Quality education does not only arise in the classroom. An important part of it is also open communication between the school and the family, mutual trust and sharing a common goal – to support each child in their development, independence and joy of learning. At Maple Bear Olomouc, we see parents as important partners of the school. We believe that it is the cooperation between the family and teachers that creates an environment in which children can feel safe, develop their skills and gradually take responsibility for their own learning.
Parents as school partners
Each child comes to school with their own experience, personality, interests and needs. Parents are the ones who have known their child the longest, and their perspective is therefore very valuable to us. We also want to bring parents closer to how their child is doing in the school environment, what new things they are discovering and where they are progressing.
We pride ourselves on open, respectful and two-way communication. We consider feedback from parents to be an important source of information that helps us better understand the needs of their children and the expectations of families. We actively seek it and see it as an opportunity for the further development of our school. Our goal is not only to pass on information, but to build a relationship based on trust, mutual respect and shared responsibility for the child’s education.
Kinderpedia: School communication in one place
Everyday communication between the school and the family is facilitated by the online platform Kinderpedia. It serves as an important communication channel through which parents have access to up-to-date information about what is happening at school as well as practical organizational messages.
Through Kinderpedia, we can share news from school life, photos and information about activities, pass on important announcements and keep parents up to date with what their children are experiencing during the day. At the same time, the platform facilitates the transfer of information between the family and the school team. However, digital communication is not a substitute for personal contact for us. We see it as a tool that complements everyday cooperation and helps it to be clearer and more accessible.
What are tripartites and why are they an important part of education?
One of the formats that connects the school, parents and the child are the so-called tripartites – individual meetings of the teacher, parent and pupil. Unlike traditional parent-teacher meetings, during which the teacher informs the parents about the child’s results and behaviour, tripartite also gives significant space to the pupil himself.
The child becomes an active participant in the conversation about his or her education. Together with the teacher and the parent, they look back at what they have learned, what they are doing well, what they enjoy and in what areas they want to develop further. The meeting may include, for example, a presentation of their own work, projects or portfolio, sharing of successes and a conversation about the challenges that the child encounters while learning. The teacher brings his pedagogical perspective, the parent shares experiences from the home environment and the child is given the opportunity to express his or her own opinion. Together, they then look for ways to best support the child in his or her further development. Tripartites are not just about passing on assessments – they are a space for dialogue, listening and joint planning of the next steps.
Self-assessment as a skill that we develop from an early age In
order for a child to be able to actively participate in their education, they need to gradually learn to understand themselves – their abilities, emotions, successes and areas in which they need support. That is why we lead children to self-assessment from an early age. Questions such as: What did I do well today? What was challenging for me? What new things did I learn? What would I like to try differently next time?
For younger children, it can be a simple sharing of experiences, choosing a job they are proud of, or talking to a teacher about what they have achieved. As children get older, they gradually acquire a greater ability to name their own progress, reflect on their learning and set other goals.
This approach promotes not only independence and self-confidence, but also the ability to receive feedback, reflect on their own decisions and perceive a mistake as a natural part of the learning process. It is important for us that children are able to appreciate their own efforts, recognize what helps them learn and are not afraid to ask for help when they need it.
One common goal: for children to grow into successful personalities
Communication between school and family means much more to us than passing on information about school events – it is the basis for mutual understanding and cooperation in the education and development of each child. It is a long-term process that is based on trust, willingness to listen and respect for the needs of the child.
At Maple Bear Olomouc, we want parents to know that their opinions have a place, we take their feedback seriously and their cooperation is important to us. At the same time, we create a space for children in which they gradually become active participants in their own education and learn to think about where they are moving. Because when school, family and child pull together, the best conditions for learning, personal growth and healthy self-esteem are created.
