Research shows that parental engagement has a significant impact on student success with Sparx. Schools that enable parent emails see on average 15% higher homework completion rates compared to those that don't. This article explains the importance of parent engagement and provides practical strategies for involving parents in their child's science learning journey.
Why we engage parents
Why we engage parents
Parents who understand Sparx Science can better support their children's learning
Regular parent communication helps improve homework completion rates
Parent involvement creates a supportive learning environment at home
Clear parent communication reduces queries to teachers about homework
How we communicate with parents
How we communicate with parents
Parents receive automated weekly updates about their child's homework progress.
If your school uses multiple Sparx Learning systems, parents will receive a single email containing updates for all systems with a recent active homework.
If your school has Sparx Maths and maths homework is turned on, then the multi-system homework email is sent 3 days before the Sparx Maths completion day. If you do not have Sparx Maths or your maths homework is not turned on, then the email for Science is sent on a Wednesday.
Emails include current homework status and completion data
Parents can opt out of emails at any time using the unsubscribe link included at the bottom of the email
Parents can click the link in the email to access Parent Portal which gives an overview of task completion.
Parent portal
Parent portal
Parent portal gives a live view of the student's current homework completion, as well as their previous homework tasks.
A unique portal link is included in every weekly email and expires 21 days after the email was sent.
If your school uses multiple Sparx Learning systems, parents can view homework completion information for each system.
Strategies for engaging parents
Strategies for engaging parents
At the start of the school year, consider sending a letter to parents explaining why homework is important for their child's progress. Highlight the positive impact it can have on their child's outcomes and the confidence they can gain from completing all of their homework each week.
Below is a template letter you are able to edit and send out to parents.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on parent emails?
How do I turn on parent emails?
You can control parent emails settings by going to Management - School Settings - Parent Emails. See Adding parent emails for more information.
What should parents do if they don't receive emails?
What should parents do if they don't receive emails?
Ask them to check their spam folder first. If emails aren't arriving, they should contact the school to verify their email address is correctly recorded in the school system.
Can we change the day or time parent emails are sent?
Can we change the day or time parent emails are sent?
No, it's not possible to change the day or time parent emails are sent.
Can parents help their child?
Can parents help their child?
Parental support is fantastic, but over-helping or doing the work for the child could lead to Sparx Science misunderstanding their level and making their homework too difficult. They should encourage their child to:
Have a go at the question before seeking help
Use the adaptive support to help them find the right answer
Speak to their teacher before the homework hand in day/time if they need additional support
How can parents best support their child?
How can parents best support their child?
To best support their child, parents can:
Provide a quiet space for homework
Encourage students to attempt questions independently
Contact teachers if their child is consistently struggling