware of ..e.g screen time.
Parent, Birchfields Primary School
Tip Sheets for Parents
We had parents who have never really engaged with the school, and this got them involved.
Cheetwood Primary School
Family Detective
Its really useful to network and find out about other agencies.
PSA, Kingsway Community Trust
PEN Membership
Fantastic, practical resources!
EYFS teacher, Rack House Primary School
Mouse Club Project
Going to PEN meetings always inspires me and motivates me!
PSA, Newall Green Primary School
PEN Membership
Brought up Mum's confidence to deal with issues, especially toilet training.
Teacher, Deepdale Primary School
Tip Sheets for Parents
He could hardly count at all before but he loved making me do star jumps. Now he can count to 10 - its amazing! We had such a lot of fun.
Parent, Romiley Primary School
FUN Project
I have got more confidence in working with parents, particularly in approaching them and speaking and advising them with how they can help their children at home.
Teacher, Rackhouse Primary School
Nursery Home Learning Project
A’s dad now stays in the mornings and engages in number activities which he didn’t do before.
Claremont Primary School
FUN Project
The parental engagement has been absolutely wonderful.
Pikes Lane Primary School
Family Detective
Thank you for introducing us to Playclub and all the new adventures we will share.
Parent, Hollingworth Primary School
Playclub Project
It makes us realise that all learning is fun. We can’t wait to fish ducks out of the bath, buy a currant bun or go on a bear hunt through the local park.
Parent, Hollingworth Primary School
Playclub Project
PEN uses a strategic overview of the different areas of parental engagement as a framework for auditing and developing the work.
We use a “mentor, model, coach” approach, keeping partnership with parents at the heart of all we do.
Meet the team
Janet Davies – Managing Director
Janet has 30 years’ experience in teaching, managing and leading schools, settings and clusters across all phases. Janet strives to support and create inclusive learning communities which promote achievement for all.
Jane Coogan – Director
Jane has worked in primary education for the last 10 years in various roles. She currently works with parents and in safeguarding in Longsight. She is also a parent of three teenagers!
Jane has worked in partnership with PEN for the last six years, including being involved in the Mouse Club and Active Families pilots.
She is very excited to be part of PEN’s journey.
Helen Beswick – Project Coordinator
Helen is PEN’s friendly Project Coordinator. She has experience of working for small charities and social enterprises in Greater Manchester.
Annette Cormack – Assessor
Annette supports parent volunteers in school in delivering activity groups for families and achieving qualifications in Parenting Support.
Joanna Bricher – Resource Development Officer
Joanna develops and designs PEN’s resources, in collaboration with our member schools.
Rebecca Maxwell – Administrative Assistant
Rebecca supports the day-to-day running of the office.