Parents want child progress updates

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A poll of almost 1,500 parents found that only 16% receive monthly or weekly information about their child's progress.

More than eight in 10 (85%) said they received information just four times a year at the most, with a similar amount (81%) saying they were informed of their child's progress at parents' evenings. And a massive 81% said they would like more feedback from their child's school.

In contrast, almost three quarters (71%) of parents said they monitor their bank balance either online or by phone once a month, and 67% receive information from their mobile phone company on a monthly basis, via the internet or text messaging.

The survey, commissioned by the government technology agency Becta, found that parents want schools to adopt a similar updating system.

It found that almost seven in 10 (68%) want schools to use text messaging and emails to communicate with them on a regular basis. As it stands, only 8% currently receive information about their child this way.

Becta is encouraging parents to talk to schools about more effective ways of communicating regularly.

Niel McLean, spokesman for Becta's Next Generation Learning Campaign, said: "Engaging parents is key to a child's success at school. Yet it appears parents and schools are not talking as much, or as frequently, as parents would like."

In July, the Government' top adviser on behaviour in schools, Sir Alan Steer, called for schools to use new technology to update parents, including sending text or email alerts if a child fails to turn up to lessons.

TV parenting expert Tanya Byron said: "I think that parents are right to be asking to have greater and more regular access to information relating to their child's development at school. Using a variety of digital platforms, such as the internet and text, will enable schools and parents to have a greater collaborative relationship, which can only benefit each child."