Teachers’ Standards

Supporting Families Facing Barriers to Engagement: Practical Strategies

Have you ever felt unsure how to build positive relationships with parents who seem anxious, may feel disconnected or hesitant to engage? This course explores practical, evidence-informed strategies that help teachers communicate with empathy, reduce barriers to engagement and build trusting home–school partnerships that improve outcomes for children. Through relational approaches, realistic communication techniques and supportive professional guidance, you will learn how to recognise early signs of disengagement, respond confidently to challenging situations and create consistent, meaningful connections with families over time.
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Yiotina Achilleos-Dania, Saleena Sandhu & Carly Watkins

2 hours

Online Course

By completing this course, you will:

understand the barriers that can affect parental engagement and recognise when families may need additional support or alternative approaches;
build positive, trusting relationships with parents through proactive communication, welcoming first interactions and empathetic practice;
use effective communication and de-escalation strategies to manage sensitive conversations constructively and prevent issues from escalating;
support parents in helping their child by providing clear, practical guidance that is realistic, accessible and responsive to family context;
work collaboratively with colleagues, SLT and external services to ensure families receive joined-up support, including appropriate signposting to pastoral, SEND, attendance and wider community services.

Course Lessons

Written by: Yiotina Achilleos-Dania

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Yiotina has spent over a decade immersed in the world of primary education. For 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 uses 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 ten 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

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Carly Watkins has over 20 years of experience as a primary school teacher, including several years as an assistant headteacher, with responsibility for whole-school curriculum development and overseeing pupil progress and attainment. She also holds a master’s degree in Education Practice and a NPQ in Leading Teacher Development. Carly has been a mentor for both student and Early Career Teachers and currently facilitates the Early Career Framework for ECTs and their mentors, delivering training at conferences and via online seminars. At Twinkl PD, Carly heads up pedagogical professional development — a role which means she can support educators to develop their personal practice and pedagogy, something she is passionate about on a national scale.