Government calls for father involvement in schools

TdaNews Direct
Published: 14 May, 2008

The Government has called for fathers to become more involved in school life this week.

Schools minister Ed Balls made the appeal as part of a Parent Know How roadshow, which was designed to highlight the key issues of parental support.

He said: "I've been to a Friday morning music assembly and been the only dad. Once you're there it's fine, but when you walk in it feels a bit intimidating to be honest.

"The best thing in local schools would be to get dads in groups, strength in numbers. If you can get one dad to take another one along, they could both go together."

He added that when fathers do get involved it makes a "positive difference", particularly in specialist sports colleges where dads can help out with a range of tasks.

In related news, teaching assistants in Bradford are really going the extra mile to get pupils to school safely and in a way that is environmentally friendly, reports the Telegraph and Argus.

Teaching assistants in the region have started a "human bus" that picks up children by foot and has resulted in 55 per cent of pupils in Yorkshire and Humber walking to school.