Role of Parents

The Role of Parents

The Pre-School Learning Alliance recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their young children. For more information about the Early Years Foundation Stage, please see the EYFS Parents' Guide.

Our pre-school aims to support parents, and all parents are welcomed to:

• Work in Pre-school with the children
• Assist with fundraising
• Take part in the management of the pre-school (through joining the committee)
• Represent the pre-school at branch and country activities of the Pre-School Learning Alliance
• Attend open meetings of the Pre-School Learning Alliance
• Attend training courses, workshops and conferences organised by the Early Years Alliance

To prove we are committed to involving parents we have an open invitation to parents/carers to take an active role in pre-school, to see what happens here and to talk about it afterwards with their child. We have a list of requirements posted on our information board for parents/carers to volunteer to help with the children's activities but really welcome helpers to join in whenever they can! Please do come along and join the children playing occasionally – join them in role playing, painting pictures or doing puzzles or share a skill, knowledge or interest you may have – the children will LOVE it and we are sure you will too!

We do ask for specific help weekly with washing the paint pots and at the end of term with washing aprons, sharpening pencils, cleaning floor mats etc. All details can be found on the notice board.

Parental Involvement Policy

Parents are the first educators of their young children. We aim to support their essential work, not to supplant it. We will:

• Make all new parents aware of the group's systems and policies and make known the systems for registering queries, complaints or suggestions.
• Ensure that parents are informed on a regular basis about their child's progress.
• Ensure that all parents are fully informed about meetings, conferences, workshops and training, hold them in venues that are accessible and appropriate and, consult about the times, to avoid excluding anyone.
• Welcome the contributions of parents in whatever form they take.
• Provide opportunities for parents to learn about playgroup curriculum and about young children's learning.

First Days

A child who is tense or unhappy will not be able to play or learn properly, so it is important for parents and the pre-school staff to work together to help the child to feel confident and secure in pre-school. This takes longer for some children than for others and parents should not feel worried if their child takes a while to settle. We have a flexible settling in policy to cater for children's individual needs. We may suggest shorter sessions in the early days if deemed necessary for the well-being of the child.

Mid-morning snack

During the current pandemic, we ask parents to provide a healthy, nut-free snack and drink of milk or water for their child.