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CHAPTER NINE: FUTURE POTENTIAL
Having examined views on the series of Making the Difference leaflets, it is important to understand views on the future potential for these and any ways in which these could be changed or modified in order to increase future awareness and usage.
9.1 Potential subject matter for additional leaflets
All school based respondents were asked to state additional topic areas they would like to see included in the Making the Difference leaflets. Chart 9.1 shows that around one in five respondents (19%) would like to see Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) covered. Around one in ten (12%) said they would like to see the leaflets deal with issues relating to behaviour, discipline and bullying. Smaller proportions of respondents referred to parental role / responsibilities, assessments, attendance and punctuality and children's responsibilities (each mentioned by 6%).
Chart 9.1 Additional topic areas would like to see included in the Making the Difference leaflets - School Staff
Notes to Chart
Source: Q9 Values below 6% not presented
Base: All School respondents (248)
Local authority staff was also asked the same question and, as shown in Chart 9.2, Curriculum for Excellence again featured, with 29% asking for this to be included in the series of leaflets. A further 14% noted they would like to see additional support needs and support in general included in the leaflets. Around one in ten (9%) said they would like to include the topics of bullying, child protection, health promotion and parental involvement respectively.
Chart 9.2 Additional topic areas would like to see included in the Making the Difference leaflets - Local Authority Staff
Notes to Chart
Source: Q7 Values below 9% not presented
Base: All Local Authority respondents (35)
Most of these themes were echoed by parents participating in the qualitative element of the evaluation, with the exception of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) as it might be expected that schools and local authority staff would have an interest in CfE because of its current topicality and impact on the curriculum. This was only mentioned by one parent at one focus group. Key non academic themes for future leaflets that parents focused on included:
- bullying;
- how to identify signs of autism, Aspergers, dyslexia and so on;
- emotional and mental welfare of children;
- etiquette / discipline.
Academic themes cited by some parents were:
- information on national assessments and grading systems;
- subject choices at secondary school;
- different teaching approaches.
Having identified potential subjects for leaflets, some parents felt that while a leaflet on bullying would be welcomed, there were some queries as to whether schools would be happy to distribute this to parents. There was perception from some parents that schools would be loath to acknowledge that bullying was an issue, and providing a leaflet on bullying could serve to heighten awareness of this. That said, parents whose children had suffered from bullying at school would have liked to be able to obtain information on how to deal with this, and information from an external organisation such as the Scottish Executive was perceived to have credibility. These parents felt they did not know who to approach to resolve any bullying issues and / or that the school had not been helpful when approached. There was also an issue over whether a generic leaflet would suit all or whether there was a need for a more localised leaflet that would acknowledge local authority and school policies on bullying.
While a leaflet on how to identify signs of specific disorders was suggested by some parents, this was not welcomed by parents of children with a disorder. They felt that they had been able to access much more in-depth information via specific organisations such as the National Autistic Society and that a leaflet along the lines of those already provided would not offer the depth of information required. Their suggestion was that a list of organisations, links and contacts would be more useful. Parents with children not suffering from any specific disorders noted that they probably would not read a leaflet on how to identify these.
It is perhaps disappointing that parents focused on the healthy eating aspect of the Healthy Choices leaflet and most did not realise this also covered emotional wellbeing and mental health. However, this was an issue that many parents felt should be included in a series of leaflets, particularly for parents of children of secondary age. It was felt by some parents that issues such as self harm, under-age drinking and so on are increasing and that parents need guidance on how to recognise symptoms as well as how to deal with them.
Some parents called for a leaflet on etiquette or discipline and noted that the behaviour of children is generally getting worse. Some attributed this to a more liberalised approach to education but noted the need for all children to be taught to respect others. If a leaflet such as this were to be produced, it would sit well with requests for a leaflet on Curriculum for Excellence, given that one element of this relates to responsible citizenship.
The three academically focused suggestions were made by parents who were concerned that neither their children nor their child's school provided enough information for parents to be able to understand national assessments and grading systems, subject choice or different teaching approaches. Subject choice in particular was seen to be very important by parents as it can shape the future working life of their child and most felt they did not have enough understanding to be able to help their child make subject choices or to be able to understand decisions behind these.
"I think it would be useful to have something that sets out what you need to know when your child says they want to be a vet or something; what training would they need to help. My child is going through choices at the moment and he's like 'should I take chemistry or biology?' and he wants to know which will be best for him. And I got the form and I thought it was so hard."
(Highland, Female, ABC1)
9.2 Future distribution of leaflets
All local authority respondents who participated in the telephone questionnaire were asked to state the ways in which the Scottish Executive's role should change in relation to the distribution of the Making the Difference leaflets. Of those who provided an answer, one in five (20%) said no changes were required and they were quite happy with the Scottish Executive's role and 11% noted they would like the Scottish Executive to continue with their active role.
Some respondents felt more consultation was necessary with parents (14%), with local authorities (11%) or with schools (9%) to provide input towards making the leaflets.
Chart 9.3 Ways in which the Scottish Executive's role should change in relation to the distribution of the Making the Difference leaflets
Notes to Chart
Source: Q15
Base: All Local Authority respondents (35)
Parents participating in the focus groups were largely unaware of any distribution channels that had been used for the Making the Difference series of leaflets. Where parents had been given leaflets, it was assumed that they had been issued by schools. Given that there was no apparent consistency in the leaflets that had been distributed by schools, there were queries over how schools had selected which ones to distribute. There was a preference from most parents for leaflets to be drip fed over time, and at times when each would be most relevant. We noted earlier that some leaflets were considered to be more appropriate for parents of primary aged children rather than secondary aged, and there were suggestions from some that most leaflets should only be distributed to parents of primary aged children.
"I think I would have liked these when your child starts at school in primary school. You get the whole school manifesto and I pored through that. That is probably when I would have read these."
(Highland, Female, ABC1)
There were also suggestions from some parents that schools should include these leaflets within their own information packs to ensure as wide a distribution as possible.
In summary:
- A range of different subjects was identified as potential subjects for inclusion in future leaflets in the Making the Difference series;
- Views on current distribution channels were largely positive, although there were some suggestions that increased consultation could be undertaken in development of leaflets.
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