Skolehjemsamarbejde

Skolehjemsamarbejde describes a structured set of practices aiming to strengthen the collaboration between schools and students’ homes (parents or guardians) to support a pupil’s learning and wellbeing. The concept covers communication, joint planning and coordinated actions that address learning barriers, attendance, behaviour and social development, within both school and home contexts.

Participants typically include teachers, school leaders, school counselors, social workers and families. The collaboration can involve regular parent–teacher meetings, written reports, planned home visits when appropriate, development of individual action plans, and shared information within statutory privacy rules. It is usually guided by national or local guidelines for inclusive education and early intervention.

Aims and practices: to reinforce learning conditions, improve attendance, identify and address barriers early, and ensure consistent support across home and school. Practices may include regular dialogue with parents, translated information for families with language needs, parental participation in school activities, and coordination with municipal services when welfare concerns arise.

Benefits and challenges: benefits include improved academic achievement, higher attendance, better student well-being, and stronger trust between families and schools. Challenges include privacy considerations, language and cultural differences, time constraints for staff, potential stigma, and balancing parental involvement with school autonomy.

Context and variants: In Denmark, skolehjemsamarbejde may be part of local pupil support teams and municipal strategies for inclusive education and safeguarding. It can be formalized through action plans or pupil support agreements and is shaped by national laws governing education, data protection and welfare services.

See also: parental involvement in education; inclusive education; school social work; early intervention.