The Muslim Parents’ Handbook was a simple resource that it was felt would be an essential guide for parents. The handbook project had a timeline of a year, and was funded mainly through private advertising. 3500 copies of the publication were printed, and distributed in 8 schools in Luton through Parents Evenings during 2007. The Project aimed to teach parents about the education system, with simple articles on subjects ranging from ‘Helping children with Homework’ to ‘SATs exams’, and ‘How to be a more involved Dad’.

We also aimed through the handbook to show parents that education was not just about study, but also about experiencing the world. With support from Countryside Access we included articles to encourage parents to engage in meaningful extra curricular activities with their children. And we subsequently added 2 important sections, one on place to visit with your child, and another cataloging educational and leisure activities available in Luton.

Most importantly we included translations in the handbook in Urdu and Bengali, to reach those parents who are so often missed.
In essence the Handbook hopes to encourage parents to be more aware of the important role that they play in their child’s education.

Since the project ended at the end of 2007, the MEF has received many requests for copies, and has gone on to distribute copies to other schools, educational departments and community centers.