It's back to school - for grandparents!

By Jayne Warren - 15/08/2007

Grandparents are officially being encouraged by Ofsted to take a greater role in the education of their grandchildren.

According to Ofsted's recent school survey, grandparents had a “positive influence” on pupils' behaviour, motivation and achievement, and schools themselves are calling for more advice on how to involve parents, grandparents and carers in school life.

The report is hardly surprising given that so many parents work full time, with little energy or hours left over to supervise their children's homework - let alone take them to school or encourage them to study. In fact, Ofsted concluded that that long working hours are jeopardising family life. But when grandparents or other carers have time to stay at a school for the first ten minutes of lessons, for example, the success rates of the children were significantly increased.

The report said: “Schools which actively encouraged the involvement of grandparents and other members of the extended family noticed improvements in children's attitudes and achievements.  As well as contributing directly to the curriculum, in history for example, grandparents had a positive influence on pupils' behaviour, motivation and achievement.”