Chamber and committees

The Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 recognises the vital role that parents play in supporting their children’s learning by strengthening the framework for supporting parental involvement in school education. There is a duty on Scottish Ministers and education authorities to promote the involvement and engagement of parents in children’s education and the wider life of the school.

The Act provides a framework for ensuring that parents have the opportunity to express their views and have these taken into account on policy matters affecting the education of their children, including bullying. It makes provision for parents to be a member of the parent council at school and to have the views of the wider parent forum (whole body of parents in a school) represented to the school, education authority and others through a representative parent council for the school. It also gives them the right to raise their concerns and/or make a complaint.

We have established and wholly fund respectme, the national anti-bullying service, to build confidence and capacity to tackle bullying effectively, aligned to the National Approach to Anti-bullying for Scotland's Children and Young People. respectme also provide direct support to local authorities, schools, youth groups and all those working with children and young people. respectme also provide training to parents and carers around internet safety which also includes bullying. respectme has recently produced a document ‘Bullying…a guide for Parents and Carers’.

In addition, the refreshed national approach (which is due to be published in spring 2016), makes clear the role of all adults (including parents) in preventing and dealing with bullying as well as what they can expect from others.