It is clear from decades of research – and from ongoing conversations across the education sector – that communication between home and school is one of the most critical factors in a student’s success.
Indeed, this is considered so important that it is reflected in AITSL’s Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and the Australian Professional Standards for Principals. When families are actively engaged in their child’s learning, both at home and at school, student achievement and wellbeing improve. This is especially true of schools for specific purposes and support units, where strong, collaborative partnerships between home and school are essential. With this in mind, the following article outlines five practical tips for school leaders to consider when reviewing their communication practices with families.
In my 20-plus years working in the New South Wales public education system, including more than a decade as a primary school principal, one theme has remained constant: finding a meaningful, efficient way to engage families is both vital and challenging. In complex school settings with large numbers of students with additional needs, the importance of strong home–school communication becomes even more pronounced. Experience shows that the more informed and connected families feel, the better the academic, social, and emotional outcomes for students. Trust is fragile. It is much easier to damage than it is to build.
Every principal and teacher eventually faces the same question: How do we engage families in a meaningful way without creating extra workload for teachers or overwhelming parents?
The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to confront this question directly. As the world shut down, schools had to find ways to continue educating students while maintaining connections with families. Almost overnight, digital platforms such as Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and other learning management systems became essential tools.
For many parents, this was the first genuine window into their child’s daily learning. The experience demonstrated that technology could be a powerful way to build and maintain partnerships between home and school.
Now, in 2026, schools are more keen than ever to ensure that the connections discovered and strengthened during the pandemic continue to grow. The challenge remains: how do we keep families meaningfully connected to their child’s education in a way that is sustainable for both teachers and parents?
In special education settings, communication needs are often more complex. The content, mode, and frequency of communication are typically different from those in mainstream classrooms.
Alongside general classroom updates, families may need information about:
Parents of children with additional needs are also more likely to contact teachers about academic, health, or behavioural matters. While face-to-face meetings remain essential for sensitive issues, day-to-day communication needs to be accessible, timely, and practical.
Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs), and teachers of support classes, often need to find creative ways to show progress and success in their context, rather than relying solely on traditional communication mechanisms such as twice-per-year reporting or the school newsletter. Photos, videos, and short learning updates can provide families with meaningful insight into their child’s day and highlight academic, social, and personal achievements as they happen.
According to the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) in Supporting Complex Learners Through Family Engagement: A Case Study, regular, structured communication – particularly around sharing learning progress – is a powerful way to build trusting relationships with families. It allows parents to share information, such as how the day started, and to alert the school to anything that might affect learning. Likewise, teachers can provide a quick update at the end of the day, helping families prepare for conversations at home and reinforcing a positive, two-way partnership.
According to an article on ResearchGate.net, communication in special education settings is especially critical because learning is highly individualised and support-intensive. Without strong communication channels, both parents and teachers can experience frustration. This highlights the importance of clear, consistent, and reliable systems for sharing information.
Many schools use multiple communication channels:
Despite this, schools often lack a single place that genuinely connects families to both the practical happenings of the school and their child’s day-to-day learning. What is often needed is a simple, consistent platform that brings learning, communication, and school information together in one place.
So, with all this in mind, what are some ways that schools can strengthen their home–school communication?
Drawing on research and practical experience, here are five evidence-informed tips for improving home–school communication, particularly in special education settings.
1. Set realistic and consistent communication expectations.
Establish clear guidelines for the mode, frequency, and response times of communication so that all families receive the same quality experience.
(ResearchGate, 2022)
2. Focus on consistent, genuine communication.
Small, regular moments of connection build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships. Clear processes and shared platforms help make this sustainable.
(AITSL, Strengthening Parent Engagement and Improved Student Outcomes, June 2024)
3. Establish supportive, positive two-way communication.
Provide light-touch updates about learning and maintain a tone that builds trust and partnership.
(AERO: Supporting Complex Learners through Family Engagement)
4. Use technology and parents’ preferred communication modes.
Frequent, positive contact through technology is appropriate for most interactions, as long as alternatives exist for families without access. Digital media is highly engaging and generally readily accessible for parents, with video, audio, and image-based updates being particularly effective for communicating with families of children with additional needs.
(Graham-Clay, Communicating with Parents of Children with Special Needs)
5. Invite families to help tell the whole story
According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, effective family, school, and community partnerships mean everyone benefits: students show stronger engagement, achievement, and attendance; educators experience greater job satisfaction and success in motivating learners; families feel more connected to both their child and the school; and schools see improved morale and climate. Encouraging families to share achievements and milestones from home helps teachers and parents build a more complete picture of the child, strengthening relationships and supporting more personalised learning.
(Ross, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2023)
Technology alone is not the solution. What matters is how it is used. The right platform can bring together learning updates, messages, schedules, and celebrations into one shared space. It can reduce duplication, save teacher time, and give families a genuine window into their child’s education.
When communication is consistent, positive, and two-way, families feel informed, valued, and connected. And when families feel connected, students thrive – academically, socially, and emotionally.
In special education, that partnership is not just beneficial. It is essential.
If you’re interested in exploring how Hero supports effective home–school communication, and in hearing stories of success from New South Wales SSPs and support units, feel free to get in touch for further information.