At Mary Elliot Academy, we promote active parental engagement. When it comes to supporting the education and development of our pupils, we recognise that effective work with parents and carers is crucial.

This page is dedicated to providing key information that you need. Whilst sharing resources, strategies and links that would be useful.

Working Together: Our Partnership with Parents and Carers

At our school, we believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential to helping our young people thrive. Parents and carers know their children best, and your insight, experience and aspirations play a vital role in shaping each student’s journey.

Our approach to parental engagement is rooted in our shared values of independence, aspiration, respect, resilience and community. These values guide everything we do — for our students, our families and our wider school community.

Open Communication Built on Respect

We are committed to open, honest and respectful communication. By working closely with parents and carers, we ensure that every student is understood as an individual and supported in ways that reflect their strengths, needs and goals.

We keep families informed and involved through:

• Regular updates on learning, progress and wellbeing
• Annual reviews, EHCP meetings and person-centred planning
• Ongoing communication with teachers, therapists and support staff

We welcome questions, feedback and conversations, recognising that mutual respect and trust are the foundations of effective partnership.

Aspirational Outcomes for Every Young Person

We have high aspirations for every student and believe that, with the right support, all young people can achieve meaningful outcomes. By working together with families, we set ambitious yet realistic goals that support academic progress, personal development and preparation for adulthood.

Parents and carers are key partners in celebrating achievements, big and small, and in shaping pathways that reflect each student’s potential.

Promoting Independence and Resilience

Supporting students to develop independence and resilience is central to our work. We collaborate with families to encourage consistency between home and school, sharing strategies and guidance that help students build confidence, self-advocacy and life skills.

We understand that progress may look different for every young person, and we value perseverance, adaptability and resilience — both in our students and in the partnerships we build with families.

A Strong and Supportive Community

Our school is a welcoming, inclusive community where everyone belongs. We value the role parents and carers play in strengthening this community and actively encourage involvement through meetings, events, workshops and ongoing dialogue.

We recognise the challenges that families of children with special educational needs may face, and we are committed to working alongside you with empathy, understanding and support.

Together, as a respectful and aspirational community, we can empower our young people to become confident, resilient individuals who are prepared for the future and valued for who they are.