We are heard. We are valued. We are included.

Many voices

As you walk through the corridors of PNPS, you might hear many voices. You might hear a teacher singing a song signalling that it is time for the class to line up; you might hear children laughing and chattering as they walk to break; you might hear a greeting called between two parents; or you might hear the ducks quacking or the rooster crowing. But there is a difference between hearing the sounds of the various members of a school community and their voices really being included and heard in a school.

What is having your voice heard as a parent at PNPS? 

As parents, having our voices heard comes, first, in the clear and open channels of communication between the school and parents. It is always clear who should be approached and the response, in our experience, is always swift and professional no matter how small or big the issue.

A further example of the open approach is the “What do you think?” section of the newsletter which is periodically included. This section asks “What do you as parents of PNPS want that you are not seeing in the school? What are our blind spots as a school? What are we not seeing that you are seeing?” with an invitation to email Ann your response. This is another channel encouraging parents to reflect and provide feedback in a non-complaining way. More often than not, you will be invited to be part of the discussion around the issue and help with the solution.

The school’s open-door policy, where parents are always welcome in the school, is another way parents feel heard. Parents are invited to any assembly – not just the ‘special’ ones. Every opportunity is given for parents (and other family members) to come in and read to a class and to see ‘the school in action’. These are not staged events but rather a window into what happens daily. The transparency around what is happening in the school – being privy to the practice and workings of the school on many levels – enables parents to engage with a wide range of specific issues and have their voices heard in a meaningful way if they feel the need to speak up.

The active participation of parents in the school also goes deeper than observation. Parents are asked at the start of a year what their skills are and what they would consider contributing to the school. Can you sew? Do you have a contact for printing? Do you have time to cover library books? Can you help redesign our grey water system? Value is placed on a variety of skills, talents and attributes that enable a range of parents to feel valued, be involved, and be “heard”.

What is having your voice heard as a child at PNPS? 

For the children at PNPS, having your voice heard might mean always being encouraged to show and share your talents, whatever they may be. Whether you are a keen golfer; a chess player; a budding dancer; a natural scientist in the making; or a kind and caring person, space is made for you to be acknowledged. Maybe you are encouraged to come and teach your class the latest information you have read. Maybe you can showcase your talent at a “Celebrating the Arts” evening or a sports tournament. Maybe your talents and attributes are recognised at an assembly, through an award or, through “Caught in the Act”.

Recently, as more of the Reggio Emilia approach has been incorporated into the Foundation Phase, there has been a concerted effort to have children self-direct their learning more. They figure out what they would like to know and grapple with how to do research. Families and teachers guide and support these efforts. Children sometimes also then teach each other. This approach puts the children’s voices front and centre.

Having your voice heard also means having an ethos where children feel respected enough to approach a teacher to negotiate their homework or ask whether they can use a standing desk, a ball, a bean bag or have a bird on their shoulder to optimise their learning and equilibrium.

Does it really work?

Surely, in a school community of staff, children and parents that number in the hundreds, not everyone’s views, comments and preferences can be taken into account? People might have conflicting views or different approaches. That is so, and there is no doubt that it is impossible to please everyone all the time or implement everyone’s ideas and suggestions. But, whether or not your input, ideas or skills are used or put into practice, our family’s experience of inclusion at PNPS, through our children and as parents, is that our views, our feedback and our participation has always been acknowledged and taken seriously. This has meant that we have always felt included and we have always felt valued. We have been heard.

Written by Helen Joannides, parent with 2 children at PNPS

Do you have any questions about how PNPS makes inclusion happen? Do you have a suggestion for a topic that you would like to see explored here? Please email them to: communitysupport@pnps.co.za