Welcome back!

It’s a new school year and that always brings energy with it.

New classes.
New relationships.
New opportunities to strengthen what already works well.

And whilst September is undeniably busy, I think most school leaders also enjoy this time of year.

There’s momentum.
Fresh starts.
The chance to build culture intentionally from day one.

And that September back-to-school air! Just drink it in.

As the summer holidays started, I wrote about how the first two weeks of September help us shape our parent culture (you can read that blog here).

You’ve got parents who are new to the school.

Those who have been with you for a long time.

Those that adore you.

Those that you know the relationship is… not at its best.

And whilst every relationship is different, September is often a really powerful opportunity.

Not because you suddenly solve everything.

But because the tone gets set early.

So here are a few things worth thinking about in these first couple of weeks:

For new parents:

I know you’ll make it easy to understand how your school works.

Are there any extra relationship-builders you can put in place that are low time, but high impact?

And keep an eye out for any early worries or friction points.

A calm conversation early on can often stop a much bigger issue developing later.

After all, for some parents, this is their very first experience of school from the parent side too.

For long-standing parents:
Don’t assume they know everything already.
A warm reset at the start of the year can go a long way.

For supportive parents:

It’s easy to neglect them because they rarely take up lots of time or emotional energy.

But just as you’d make sure every child in your class felt seen, take a moment to make sure every parent does too.

Reinforce the positive relationship they already have with the school.

Schools are communities, and positive voices help shape culture too.

And for relationships that feel strained:
Stay calm.
Stay warm.
Stay boundaried.
September is often a chance to reset the tone without revisiting every frustration from the past.
If anything, welcome them in more. Perhaps a ‘set the tone’ or ‘reset meeting’ if it’ll help.

Small things in September tend to grow roots.

What gets reinforced now often becomes “just how things are” by November.

You do not need a perfect parent culture this fortnight.

Just keep in mind: What are we already reinforcing with parents?

Because once you spot patterns early, it’s much easier to shape them calmly than untangle them later in the term.

And I’ve seen schools make surprisingly small adjustments in September that completely changed the tone of parent relationships across the year.

Not through tougher leadership.

Through clearer leadership.

Here’s to a brilliant start to the year,

Sonia ❤️

P.S. Over the next few weeks I’m going to share practical ideas for handling difficult parent situations calmly, confidently and consistently. 

Next week, I’ll be offering a coaching technique that can completely change how you respond to lengthy parent emails.

Don’t forget, if you’re really struggling with parental issues, don’t wait for my tips to land, just get in touch for a free consultation on how we can help you. Simply go to Contact us – Heads Up