Parent support advisers (PSAs) work in partnership with families, parents, carers and pupils in a school context.

Parent support advisers work with parents and children to:

  • help improve behaviour and attendance
  • overcome barriers to learning to help parents support their children’s learning
  • work with parents to increase their involvement in their child’s education, both at school and at home.

The work of PSAs varies depending on school's needs. It can include one-to-one support for parents to engage them with their children’s learning to working with groups of parents.

Day-to-day tasks could include:

  • arranging and running classes or events for parents
  • promoting attendance at parent evenings
  • giving one to one assistance to parents
  • contacting parents of absent students
  • arranging access to education welfare services or other relevant specialist services for parents who may not have access
  • arranging and conducting home visits.

Parent support advisers work in a number of different settings - either across clusters of schools or in a single school. They come from a wide range of backgrounds including education, health services, social care, as well as actual parents. Typically PSAs work with a range of staff within school. Outside school they may work with other agencies that support parents and children.