Government promise each secondary school child a personal behaviour mentor

Feeling out of touch now your child's at secondary school? The government plans to put parents back in the picture by assigning a single member of staff to act as a go-between.

The behaviour mentor will be allocated before the pupil starts in Year Seven and will stay with them for the rest of their school career. Parents can expect a welcome phone call and invitations to information sessions before their child's first day, and regular updates throughout the academic year.

The annual school report and parents' evening is to be replaced by regular emails or even a secure website where you can check your child's attendance record. A new system to deal with complaints will also be introduced. The new proposals mean the school could become a one-stop shop for health, benefits, parenting skills and housing advice.

Schools are looking to strengthen the links between home and school with parent-run school councils, and the government intend to set up a national parent panel to advise ministers on family policy.

Although most teachers welcome the ideas, there is a concern that they will place too many demands on an already over-stretched workforce and schools could become 'overloaded', according to the Association of School & College Leaders.

This is all part of the new 10-year Children's Plan, to be announced later today by Children, Schools & Families Secretary, Ed Balls. The plan will also tackle outdoor play, inappropriate advertising aimed at children, pressures which cause negative body image, and increased access to social services information and welfare support for parents.

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