Building Strong Partnerships in Childcare

27th July 2024 Partnership with Parents All Posts

Building Strong Partnerships in Childcare

Did you know that working together with parents, carers, and other professionals is a legal requirement in early years education? For nursery managers and early years educators, forming these partnerships in childcare is crucial to ensure the best outcomes for the children in their care. Collaborating in childcare is incredibly important because early years professionals can advocate for children, acting as their voice when others might not. By working closely with families and other professionals, we can create a supportive environment that achieves the best outcomes for children.

Why building partnerships in childcare is important

We all need other people to help and support us in our work, and this may be even more

relevant in the challenging work of childcare. Each child is unique, arriving at your nursery with different experiences and needs that sometimes require working in partnership with other childcare professionals. According to PACEY’s “Working With Other Professionals” guide, here are some external experts you might work with during your childcare journey:

Area SENCOs: support practitioners in meeting children’s additional needs. They work in partnership with parents, carers, and other involved agencies to ensure that each child receives the appropriate support.

Local authority early years advisors: provide advice and guidance to childcare and early years settings delivering the EYFS in England, and funded Foundation Phase or Flying Start in Wales. Their focus is on improving the quality of provision.

Health visitors: work with all parents to assess their support needs and develop appropriate programmes to give children the best possible start in life. They support and educate families from pregnancy through to a child’s fifth birthday.

Social workers: assist individuals and families to live more successfully within their communities by helping them find solutions to their problems. Social workers engage with clients, their families, and friends, as well as other organisations including police, local authorities, schools, and the probation service.

Speech and language therapists: diagnose difficulties and plan activities to develop children’s speech, language, and communication skills. Some work directly with children in schools and collaborate with staff to plan learning programmes. They also offer advice to parents and professionals on supporting the development of speech and language.

Children’s centre workers: focused on improving outcomes for young children and their families, particularly those in greatest need, they ensure all children are properly prepared for school regardless of background or family circumstances. They also offer support to parents.

By building strong partnerships with these professionals, early years providers can create a comprehensive support system that benefits children, parents, and carers. This collaborative approach ensures that each child’s unique needs are met, promoting better outcomes and a positive start in life.

Addressing concerns: when to involve other professionals

It’s crucial to contact other professionals when there are developmental concerns or child protection issues. In some cases, other professionals may already be involved in a child’s life, and there will be times when you need to seek their advice or contribute your input. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in England states:

“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 on how to support the child. Practitioners must consider whether a child needs any additional support, including whether they may have a special educational need or disability which requires specialist support.”

Involving other professionals ensures that children receive comprehensive and appropriate support tailored to their individual needs. Here are a few scenarios where this collaboration is particularly important:

Developmental concerns: if a child is not meeting developmental milestones, early years practitioners should discuss their concerns with parents and collaborate with specialists such as paediatricians, child psychologists, or occupational therapists. Early intervention is key to addressing developmental delays and ensuring children receive the support they need to grow.

Child protection issues: if there are concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing, it’s essential to involve child protection services immediately. Social workers and other relevant professionals can provide the necessary support and intervention to ensure the child’s safety.

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): children who may have SEND require specialist support to achieve their full potential. SENCOs, speech and language therapists, and other experts can offer valuable insights and strategies to support these children effectively.

Behavioural issues: if a child exhibits challenging behaviour, consulting with behavioural specialists or child psychologists can help identify underlying causes and develop strategies to manage and improve behaviour.

Family support: in cases where family circumstances impact a child’s wellbeing, involving social workers, family support workers, or health visitors can provide the family with resources and assistance to improve their situation.

Partnerships with parents

When thinking about partnerships in childcare, parent partnerships are probably the first that comes to mind, and for good reason. Building strong relationships with parents and caregivers in early years education is essential. The unique nature of these relationships in childcare, involving shared care and responsibilities, is crucial for a child’s development. Parents know their children’s likes and dislikes, needs and preferences better than anybody else, which can help early years providers build the curriculum to meet each child’s specific requirements. This leads to more effective curriculum planning and delivery, ensuring each child has the best possible learning experience.

The EYFS provides guidelines and principles for working in partnership with parents and carers, which include involving parents and carers in planning and assessment, providing regular feedback and communication, and respecting the diversity of families and cultures. By adopting these best practices and strategies, early years providers can create a supportive and collaborative environment that benefits children, parents, and carers.

Parents and carers play a vital role in their children’s outcomes. Regardless of the quality of childcare settings, the most important factor in children’s future success is the quality of the home learning environment. This means involving parents in their children’s learning is key to helping children succeed in further education throughout their lives.

Here are some tips for building strong partnerships with parents:

Regularly update parents on their child’s progress and any important information.
Make an effort to listen to parents’ concerns and suggestions. Show that you value their input and are willing to incorporate their feedback into your care practices.
Make parents feel welcome in the setting. Invite them to participate in activities, volunteer opportunities, and events, fostering a sense of community.
Offer workshops and information sessions to help parents understand child development and effective parenting strategies. This can empower them to support their child’s learning at home.
Recognise and celebrate children’s achievements and milestones with parents. This reinforces a positive relationship and highlights the shared goal of supporting the child’s development.
Use technology to keep parents engaged and informed. Apps and online platforms can facilitate easy communication and provide updates on their child’s daily activities.
Establish trust by being reliable, respectful, and empathetic. Show parents that you are dedicated to their child’s wellbeing and development.
Regularly ask for and act on feedback from parents. This demonstrates that you are committed to continuous improvement and value their perspective.

We hope you found this article helpful! For further reading on this topic, we recommend checking out Rachel Buckler’s recent contribution to our ABC of Nursery Management guide, where she offers valuable insights into child-centred practice. You can read her article here or download our comprehensive guide to explore contributions from 26 early years experts on various aspects of nursery management. If you download the guide, we’d love to hear your feedback!

The ABC of Nursery Management
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