• information sessions for all parents at key transition points in their children's lives, particularly starting school, and moving from primary to secondary school
• parenting groups and programmes
• family learning sessions to allow children to learn with their parents
• specialised support for parents who might need it, for example, parents whose children have problems with attendance or behaviour at school
• information on the advice and support available to parents - through national helplines and websites, and the local family support service

Extended schools need to offer parents information sessions at key transition points in their children's lives. They also need to provide parenting groups and specialised support for parents whose children have attendance or behaviour problems and information on support available through national helplines and websites.

Schools will want to develop links with local children's services, particularly social services, health and voluntary and community sector providers, securing input from specialist staff who are skilled in facilitating parenting groups and supporting individual parents. It will be crucial to ensure that services are attractive and useful to all parents, including parents from minority ethnic groups and single parents.

Extended schools serve as a hub of services for parents. Over time they are expected to broaden the range of services they make available to parents through, for example, offering services to provide respite care for parents of children with special needs and/or counselling services for parents having relationship difficulties.

Setting up an effective range of extended services that make a difference to parental participation and raise children and young people's achievement and wellbeing, requires in-depth consultation with parents and carers, pupils and the wider community on the services they need and want.

Schools will want to adopt a whole-school approach to improving their links with parents. Trained and skilled support staff or teaching assistants can often be the most appropriate and prime link to families.

Schools that work well with parents can expect significant, lasting benefits, including:
· greater parental involvement in children's learning
· providing better help to staff and parents to address children's wider needs
· reduced health inequality through greater take up of school-based health and social care services such as smoking cessation club and midwifery services
· improved levels of achievement
· more positive pupil attitudes and behaviour
· increased parental participation in, and support for, the life and work of the school
· greater willingness for parents and school to share information and tackle misunderstandings and problems at an early stage

Where children's centres are co-located alongside schools, there are even greater opportunities to expand the range of services on offer through healthcare and social services.

Useful websites for parents:

If you are looking for information and advice on the welfare of your child, the following websites may be of assistance:

• Directgov features the widest range of government information and services. The site has an extensive section for parents, including information on finding a school, healthy eating, special educational needs and youth justice. In addition to government departments, the site also links through to relevant third parties that can offer additional trusted advice and support. 

• ParentsCentre provides information and support for parents on how to help with their child's learning from birth to 19 years old. The site covers a whole range of issues that you and your child may encounter, from finding childcare, homework and exams to bullying and truancy. The forum and ask-an-expert section allow parents to share experiences and put questions to the panel of experts. 

• Sure Start is the Government's programme to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together: early education, childcare, health and family support.