A LOCAL primary school said they are proud to have been presented with a special award for its work with families.

Carrfield Primary Academy, based in Bolton-upon-Dearne, part of Astrea Academy Trust, received a Silver Award by the charity ParentKind under its Parent Friendly Schools scheme.

The award celebrates Carrfield’s commitment to parent partnerships which help to build trust, belonging and meaningful partnerships with families.

In its report, the Parent Friendly Schools inspector says that Carrfield has ‘captured what we hope for - parents are part of how the school works, not an extra’.

The inspector says it was ‘inspiring’ to hear how the academy understood the importance of stability at home to children’s educational outcomes and noted how staff go above and beyond the call of duty to support families.

Communication between the academy and families has been transformed through the use of the ClassDojo app, bringing meaningful two-way engagement between school and home.

The school was also praised for its strong decision to move away from having rigid homework expectations and instead encouraging parents to build good routines at home.

This ‘empathetic strategy’ has helped parents feel more supported in their role, school bosses say.

The school’s approach to parental involvement is praised, with welcoming initiatives - such as a mums’ coffee club - providing unthreatening spaces for parents to connect and reducing isolation.

Community partnerships are another area of strength, with the school described as being firmly ‘at the centre of the community’.

Initiatives such as a long-running competition, passed down through generations, help to foster a sense of belonging, challenge negative perceptions and strengthen ties between families and the school.

Katie Adamski, principal at Carrfield Primary Academy, said: “We are so proud to receive this Silver Award which recognises our commitment to building positive relationships with all our families, based on trust and belonging.

“We hope that our approach is a powerful example of what can be achieved - for example, good attendance, wellbeing and overall happiness - when parents are genuinely valued as partners in education.

“I would like to thank the whole school community for its ongoing support as we celebrate this Silver Award.”

Rowena Hackwood, CEO of Astrea Academy Trust, added: “Congratulations to all the staff and families at Carrfield Primary Academy for this accreditation, which is very well deserved.

“At Astrea, we are determined to break down barriers to achievement and to offer rich opportunities that strengthen our communities.

“This Silver Award for Carrfield reflects this ambition and we are very proud of the academy’s achievement.”