Partnership with Parents
Aim
To support and enhance the development of the children, and to respect, understand and value the contribution parents make towards their child's learning. To provide support, guidance and encouragement to parents as educators.
Objectives
- To provide parents with information about the nursery before their child starts at the nursery.
- To work with parents in building up a profile of the child's development and needs when the child starts at the nursery.
- To provide opportunities for parents to discuss their child's progress.
- To provide guidance, advice and resources to support home learning.
- To provide regular written reports to parents giving details of their child's progress.
Operating Policy
Before a child starts at the nursery, parents will be invited to bring their child to a nursery session during which the children can play and parents can ask questions of staff. Each parent will be given a Nursery Handbook which contains details of the Admissions Policy and the Curriculum as well as other useful information relating to the nursery.
During the 'settling in period' when a child starts nursery a member of staff will talk to the parent about their child, and will use this information to complete a profile sheet. Any special needs, health problems, etc will be noted at this time. The duration of the 'settling in period' will be flexible and will continue until the child feels happy and secure in the nursery setting.
Parents will have access to information regarding the curriculum activities and events through discussions with staff, regular newsletters and written information placed on the parents' notice-board.
Resources are available which parents can borrow to use at home with their child.
The parents notice-board will be updated on a regular basis. A description of each week's activities will be placed on the notice-board. The Nursery Handbook will be updated when necessary to reflect any changes in curriculum or policies. Newsletters will be sent out as appropriate.
Planning, recording and assessment
Staff will complete reports on each child and will be available to discuss these with parents if necessary. Such reports will be used to provide advice for parents to support learning at home.
A Parents' Evening will be held once each year to give parents an opportunity to discuss their child?s progress with staff.
Resources
A list of available resources for parents to use at home will be placed on the parents notice-board. Each child will have a card with their name on, which will be used to identify which items have been borrowed by parents. Details of the scheme will be included in the Nursery Handbook.
A separate list will be located in the Resources file under the heading Parents' Resources.