Parents as Partners
Working in partnership with parents is paramount to children’s learning and development. Tiny Steps prides itself on the collaborative approach between parent and setting on the child’s learning and development.
Each child will be allocated a member of staff known to the parent and child as your child’s “Key Person” they will have knowledge and understanding on how children learn and develop and will have the unique understanding of what your child’s currents interests and needs are.
The relationship between the ‘Key Person’, child and parent will begin on day one of your child attending the setting. In order to build an attachment between your child and the Key Person it is important your child recognises your acceptance of the Key Person which will lead your child into having secure confidence with their relationship with the Key Person.
Key Person’s recognise the parent is the child’s first educator, it is the parent who will know their child best and we will work in partnership with the parent to ensure we have all current information needed to settle and build upon your child’s learning and development. The Key Person will effectively share information with parents in order for your child’s needs to be understood and therefore met. A child’s time at Tiny Steps nursery should be a memorable journey not just for them but for parents too. The Key Person will capture all of your child’s learning and talking about your child’s learning may happen informally at the beginning or end of the day when you drop off or collect your child from nursery. Engaging in a conversation with your child’s Key Person can often produce useful information about new interests or experiences that can be used to plan exciting and challenging learning opportunities at nursery and further create activity ideas that can be shared with parents to do at home.
We recognise at Tiny Steps, how busy parents are and it may not be possible to engage in a daily conversation with your child’s Key Person but there are tools to support a regular two way flow of communication such as baby diaries, newsletters and emails. Parents’ evenings and meetings take place regularly and provide opportunities for key persons to share observations, assessments and planning with parents and to be able to listen and respond to any thoughts or questions you may have. Development from home and nursery in a Learning Journal; this will be yours to keep when your child leaves the nursery.
Please click on the picture below to download a more comprehensive guide to your child’s learning and development in the foundation stage.