iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Good accreditation should help you understand your practice. Not create another administrative task. So we have simplified Investors in Families. You do the work with families. We help you recognise the impact

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Good family engagement does not become better because somebody copied it into another form. If the evidence already exists, use it. Less paperwork. More partnership. More focus on impact. That is why Investors in Families is changing.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

We sometimes make family engagement too big. Join the committee. Become a governor. Attend the forum. Volunteer regularly. What about: Could you spend ten minutes telling us what you think of this? Small asks can open doors that big invitations never will.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Here's an uncomfortable thought. The easiest families to engage can become the easiest families to listen to. And eventually their voice can start sounding like the family voice. It isn't. Good engagement deliberately creates space for different voices.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The parents who turn up are important. But they aren't necessarily representative. Family engagement gets interesting when we start asking: Who aren't we hearing from? Not because they don't care. Perhaps because we haven't created the right way for them to contribute.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Not a bad place to be on a Monday morning.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

The parents who volunteer are invaluable. But they are not necessarily representative. The loudest voices are still only some of the voices. Good family engagement creates more ways to be heard.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Some families never complain. Never ask for help. Never volunteer. Never miss anything important. So we assume everything is fine. Perhaps the better question is, What would make their relationship with school even better?

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

A parent turning up doesn't necessarily mean they feel connected. A parent not turning up doesn't necessarily mean they don't care. Attendance is easy to count. Relationships are harder. But relationships are what matter

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Schools tend to notice two groups of families. Those who are highly involved. And those who need support. But what about everyone in between? The families who read the messages, turn up and quietly get on with things. They may be the most overlooked group of all. Who sits in your missing middle?

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A small challenge for this week. Speak to one family you wouldn't normally speak to. Not because there is a problem. Not because you need something. Just to strengthen the relationship. Family engagement doesn't always need a programme. Sometimes it needs a conversation.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

We don't want Investors in Families to be something sitting on your wall. We want it to be something happening in your school. That's the difference.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

There's plenty of good practice in schools. The clever bit isn't always inventing something new. Sometimes it's knowing what's worth borrowing.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

September doesn't usually suffer from a shortage of good intentions. It suffers from a shortage of time. Good resources should give some of it back. That's what we're building at Investors in Families. #InvestorsInFamilies #FamilyEngagement

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

First win of the new school year. I remembered all the door codes and logins for my laptop.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Something is changing at Investors in Families. We’ve been working behind the scenes on the next stage of our offer and it goes well beyond accreditation. More resources, tools settings can actually use. Examples of great practice. September is going to look a little different.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Happy Yorkshire Day A day to celebrate the county that gave the world Yorkshire pudding, proper tea, straight talking and the belief that anywhere south of Sheffield is basically down south. Home of people who can have a full conversation using just the words Aye and Tha knows

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Anyone know what type of snake we are dealing with?

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Waiter asked me today if I was a fighter or a wrestler. Really? It happens more often than you'd think. Just years of rugby and a pair of ears that have seen better days. Definitely a lover, not a fighter.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

A day exploring the turquoise waters of the La Maddalena Archipelago. That will do.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

If anyone asks what I do for a living on holiday I never say teacher. The moment you say you're a teacher, there is a chance someone decides you've just volunteered to run an unofficial kids' club! To all the teachers currently protecting their peace Stay quiet and stay strong.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Not sure they were in the right field...

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Today’s activity day had it all, climbing wall, Wheels Extreme, an ice cream van and plenty of smiles. A brilliant day spent together, making memories and simply enjoying being part of our school community. #BelongLearnGrow

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

The biggest community project a school will ever run is linked to positive relationships. Ysgol Maes Hyfryd are not just visiting local care homes they're creating friendships that benefit pupils, residents and the wider community. Check our newsletter to find out more

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

What if one of the most valuable things a school creates is a positive family memory? Because families don't only remember newsletters. They remember moments and positive memories quietly become positive relationships.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Turns out Sports Day is a lot more enjoyable when you're 12. 😅 High jump, long jump... they all seemed like great ideas at the time. Today, every muscle I own is questioning those decisions.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Not every successful school event needs an educational objective. Sometimes its job is much simpler. Give people a reason to smile together. Schools often ask How do we improve parental engagement? Perhaps we should also ask How do we create moments families want to return for?

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

When families look back on this school year what story will they tell? Will they remember another newsletter? Or will they remember how your school made them feel? The moments people remember rarely appear on an action plan. But they often become the foundation of trust.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Schools measure attendance, attainment and behaviour. What if we measured moments of connection? The conversation after the event. The parent who stayed longer than planned. The grandparent who came into school. Some of the most important outcomes are the hardest to measure

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Think about your school events. Would every family be able to take part? Sometimes the smallest adjustments make the biggest difference. Accessibility. Timing. Cost. Communication. Inclusion isn't about making a special event. It's about making sure everyone can be part of it.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Every school wants families to feel part of the community. The strongest schools don't just tell families they belong. They create moments that prove it. Shared experiences, memories and stories. Belonging isn't built in the reception area. It's built alongside each other.

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Reposted by Gav Cass

Aaron King @9000lives.org · 26/06/2026

Never underestimate the importance of small steps. #Inclusion

image shows two.
first has 6 rungs which are widely spread apart. A child is unable to reach the first rung.

A second ladder, of equal length, has 40 rungs which are narrowly spread. A second child has reached the top of this ladder.

Caption reads never underestimate the importance of small steps.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Morning. Out early with the dog to avoid the heat. Go well

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Happy Father's Day. The strongest communities are built when children have adults who show up consistently. Who listen. Who encourage. Who believe in them. Today we celebrate those people. Not because they are perfect. Because they are present.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Most school improvement plans contain objectives for attendance or behaviour. What if one of the most overlooked school improvement strategies is simply helping families feel recognised? If you're interested in strengthening relationships, not just communication get in touch.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Quick Friday reflection. Think about the last positive interaction you had with a family. What made it work? Often it isn't the conversation itself. It's the evidence that the conversation didn't start today. Trust grows when families know you remember yesterday.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

One question sits at the centre of this week's Investors in Families newsletter: If families described your school, would they say: They know us? The schools creating the strongest partnerships are often not doing more. They are noticing more. That difference matters.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Pick one family interaction. Ask yourself What do I already know about this family that shows I've listened before? Use that detail Watch what happens The strongest relationships are rarely built through big gestures They are built through remembered conversations

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Families don't always remember what schools said. They remember what schools noticed. The football match. The dance performance. The difficult week. The pet that died. The grandparent who was unwell. People remember being remembered.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Another batch of our First Night in Care Bags heading out to local care homes. These bags provide practical essentials for young people entering care. With @YouthShedzNew help our students prepare and contribute to every bag. Young people supporting young people.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Strong family engagement doesn't happen by accident. That's exactly why Investors in Families exists. We provide a practical school improvement framework. If family and community engagement is a priority for your school get in touch. gavin@investorsinfamilies.co.uk

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I usually avoid displays because I am rubbish at them. Made one today that I thought was ok. First Student walks past. "Holy ChatGPT!"

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Choose one point of entry this week: Phone call Email Website Reception Then ask: What is one small change that would make this feel warmer, clearer or easier? Small improvements compound. That's how strong relationships begin.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Rebuilding trust is hard for schools. Building it from the start is easier. A clear welcome process can reduce anxiety, increase confidence and strengthen relationships before challenges arise. The welcome matters.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Families notice the small things. How quickly a call is answered. Whether someone uses their child's name. How clearly the next steps are explained. Whether they feel expected or processed. Trust is often built through dozens of tiny interactions. Not one big event.

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Gav Cass @gavcass.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

A useful challenge this week: Ask someone who has never interacted with your school to: Find your contact details Make an enquiry Read your latest communication Then ask: "What would that feel like if I was anxious about my child?" The answers are often more revealing than any survey.

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