Parents

Bring a workshop to your school.

Get the ball rolling with your school and you may be surprised at the positive outcomes! Schools do want to support their families, and knowing what families want is half the battle. Letting your school know you would like them to host a workshop is a great start.

See the workshop topics Ask Lorraine for help

Lorraine Lee speaking to a hall full of parents at a school, in front of blue stage curtains

Who to ask

Any of these roles can help you to get started. Pick whoever you already know, or whoever is easiest to reach.

Headteacher or Deputy Head
Makes the final decision and holds the budget. Their time is in high demand; however, if you know them already, start here.
Head of Year or class teacher
Closest to your child and often quick to reply. They can raise it at a staff meeting.
Pastoral lead
Looks after wellbeing across the school and is often the person who organises parent workshops and information evenings.
SENCO
The Special Educational Needs Coordinator. A natural ally for anything about anxiety, behaviour or friendships.
ELSA
The Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. Works one-to-one with children on feelings and can be a good starting place.
Family support worker or parent support adviser
Some schools have one. Their whole focus is the link between home and school.
The PTA or 'Friends of' group
Often hosts and sometimes funds evening events and can take an idea to the school on your behalf.
The school office
Not sure who to ask? Reception will pass a note or an email to the right person.

What to say

Keep it short. You can say this at the gate, put it in an email, or hand it to the school office. Change the topic to the one you want.

Dear [name],

Several parents would love the school to host a workshop by Lorraine Lee, who runs practical, warm sessions for parents on the key things which affect us and our children. She works with schools across the country and the sessions can be face to face or online, for about an hour.

Her topics are at lorraineleetraining.com/parents and she is happy to talk it through with the school directly. Is this something the school could support?

Thank you,
[your name], parent of [child's name] in [class or year]

How it usually works

Once the school is interested, Lorraine talks to them directly about the topic, the date and the format, so you don't need to organise anything beyond the introduction.

An evening or after-school session in the school hall, for parents from one year group or the whole school.
An online session, which suits parents who can't get in.
Alongside staff training: many schools book a parent evening and a staff INSET or twilight session on the same topic, so home and school are moving in the same direction.

What Lorraine offers schools