25AUT83 Face-to-Face: Leading Difficult Conversations with Parents

This face-to-face course equips teachers with the skills and confidence to lead sensitive and constructive conversations with parents when concerns arise about a child's learning or development. It explores how to identify and assess a child's needs using both formal and informal tools and how to interpret this information within the Continuum of Support framework. Teachers will learn to set clear, achievable short-term targets in collaboration with parents, ensuring the child’s voice is included throughout the process.

The course also provides practical strategies for preparing for and conducting difficult conversations, using assessment data to guide discussion with clarity and empathy. Participants will gain an understanding of referral pathways and the roles of supporting professionals, as well as how to plan follow-up meetings, review progress, and maintain open, ongoing communication with families in a respectful and solution-focused manner.

Identifying a need with a child - assessment
○ Understand signs that may indicate a particular need
○ Explore formal and informal assessment tools
○ Checklists and structured assessments

Continuum of Support - From Assessment to Action
○ Understand the Continuum of Support framework (e.g., Classroom Support, School Support, and School Support Plus)
○ Use the information gathered to identify:
-Child’s strengths and needs
-achievable short term targets
○ Set SMART targets
○ Ensure the child’s voice is included - how do they view their understanding and progress
○ Inform and collaborate with parents on short term targets
○ Review support plan

Understanding Supporting Professionals
○ Understand referral pathways and access to services

Leading the conversation with Parents
○ preparing for the meeting: goals, language, tone
○ Use assessment documentation effectively to guide discussion

Follow up conversations
○ Plan for review meetings and continued communication
○ Adjust support plans as needed
○ Setting review timelines and expectations
○ Keeping lines of communication open
○ Ensuring pupil voice is included
○ Documentation and accountability

This in-person session is suitable for all Primary Teachers, SETs & SNAs.