Teaching Assistants

Parent Partnerships for TAs: Building Bridges Between Home and School

Ever wondered how a simple conversation with a parent could transform a pupil’s learning at home? This course guides TAs and HLTAs to communicate confidently and constructively with parents and carers, helping to build strong home–school partnerships. You will explore practical strategies for sharing progress, offering actionable suggestions and listening empathetically to gain insights into each child’s home context. The course also covers inclusive approaches for hard-to-reach families, safeguarding and GDPR considerations, and collaborating effectively with teachers to ensure consistent support. By the end, you will have the skills and tools to engage parents in meaningful ways that enhance pupil learning and wellbeing.
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Yiotina Achilleos-Dania,
Saleena Sandhu &
Carly Watkins

2 hours

Online Course


By completing this course, you will:

understand the vital role of TAs and HLTAs in building positive, trust-based home–school relationships that enhance pupils’ learning, wellbeing and inclusion;
develop confident, empathetic communication skills – including active listening, open-ended questioning and non-judgemental dialogue – to foster collaboration and mutual understanding with parents and carers;
use a range of communication channels effectively and accessibly, matching approaches (face-to-face, phone, email, school apps, etc.) to family preferences, linguistic backgrounds and cultural contexts;
share pupil progress, challenges and next steps clearly and constructively, using evidence-informed, jargon-free language and accessible formats that invite parental partnership;
design inclusive, collaborative engagement opportunities – such as workshops, drop-ins or SEND-focused planning sessions – while upholding confidentiality, GDPR and safeguarding protocols.

Course Lessons

Written by: Yiotina Achilleos-Dania

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Yiotina has spent over a decade immersed in the world of primary education. Most of her teaching career, she juggled the roles of Science and Maths subject leader, while working across key stage 1 and 2 (mainly based in years 2 and 6). Armed with degrees in Marketing Communications, Business Analysis and Primary Education (plus a National Qualification of Middle Leadership), she’s been at the forefront of introducing new initiatives, reshaping curricula and championing practical, hands-on learning to ensure every pupil thrives.
From training staff to supporting long-term skill progression, Yiotina has always been passionate about helping both pupils and teachers grow. Now, as a Twinkl CPD Content Writer and Editor, she’s swapped the classroom for the creative space of professional development, using her expertise to craft engaging, impactful resources that continue to support educators and learners.

Presented by: Saleena Sandhu

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Saleena is a Video Content Creator on the CPD team at Twinkl. She has over 10 years of experience as a primary school teacher, having taught across the full primary range from EYFS to year 6. Saleena has also supported and mentored trainee and early career teachers.

In collaboration with: Carly Watkins

Carly is the Quality of Education Lead at Twinkl PD, overseeing the development of Teachers' Standards courses. She is an experienced primary school teacher and senior leader with a MA in Education Practice and NPQ in Leading Teacher Development. Carly also facilitates the ECF, delivering training for current mentors and ECTs; she is passionate about accessible and actionable professional development for all educators at all levels.