Laser Lessons - Lesson

Understand how to work in partnership with carers

Table of Contents

In this tutorial you will learn:

About having a policy on partnership working with carers and to put it into practice.
To understand the pressures that carers may be under through running a home, looking after a family and performing within a challenging working environment.
That it is important to strive to work alongside with carers to the benefit of the child or young person.

Table of Contents

‘Building partnerships between parents and practitioners’ from Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. Click on the link to read this document.
‘Working together to safeguard children’ from the Department for Education provides statutory guidance on inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
Click on the icon to find the British Institute of Learning Difficulties document on 'Communication'. This looks at how carer's learning difficulties can impact communication and participation.
Look at notices around the setting that are written for staff or parents. Are the notices written in a friendly, respectful and non-confrontational way? Could they be re-worded to promote the same message but to portray a different and more respectful attitude towards others?
Think about the information parents might want to know about their children when they come to pick them up each day. Do you communicate this information clearly? Ask them if they feel you keep them well-informed and if there is anything else they would like to know.
Write a list of things that you would need to tell a new parent at your setting. Think about the things they need to know for themselves and for their child. Don’t forget things like how you pass on letters or information. Are letters given by hand, or put in the child’s bag or tray? Think about things that will help them to feel confident about leaving their child with you: the safety procedures, what activities you might be doing that day. Don’t forget to introduce them to other key staff.
Ask your setting manager to give you documents that are available for parents to read before making their commitment to use your setting. How would you adapt this information for:A blind person?A person who does not speak English?A person who cannot read?

Think And Challenge