Partnership with parents

Parenting and the quality of the home learning environment has been found to have a greater impact on children’s achievement than any other aspect of children’s lives. What parents do with their young children at home, is the single most important factor in helping children learn and develop, it is more important than social class or parental qualifications. The effects of positive early home learning experiences have been found to benefit children’s educational attainment into secondary school.

The home learning environment is not just about learning opportunities available. It includes relationships parents have with children and experiences children have with their families.

Early years practitioners are in an excellent position to inform, support and guide parents in helping children to learn at home.

This page is designed to provide settings information to share with parents. It includes ideas for activities, resources and advice to enhance the knowledge and skills of parents and carers.

You can find more information in this short video clip: Foundation Years Vodcast: Tips to improve the home learning environment | From pregnancy to children aged 5 years

In the spotlight

In this section we spotlight what is working well for settings and good examples of practice.

We would love to see your ideas to support parents and other practitioners. Please send ideas to StartWellBookings@bolton.gov.uk (mark email 'In the spotlight').

Don't forget to use the hashtag #earlyyearsinBolton in your Facebook and Twitter posts, so that we can see the great work you are doing and maybe feature it in this spot!

Hocus Pocus: Ideas for supporting transition to school

At Hocus Pocus, we recognise that transitioning to school is a big step for both children and parents, and it can bring so many emotions with it, from anxiety and worry to excitement for the next step.

Getting ready for school workshop and packs

We initiate the transition process with a crucial 'getting ready for school' workshop. This workshop is, where parents engage with our practitioners to gain a better understanding of what to expect and how to support their child at home in preparing for the transition to school.

We provide a 'getting ready for school' transition pack for parents, giving them a timeline of what will happen and by what date. We also discussed what we will be doing in the nursery until July to support their child during transition.

The meeting proves highly beneficial for parents, giving them an idea of how to support their children and what to expect. Before a child leaves our setting, they will have a parent's evening with their child's key person. In this meeting, their child's transition to school report will be discussed, highlighting where their child is in the EYFS. Parents get a copy of this report alongside the school.

During nursery hours, our preschool room leaders plan activities to help the children understand what transition means for them. We discuss everyone's big school and designed our new school jumpers to display within the room.

Practitioners will look at the child's new school with them through the school website and discuss the school as they go. Alongside this, meetings are arranged with the child's new school so they can come and visit the child in the nursery setting.

Vicki, Hocus Pocus Day Nursery.

Guidance and documents to share with parents and carers

What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage: a guide for parents - Published by the East London Research School and the Department for Education (DfE) - published September 2021. Why not signpost parents to learn more about their child's development by sending out pages 100 - 103 of the guidance?
DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY or ACCESS TRANSLATED GUIDES (URDU, BENGALI etc)

Home Matters: making the most of the home learning environment - Published by a consortium of charities, funded by the Department for Education (DfE). This is guidance for schools, nurseries, local authorities and public health partners. See working with parents from page 15 for some helpful ideas to supporting families in the home learning environment.
DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY

Birth to 5 Matters - This document supports parents to understand the stages of development from birth through to five years using the guidance published by Early Education on behalf of the Early Years Coalition.
DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY

The Education Endowment Foundation talk about the impact of parent engagement projects and how to implement successful strategies in your setting.
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Partnership with parents