Equipping parents to support their children’s aspiration: What works?
Parents from low SES backgrounds, in common with other parents, report that they want ‘the best’ for their children’s future.
Getting a good education is a part of the aspiration of most parents, regardless of SES status. Parents from mid and high SES backgrounds usually have ‘educational cultural capital’ to support their children’s educational aspiration. This means they can confidently access information they need about possible education pathways within and beyond school, and know where to find out about financial and other support resources available to facilitate access to higher education.
There is a strong theoretical basis for the effectiveness of early outreach to children and families. However, evidence as to the nature and features of programs that are most effective in engaging low SES parents in building their children’s educational aspirations is limited.
This project addresses that evidence gap. It will:
- Build on partners’ combined experience and international literature to identify features of parent engagement and information programs and resources that are cost efficient and effective in informing and supporting low SES parents’ aspirations for their children’s participation in higher education
- Produce a web resource for institutions’ use in design of parent engagement and information programs and resources that are effective in informing and supporting low SES parents’ aspirations for their children’s participation in higher education