Parent partnership
Information to support strong partnership between early years and childcare providers and parents to promote the learning and development of all children.
One of the overarching principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework is:
“Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.”
The learning and development requirements are clear that providers must work in partnership with parents to promote the learning and development of all children in their care. This includes involving parents in the observation, planning and assessment of their child’s learning.
Throughout the early years, if a provider is worried about a child’s progress in any prime area, practitioners must discuss this with the child’s parents and/or carers and agree how to support the child.
“Research shows that involving parents and carers in their children’s learning is the most important factor in enabling some children to do well regardless of background and working in partnership with parents and carers is central to the early years foundation stage.”
Building positive parent partnerships start with the first contact practitioners in a setting have with the parent or carers. Positive relationships are built by respectful, honest interactions, with practitioners modelling positive communication.
“The benefits are greatest when practitioners and families work in respectful partnership to develop ways to support children both at home and in the setting. Working together ensures a good understanding of a child’s needs, leading to appropriate provision within the setting and the possibility of supporting learning in the home.”
Assigning each child a key person is required under the EYFS statutory framework and supports parent partnership, as well as the needs of the child.
To build strong parent partnerships early years and childcare providers should:
- listen to parent/carer views and build on their knowledge of their child
- be clear about your setting curriculum and ethos and how they can support their child’s learning
- communicate clearly and regularly with parents or carers
- use flexible methods of communication to meet the needs of individual families
- keep parents informed of what is happening for their child while they are with you - share information about what is going well and any concerns you have
- share information with parents as to how they can raise any concerns that they have and make sure any concerns are addressed quickly to avoid escalation
Some providers will develop guidance or a code of conduct for parents to make clear how you expect the partnership to be maintained. This could include information about how to raise concerns and use of social media. This may avoid any issues with parent or carers arising and it will give a framework for you to respond if there are challenges with the partnership.
Useful websites
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- Engage with all parents and carers - engaging with parents and carers in a meaningful way and engaging harder-to-reach parents and carers.
- Growing and sustaining parent engagement: toolkit - toolkit featuring parent engagement approaches and strategies.
- Parent Partnerships in Development Matters - breaking down why parent partnerships are important.
- Parents as partners - why to work with parents as partners, the difference it makes and how to do it.
- Parents, Early Years & Learning Activities - activities to complete as a setting to reflect on your current parent partnership working and how this can be developed.
- Working in partnership with parents - a round-up of ‘Pacey’ resources to help support you as a childcare professional to confidently connect and engage with parents to encourage and develop children’s learning.
- Working in partnership with parents and carers - ideas for partnering with parents and carers of early years children without creating more paperwork.
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- Baby and toddler play ideas - ideas for simple play at home, organised by age.
- Involving parents in their children’s learning - outlines the benefits of family learning.
- Learning Together - activities - a range of articles which aim to help parents and carers understand children’s development and play an active part in their learning. Includes guidance about a range of activities across all areas of learning.
- Look, say, sing and play - ways to bond with baby and build baby’s brain through play and singing.
- Supporting parents and children through Chat, Play and Read
- Time together - support for multilingual families – a guide full of suggestions for how parents of 3 to 5 year olds can support their child's learning at home. Available to download in 26 different languages.
- Tiny Happy People - activities - inspiration for activities to do with babies and young children at home, organised by age.
- Tips - activities - a range of free children’s activities to try at home.
- What to expect in the EYFS - a parent guide published by the DfE, which guides parents or carers through what to expect in their child’s development. It aligns with the new Development Matters to help practitioners engage with parents about their child’s development.
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- Family hubs - local family hubs provide and has access to a range of information. They support families to improve outcomes for children.
- Support for parents - advice and support for parents and carers including early parenting advice, managing family life, friends and relationships, supporting yourself and young people and staying safe online.