Not sure they were in the right field...

Today’s activity day had it all, climbing wall, Wheels Extreme, an ice cream van and plenty of smiles. A brilliant day spent together, making memories and simply enjoying being part of our school community. #BelongLearnGrow

Morning

The biggest community project a school will ever run is linked to positive relationships. Ysgol Maes Hyfryd are not just visiting local care homes they're creating friendships that benefit pupils, residents and the wider community. Check our newsletter to find out more

What if one of the most valuable things a school creates is a positive family memory? Because families don't only remember newsletters. They remember moments and positive memories quietly become positive relationships.

Turns out Sports Day is a lot more enjoyable when you're 12. 😅 High jump, long jump... they all seemed like great ideas at the time. Today, every muscle I own is questioning those decisions.

Not every successful school event needs an educational objective. Sometimes its job is much simpler. Give people a reason to smile together. Schools often ask How do we improve parental engagement? Perhaps we should also ask How do we create moments families want to return for?

When families look back on this school year what story will they tell? Will they remember another newsletter? Or will they remember how your school made them feel? The moments people remember rarely appear on an action plan. But they often become the foundation of trust.

Schools measure attendance, attainment and behaviour. What if we measured moments of connection? The conversation after the event. The parent who stayed longer than planned. The grandparent who came into school. Some of the most important outcomes are the hardest to measure

Think about your school events. Would every family be able to take part? Sometimes the smallest adjustments make the biggest difference. Accessibility. Timing. Cost. Communication. Inclusion isn't about making a special event. It's about making sure everyone can be part of it.

Every school wants families to feel part of the community. The strongest schools don't just tell families they belong. They create moments that prove it. Shared experiences, memories and stories. Belonging isn't built in the reception area. It's built alongside each other.

Never underestimate the importance of small steps. #Inclusion

Morning. Out early with the dog to avoid the heat. Go well

Happy Father's Day. The strongest communities are built when children have adults who show up consistently. Who listen. Who encourage. Who believe in them. Today we celebrate those people. Not because they are perfect. Because they are present.

Most school improvement plans contain objectives for attendance or behaviour. What if one of the most overlooked school improvement strategies is simply helping families feel recognised? If you're interested in strengthening relationships, not just communication get in touch.

Quick Friday reflection. Think about the last positive interaction you had with a family. What made it work? Often it isn't the conversation itself. It's the evidence that the conversation didn't start today. Trust grows when families know you remember yesterday.

One question sits at the centre of this week's Investors in Families newsletter: If families described your school, would they say: They know us? The schools creating the strongest partnerships are often not doing more. They are noticing more. That difference matters.

Pick one family interaction. Ask yourself What do I already know about this family that shows I've listened before? Use that detail Watch what happens The strongest relationships are rarely built through big gestures They are built through remembered conversations

Families don't always remember what schools said. They remember what schools noticed. The football match. The dance performance. The difficult week. The pet that died. The grandparent who was unwell. People remember being remembered.

Another batch of our First Night in Care Bags heading out to local care homes. These bags provide practical essentials for young people entering care. With @YouthShedzNew help our students prepare and contribute to every bag. Young people supporting young people.

Strong family engagement doesn't happen by accident. That's exactly why Investors in Families exists. We provide a practical school improvement framework. If family and community engagement is a priority for your school get in touch. [email protected]

I usually avoid displays because I am rubbish at them. Made one today that I thought was ok. First Student walks past. "Holy ChatGPT!"

Choose one point of entry this week: Phone call Email Website Reception Then ask: What is one small change that would make this feel warmer, clearer or easier? Small improvements compound. That's how strong relationships begin.

Rebuilding trust is hard for schools. Building it from the start is easier. A clear welcome process can reduce anxiety, increase confidence and strengthen relationships before challenges arise. The welcome matters.

Families notice the small things. How quickly a call is answered. Whether someone uses their child's name. How clearly the next steps are explained. Whether they feel expected or processed. Trust is often built through dozens of tiny interactions. Not one big event.

A useful challenge this week: Ask someone who has never interacted with your school to: Find your contact details Make an enquiry Read your latest communication Then ask: "What would that feel like if I was anxious about my child?" The answers are often more revealing than any survey.

Could a busy parent explain your communication system in 30 seconds? If not: Don't add another channel. Simplify the ones you already have. The schools making the biggest difference are often reducing complexity.

We were trying to spot the @rafredarrows in school today. We had all given up. I went to do the bins and they suddenly went over. Can you see them in the distance? Couldn't get my phone out quick enough

We often measure communication by output. How many emails? How many reminders? How many posts? Families measure communication differently. How easy was it to find what I needed? Sometimes reducing communication increases engagement.

Small audit worth trying. Count how many places families receive information. Email. Texts. Apps. Social media. Letters. Then ask: Are we making communication easier... or asking families to work harder? Clarity is often the hidden family engagement strategy.

Schools often respond to low engagement with more communication. Another message, app, reminder. It feels helpful. But families rarely say: We need more information. They usually say I wasn't sure where to find it. The challenge is not communication. It's navigation.

Look who we found on our bird box check today in school

What family engagement practice would immediately disappear if the lead person left tomorrow? People are important. But sustainable family engagement lives in routines, not individuals. Strong systems protect strong relationships

This week's Community Connections explores a simple idea: Relationships are expensive. Rituals are cheap. Why the schools building the strongest family trust are focusing less on big events and more on small, repeatable moments. Read the latest edition www.investorsinfamilies.co.uk/newsletter/

Cricket training soon comes around. Happy Friday

Bird box update from school

The goal isn’t perfect engagement. It’s dependable engagement. Small actions. Repeated well.

Morning 🌞

Schools invest huge energy into open evenings. Families remember Tuesday mornings. The ordinary moments are doing more work than the big events.

Please help. I mention from time to time I volunteer at a clothing charity. This summer we’re aiming to provide 1200 uniform & nursery clothing packs for free. If you can help with a small donation Aviva will match it 😁 communitiesfund.avivafoundation.org.uk/p/qr/XWJOZ2x...

Choose one routine. Can every staff member explain it the same way? If not that’s your improvement project.

2:15am airport run done as two of our young people (and staff) headed to Portugal. For us in AP, another huge first ticked off. These moments are built on trust, prep and staff willing to go the extra mile. Really proud.Sometimes progress looks like a passport and a boarding pass

Spot anything? We had something watching us on the dog walk.

Always enjoy a spin on the bumper cars

If your family engagement lead disappeared for two weeks… What would continue automatically?