Understand how to work in partnership to support children’s outcomes
Table of Contents
Case Study
Sarah is a childminder looking after several children. She’s recently found herself in a difficult position because one of the children in her care, Bushra, a two-year-old girl, is living with her mum, but her dad, who lives locally and works long hours, is feeling very left out.
Mum doesn’t mind dad having access or information and he has Bushra to stay every weekend. He wants to be part of his child’s care and learning. He has downloaded the EYFS and keeps track of everything he can. However, he doesn’t see the daily care sheet and wasn’t aware that there are regular child observations written down about his child. It has caused an argument with Bushra’s mother.
Mum went to Sarah and started to offload about the terrible argument and how Bushra’s dad was so upset because he knows very little of what goes on.
Sarah suggests that they should try and let dad collect or drop off Bushra whenever he can, and that from now on she could email a copy of the daily care sheet to him, and also send him information about Bushra’s daily events and progress. She could even arrange a separate “parent’s evening slot” so that he can attend without his ex being present at the same time.
Sarah always has information about each child added by their parents to their learning journey, so she also asks dad if every now and again he could send in snippets for the learning journey about what they do at weekends.
- Do you think this is a good plan
- Do you think Sarah has done enough?
- Is there anything else Sarah could do to help the father?
- What else might the father be able to do to support his relationship with the child and childminder?
It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your tutor.