Southamptons Big Share

December 2014

Partnership Working

Parents are invited to come in with children (siblings welcome) before usual start time to
enjoy bacon sandwich and share a book with their child. We've decided to extend to 'tales
for tea' to capture the afternoon parents, so it will be after session and will be to share a
sandwich or cake.

We have just finished our parent consultations and, after feedback last year we have
incorporated the appointments into a session time rather than closing.
We have offered a 'Learning at home' suggestion with a sheet attached, based on interests
and next steps which are discussed with parents during consultations.
Parents were invited to come and share story time when we had a visiting librarian.
We are hoping to invite parents in for an In-2-music session next year.

Within our setting with regards to working with parents/other settings/ agencies we have;
- Key person role in which parents feel they are confident to approach their childs key
worker when needed
- Regular parent meetings discussing their childs individual progress
-Open days for new and old parents to come and view the preschool and take part in
activities alongside their children
- Parents volunteer list in which any parent can come along for an hour or so to help staff or
stay and play alongside their child and others
- Key person bags in which they go home weekly with a variety of activities for children and
parents/family/carers to take part in
-We also liaise with Speech & Language or regularly come out to see us offering support
ideas and activities to promote our childrens individual needs
- Craft days where parents are invited in to take part in activities with their children, come
and view the preschool routine and have a look at their child's progress via Tapestry
-Daily we provide a table before sessions of information for parents regarding our setting,
things going on and taking part within the local area, also help and advice and a wide range
of different courses, for parents to take part in,
- Website for parents to access including all our newsletters, termly planning, and all policies
for them to access

We have a good response to the two year books. The parents are good at looking through,
signing and asking questions about what has been written in. It also gives them a good idea
of what snack their child likes/dislikes etc and also gives a good way of
communicating toileting issues/ comments that we might otherwise forget to pass on. i.e if a
child is potty training and uses the potty on a particular session.
These books are similar to ones used for babies at nursery.

We held a session to introduce story sacks to parents allowing them to choose one to take
home to share with their child. Before the introduction parents and children could have snack
together. (This was to support Ecat).

Southamptons Big Share

December 2014

Partnership Working

We offer Stay & Play sessions for parents to get an insight into their child's learning and
development and share their skills with us.
We liaise with other settings and health professionals.

We have a small pile of WOW slips for parents to fill in things that are achieved at home so
we can celebrate in Pre-school.
and one for working with schools We go and watch the dress rehearsal of our local school Nativity to build up links

We have a people who help us board displayed at the front of the setting to encourage
parents to help and show them that that their help is invaluable in a busy setting!

Working with parents - I would say when you are talking to the parents always give them
your full 100% attention, it can be easy to try and rush feedback as you can hear other
parents coming or jobs needing doing but always try and make them feel unrushed and
valued.

Parents - Arrange a baking day and ask parents to bring in recipes and invite them in to help
cook them.
Working with others - Inviting other settings in to watch practice for example our narrative
group.

Idea for working with parents A parents sharing tree by the entrance way, for parents/ carers to put any news on that can
be written on the leaves and shared with the group at circle time. The leaves can be
changed according to the season i.e. snowballs for winter, flowers for summer.
Tip for working with outside agencies Ensuring communication is carried out efficiently. Before you implement any suggested
ideas that an outside agency may have given you to implement into practice, first ensure that
you have completely understood what they are asking you to do.

Christmas and/or Summer Fayres a great way to build relationships with whole families
outside of normal routines, in a social and friendly setting. Also raises funds for charity and
our children.

DUG day (Dads, Uncles, Grandads and other male carers) invite in with children eg in a
Saturday morning for breakfast, activities and sharing. Helps to have male staff at these (if
available!)

Southamptons Big Share

December 2014

Partnership Working

Tapestry sharing of observations, photos and videos of activities. Setting and carers able
to add to individual childs account. Ability to authorise extended family to view account eg
grandparents in another country. Parents able to review and discuss the weeks activities at
home with their child and build on their learning.

Reinforcing parents confidence in their ability as educators by supporting, encouraging and

affirming their interactions with their children at home providing ideas and resources on
loan eg story sacks, maths bags, physical activity cards,

Grandparents day invitation to join their grandchildren for the morning, get them to read to
children if happy to do so.

Staff swaps arrange between settings / schools to share good practice

Invite local health visitor in for a chat

Local network meetings for information sharing eg wheres the best place to buy nappies?
etc.

Each half term we hold a workshop linked within an area of learning (as we are a term time
setting - we cover six areas - with parts of PSED running through all the workshops)
Each half term we cover an area by:

change the day each half term and hold a morning and afternoon slot of an hour
we demonstrate ideas/activities with the parents and they join in alongside their child
we then print the learning intentions and activities for parents to share at home - if
viable will send home materials too - ie pasta threading - FMS
we find literature around each area of learning (usually quote from the EYFS and use
Nursery World articles - I think we have all seen those great/detailed articles)
we usually photograph the workshop and display photos which draws in some of the
parents who don't attend (for whatever reason) and we can then liaise with them
informing of what happened and give the literature to them and encourage them to
join in with the next one !

Home/Setting;
Home-school book to relay the days events, passing messages.
Written stickers on child as a badge for parents/carers to see.
Home visits to begin the partnership between parents/carers and setting.
Regular parent reviews.
Open door policy with parents/carers.
Stay and play sessions.