Engaging in Your Child S Early Years Learning

Engaging in your Child’s Early Years Learning April 2017

Lorna Owen Registered Childminder

Engaging in your Child’s Early Years Learning

“Parents are a child’s first and most enduring educators” therefore what parents do is of utmost importance as they are the greatest influence on their child’s life. The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) report is an evidence based piece of research that concluded that “For all children, the quality of the home learning environment is more important for intellectual and social development than parental occupation, education or income. What parents do is more important than who parents are.” (EPPE report, 2004).

Research also shows that “Children with stronger early home learning environments are ahead in both social and cognitive development at the age of three. They show advance language ability, high levels of confidence, co-operation and sociability.” (National Children’s Bureau, 2014)

The EYFS and the Pen Green report also highlights the importance of Parental Involvement in Children’s Learning. “We know that young children achieve more and are happier when staff work together with parents and share ideas about how to support and extend children’s learning”. (Athey, 1990; Meade 1995).

With this important information in mind we want to increase our working together in order to support your child’s learning. Below are some ideas on how you can help us support your child in their learning.

 Write in their diary/tell us/send texts/use What’s App/email us, send us photos, information and your own observations of your child. – This will give us an overview of how your child is progressing away from the setting.  Tell us what your child is interested in – this could be a particular toy like Peppa Pig, a book, an outing. - This will help us to plan activities that they will enjoy; and let us know more about other interests that we have not observed.  Bring in a favourite book to share with the other children.  If you have a job that you think the children would be interested in please come for a visit and talk to the children.  Ask your child what they did today. “What did you play with?” “Who did you play with?”, then feedback to us what they said.

To support you further in your child’s early learning we will:-

 Send home examples of 5 minute activities to do with your child.  Offer workshops periodically for you and your child.  Continue to offer parents evenings to help support you and discuss your child’s learning.  Offer resources that you can borrow - Your child is very welcome to borrow toys/activities/books from the setting. This helps support their play between home and the setting and also helps at points when they may be struggling with separation anxiety.

These are just a few ways in which to support your child’s early years learning. If you have any other ideas or suggestions how we can help please let us know.

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Please feel free at any time to make an appointment to discuss your child’s learning.

Meeting the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014 requirements for Section 2 Assessment, it is a legal requirement that “Parents and/or carers should be kept-up-to-date with their child’s progress and development. Practitioners should address any learning and development needs in partnership with parents and/or carers, and any relevant professionals.” (EYFS 2017 : 2.2)

Lorna Owen

(Prepared July 2014 re: revised EYFS 2014)

Updated: January 2016. Updated 2017 re: EYFS 03/04/17

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