Parental Engagement

At Gardners Lane Primary School we value the engagement and the bond we have with our parents and the wider community.

We see Parental Engagement as parents and school staff working together to support and improve the learning, development, and health of children and the environment in which this takes place.

Parental engagement in schools is a shared responsibility in which schools, other community agencies and organisations are committed to develop a relationship to engage parents in meaningful ways. In this way parents become an iatrical part to play in their children’s education .

This relationship between schools and parents cuts across and reinforces children’s health and learning in multiple settings—at home, in school, and in the community. 

The document below provides an outline of just some of the opportunities that are on offer throughout the academic year:

GLPS Parental Engagement and Enrichment Offer – 2026/27

                                                                                                                                            Parent drop-ins to be organised in the last week of term 1, 3 and 5.

Early Years

Our Early Years practitioners work hard to ensure that pupils’ transition into reception  classes smoothly. Parents and carers are given all the support they need to understand the process of their children entering formal education - home visits and reception parents evenings are crucial parts of the admission process. We use these informal meetings to give parents the opportunity to meet staff to ask questions; receive welcome packs; explore the reception environment and order uniform.  

Transition days are designed to give pupils opportunities to familiarise themselves with the reception setting and staff before their admission in September.

Class Share Sessions

Class shares are a popular event at Gardners Lane for both parents and pupils.  Parents have an opportunity to engage with their child’s classroom environment and pupils can share their personal successes with the invited adult.

Parent Evenings

Twice a year, teachers will inform parents about the progress that their children are making. It is a time for parents to be made aware of personal targets and how they are succeeding against them and their children’s next steps, as well as how they are settling in and enjoying the school year.

Volunteers

We value the contributions that our volunteers make to the life of our school. They have a positive impact on our pupils’ learning, especially in reading and maintaining the outdoor area.

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

Gardners Lane Primary School has an active PTA. This group of parents and teachers  support in organising regular annual events to raise funds to enhance the experiences of our pupils over the academic year.

If you are interested in joining PTA and contributing with great fundraising ideas then please contact the school office for information.

Carol Service

Gardners Lane Primary School maintains excellent links with The University of Gloucestershire and Cheltenham Ladies College. During the period of Advent, the school invites parents to Francis Close Hall Chapel to take part in the annual Carol Service. To add to this very important time in the Christian calendar Key Stage 1 will perform their Nativity play.

Dojo

ClassDojo is a school communication platform that teachers, students, and families used to build relationships with parents celebrating what is being learned in the classroom.

The information shared through Dojo is written in several languages ensuring all  families have access to the ever-changing information.