Partnership with Parents Policy

The purpose of this policy is to set out how we work with parents and carers to ensure continuity of care between home and nursery for the benefit of each child.

NURSERY PHILOSOPHY

1. We believe that it is important to work with parents to ensure each child is cared for at nursery in the best way for them. We encourage parents to share information about their child and be involved in all aspects of their child’s learning, play, development and nursery life.
2. All policies are available to parents on the website and parents ask for a log in from the nursery manager. These set out procedures used in nursery. A set of policies is also available in each nursery.
3. We have a Confidentiality Policy which sets out how we keep information shared between parents and nursery confidential and how we comply with data protection legislation. Parents must note that, in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy, should it be in the interests of the child, we may be required to share information with other agencies. Information is provided in the Welcome and Induction Pack.
4. When parents first visit nursery, managers explain the fee structure and our system of flexible hours. Parents are always welcome to ask questions and if necessary, can discuss their fees with the Finance Manager.
5. We have detailed Terms and Conditions. Parents must read the Terms and Conditions and sign them. Managers are happy to discuss the details. A Welcome and Induction Pack (containing important information and documents for parents to complete) is provided before a child starts. See Admissions Policy.
6. Managers and all staff are always available to discuss concerns with parents, face to face or by telephone or email. If staff or parents feel it is necessary, meetings can be arranged to also include senior management.
7. We have a Key Person policy. Each child has a Key Person who is chosen, where possible, with reference to the child’s preference when they start nursery. Parents are informed of the initial Key Person and are told of the new Key Person when a child moves rooms.
8. Questionnaires are sent for parents to share their opinions about our care and management. The answers are used by all levels of management to inform and review nursery policies and procedures. We also gather parent feedback through email correspondence and Managing Director parent drop-in sessions.
9. The child is always paramount. While we listen to parents’ wishes and concerns, we will always respond in the way we believe is best for the child’s wellbeing.
10. We will treat each family on an individual basis and work with them in ways that are appropriate for them and each child, taking into account their wishes.
11. We will do all we can to share our professional knowledge in a way that benefits and supports each unique child and family situation. It is our aim not to judge a family but to come to understand them so that we can work with them and their children in the most constructive ways.
12. We encourage all staff to form professional relationships with parents to enable them to care for their child in the best possible way. We do not allow staff to be friends with parents on any social networking sites.
13. All staff deserve to be treated with respect in their dealings with parents, whether this is face to face, by email or on the telephone. If a parent becomes aggressive or abusive so that the member of staff feels upset or uncomfortable, they will stop any conversation and refer the issue to the Nursery Manager. Managers will refer any such issues to Senior Management and will report when a parent has been rude, abusive or non-respectful. We ask parents to only use appropriate language in the nursery. Should parents continue to engage with staff in rude or aggressive manners that indicate that there is no mutual respect or trust, Senior Management will consider whether Bristol Childcare is able to continue to care for the child/children and will give notice in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.

WORKING WITH FAMILIES WHOSE HOME LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH

14. Please also refer to the Non-Discrimination and Activities, Experience and Learning Policies.
15. It is important that parents speak to their child in the language they know best and feel comfortable using, so that the child can hear and use language with their family.  Scientists have found that children who learn their home language will learn other languages more easily because they understand about language, using words and how to communicate.  Children who are raised multilingually have cognitive as well as social advantages.
16. When a child who is learning English as an additional language joins us we ask parents to share key words, using a Basic Vocabulary Sheet, as well as songs and stories in their home language. We enable families to take nursery food home so that all family members have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with different cuisine with their child. We are experienced in teaching children to communicate and we will help your child learn and understand English by narrating their play, singing, reading stories and using Makaton.
17. The Key Person and Nursery Manager will meet with parents as necessary to discuss ideas to help support them and their child/children overcome any difficulties that arise due to language or cultural differences, such as food.
18. Interpreters can be organised to help discussions with parents if necessary.

INFORMING PARENTS 

19. Parents receive daily information about sleeping, nappies and meals through iConnect as well as verbal feedback. Staff are always happy to talk to parents about the day, but parents must factor in time for this by arriving before the end of their child’s booked hours as otherwise this will impact on staffing and ratios.
20. Parents are informed about the EYFS in their Welcome and Induction Pack and on the BCC website. Presentations are held to inform parents about the curriculum. There are also information boards in nursery and articles and guides sent out by email.
21. We send newsletters (three times a year) by email and have a website and social media pages, where information and news and events are displayed.
22. Letters are sent out as required as well as information being posted on reception screens.

PROGRESS CHECK AT TWO

23. In accordance with the EYFS we undertake a progress check when the child is between ages two and three.
24. The progress check involves the Key Person completing a Progress Check at Two Report and meeting with parents to share the report with them and add their input. The Progress Check summarises progress in the Prime Areas of Learning, identifies strengths and highlights where progress is less than expected and what has been put into place. Should there be any emerging concerns or needs, this is discussed with the SENCO and appropriate interventions are put into place, contacting other agencies as required, with parental permission.

INVOLVING PARENTS IN NURSERY 

25. We hold events and encourage all parents to join us for these such as Mother’s Day Tea, fundraising activities, Stay and Play sessions, family parties and Sports Days.
26. We encourage and welcome all parents to be involved in nursery by sharing skills, activities, professions and ideas with the children such as gardening, art, cultural celebrations and experiences, storytelling and what they do at work.
27. All parents are invited to come and eat nursery lunch with their child, by arrangement with the Nursery Manager.

SHARING INFORMATION 

28. Should a parent have difficulty reading English or not have Internet access, the manager will discuss alternative arrangements such as staff verbally sharing reports or enlisting translation support for key meetings.
29. During the child’s settling in phase, the manager and Key Person will have Parent Induction meetings, when key forms must be returned such as Health and Permissions. These meetings are an opportunity for parents to share as much information about them and their child/children as possible and for the manager and Key Person to start to get to know the whole family and what is important to them to enable us to support the child/children in the best possible way.
30. An All About Me form is used to share information about each child which practitioners use to help each child settle. After the Key Person has got to know the child for a month, the Key Person completes a Planning and Sequencing document.
31. A new All About Me Form is provided each time a child moves rooms so that parental input is regularly updated.
32. We record meals, sleep, nappy changing and learning and development information on iConnect. See Activities and Learning Policy. Parents can access this through ParentZone (information about this is provided in the Welcome and Induction Pack). Parents are encouraged to be involved in and contribute to information through ParentZone.
33. We recognise that when parents share information about what their children are doing and enjoying at home, this helps us build on experiences at nursery. We are always reviewing the best ways for parents to share this information.
34. Examples of strategies used across Bristol Childcare to gather information from parents including the following:

• “Moments” sent through ParentZone
• Emails asking “what is your child enjoying at home?” or for information about festivals, celebrations or holidays;
• Photographs for family boards in the rooms;
• Parent communication books used to write notes and messages between nursery and home.
• Parents adding observation and photos to ParentZone.

Not all of these strategies are used in each nursery at all times. Staff change and adapt what they think is suitable according to the needs of the groups of children and parents.

35. Nurseries may use a parents’ comments book or box at events for parents to share feedback. We also ask parents to leave reviews on the Day Nurseries website, using links or a QR code. All feedback is shared with staff and used by the management team to help reflect what is working well and what could be improved.
36. Parents are asked to give details on the Collection, Contacts and Medical Details Form about any other settings children attend. We will then write to that setting suggesting shared learning. See Links with Other Settings Policy.
37. We will work with other agencies as required for the benefit of the children and will discuss this with parents, unless circumstances require otherwise in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy. When children move to school, staff write transition reports and meet with teachers as required.