Parents as Partners

Parents as partners in children’s early learning and development

Teachers responsible for the education of young children know the important role that parents have in the education of children and consequently the importance of working in partnership with parents to achieve common goals for their children.

Parents want their views be taken seriously, to be listened to and respected and expect to be part of their child’s education.  It is for these reasons that it is extremely important for parents and teachers to form a partnership of mutual respect.

Parents and teachers learn a lot from each other therefore a two-way flow of information, knowledge and expertise is essential.  When parents and teachers work together, the results have a positive impact on children’s learning.

It is important to children that the adults around them understand who they are, what matters to them and what they are capable of.  Continuity between home and school benefits learning and information about a child’s life experiences at home can provide many opportunities for learning on which the school can build on.

Teachers/Practitioners listen to parents as individuals and spend time getting to know families well, showing interest in different perspectives, and building on a family’s strengths.

The Early Years Foundation stage requires Practitioners/teachers to engage in learning partnerships with parents, one way of doing this is by organizing workshops with parents alone and with parents and children together.

Previous workshops organised at Acorn House include:

• ‘Music workshop’ together with Nursery7Preschool children and parents
• ‘Art Workshop’ with Nursery/Preschool parents and children
• ‘Sensorial workshop’ with Nursery/Preschool parents and children
• ‘Jolly Phonics workshop’ – organised with parent and practitioners of Reception class to help parents understand phonological awareness that children will be learning in class and encourage parents to reinforce class learning at home.
• ‘Reading with your children’ – Workshop encouraging parents to support early reading at home and reinforce reading at school

For the last thirteen years I have been teaching children aged between two and six years old and I have found that establishing a strong partnership of mutual respect between parents and teachers is a benefit for all.

Other interesting reading at:

http://www.rif.org/literacy-resources/tips-resources/by/topic/motivating-kids-to-read/

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/working-with-parents

https://www.education.com/reference/article/benefits-parent-involvement-research/

http://jollylearning.co.uk/

Author Info
Diane holds the position of Early Years & Foundation stage Teacher and Food Technology coordinator during summer camp.