Engaging with Parents in Early Years Settings
- Dianne Jackson - Charles Sturt University, Australia
- Martin Needham - Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Education
'It is inspiring to see a text which attempts to shift our worldview. This shift could give us the chance to achieve more open, inclusive, democratic early childhood practice that has the capacity to answer the deeper questions and which sees both parents and children as powerful and positive agents in their own futures'
- Chris Pascal and Tony Bertram, Directors of the Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC)
The role of parents in the early years is fundamental. In order to achieve the best outcomes for children, mutually beneficial relationships between parents and practitioners need to underpin children’s care and learning.
There are many services for children and many different settings in which care and education can take place. Whether you work in children’s centres, outreach and dual-focused services, preschools, kindergartens or schools this book will help you develop the skills and strategies to work alongside parents whatever your role.
Focussing on:
- The importance of involving parents
- The nature of learning
- How to engage and build relationships with parents
- How to reflect on and develop shared learning environment in settings
- Transitions and attachment
This book has examples taken from real settings and practical advice to help you put the ideas into practice. Reading and using it will help ensure the wellbeing and development of all children in your care.
Dianne Jackson is an Adjunct Fellow at the University of Western Sydney and the CEO of Connect Child and Family Services
Martin Needham is Academic Division Leader: Education, Professional and Community Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University
This book was particularly useful with the child minders and early years practitioners due to them assessing and observing the children. This books explains various methods of observations and why they are used .
Our work with parents is vital and this book highlights to the reader how we can do this and why. an excellent additional resource for the students.
Excellent book that shows why its important to engage with parents would recommend this book for level 3 cache course.
This book is recommended reading for the communication with children and families module for first year undergraduates. It sets out clear research and guidelines on engaging with parents and the use of effective communication.
A really interesting mix of chapters - the theory of families, researching fanilies and then more practical strategies. I can see my students finding this useful on a number of different modules
A great little book raising awareness for the need for parental involvement and engagement in the early years setting. Going to use this with the Early Childhood students.
This was not what I expected from reading the title. I supposed it would cover involving parents in children's learning in a wide variety of settings. Its focus however was how practitioners could work alongside parents and children together as is often the case in children's centres. It was thought provoking and interesting using case studies from both England and Australia. I whole heartedly support the ideas discussed and recognise the shift in the way services for children and families are beginning to be delivered. It suggests whatever the setting, whatever the role there are ideas and strategies to support your work alongside parents. I am still left wondering though how such involvement is realistically possible in all types of settings.
It gives aguments and proofs that open and inclusive educational setting is the most beneficial for children. Starting from the early years it should be transmuted into a triad of teachers-students-parents whis is still often unappreciated in Polish intitutions.
This book was also an inspiration for activities prepared for the Comenius Regio project (PL-UK).
Sample Materials & Chapters
Free chapter - The value of practitioners being with children and parents togeth
