10 Working in Partnership with Parents and Other Agencies Policy

Alongside associated procedures in 10.1-10.2 Working in partnership with parents and other agencies, this policy was adopted by 1^st Steps Nursery & Preschool on June 2024

Aim

We actively promote partnership with parents and recognise the importance of working in partnership with other agencies to promote the well-being of children and their families. This includes signposting parents to support as appropriate.

Objectives

• We believe that parents are children’s first and most enduring educators and our practice aims to involve and consult parents on all aspects of their child’s well-being.
• We also recognise the important role parents must play in the day-to-day organisation of the provision.
• We consider parents views and expectations and will give the opportunity to be involved in the following ways:
• sharing information about their child’s needs, likes, achievements and interests
• settling in their child to the agreed plan according our settling in procedures
• taking part in children’s activities and outings
• contributing with ideas or resources as appropriate to enhance the curriculum of the setting
• taking part in early learning projects, sharing with educators knowledge and insights about their child’s learning
• contributing to assessment with information, photos and stories that illustrate how their child is learning within the home environment, taking part in day-to-day family activities
• taking part in discussion groups
• taking part in planning, preparing, or simply participating in social activities organised within the setting
• taking part in a parent forum to encourage the democratic participation of parents in discussions about the day-to-day organisation of the setting, consulting about new developments and other matters as they arise
• involvement in the review of policies and procedures
• Ofsted and setting contact details are displayed on the parent notice board for parents who have a complaint that cannot be resolved with the setting manager in the first instance, or where a parent is concerned that the EYFS standards are not being maintained

Partnership and signposting to other agencies

• We are committed to ensuring effective partnership with other agencies including:
• local authority early years services about the EYFS, training and staff development
• local programmes regarding delivering children’s centres or the childcare and early education element of children’s centres
• social welfare departments regarding children in need and children who need safeguarding or for whom a child protection plan is in place
• child development networks and health professionals to support children with disabilities and special needs
• local community organisations and other childcare and early education providers
• Ofsted and setting contact details are made available to other agencies who have a complaint that cannot be resolved with the Setting Manager in the first instance, or where a parent is concerned that the EYFS welfare standards are not being maintained.

Legal references

Childcare Act 2006

Education Act 2011

This Policy was created by Suzannah Arnfield on 1^st June 2024

Reviewed by Niamh Herron Date 03/06/2024