How to create effective communication between home and nursery
Practitioners know the importance of building a bond and a relationship with the children in their care, however it is also just as important for practitioners to build a professional relationship with the parents and guardians of those children attending the Early Years setting.
It is important for practitioners to remember that the children within the Early Years setting come from a variety of backgrounds with different cultures, religions and languages. Practitioners must ensure they are mindful and respectful of potential cultural differences and language barriers.
Effective communication between practitioners and parents will benefit all parties involved; parents and guardians, practitioners themselves and of course the children. For parents and guardians, leaving their child in the care of someone else whilst they have other commitments can prove to be a difficult task. Effective communication between practitioners and parents helps to build a trust where parents feel comfortable leaving their child. It will also enables parents to become involved within their child’s learning process and hear about what their child has been up too throughout the day, sharing their experience and also any achievements. Parents can even be encouraged to discuss any concerns they may have and seek advice from a skilled practitioner educated in children’s development whom they trust. Practitioners should try to make the time to talk to each parent at drop off and collection times to gain information from parents and to pass on any important information.
For practitioners, effective communication between themselves and a child’s parent enables them to gain a deeper understanding of the child in their care, learning more about their personality, likes and dislikes, their abilities and any concerns. The communication between a practitioner and parent can help a practitioner to become aware of any situations at home which could affect a child’s behaviour at nursery.
As children are at the heart of any Early Years setting all communication shared is in the child’s best interests. Effective communication between parents and practitioners will benefit the children as well as the practitioners and parents. In terms of safeguarding, communication between the setting and parents helps to ensure children are safe, and parents and practitioners have built a trusting relationship where they feel confident to vocalise any concerns. On daily basis, practitioners and parents communicating children’s needs helps to ensure the child receives the appropriate care. Just like us, children’s moods can change day to day and they can also experience days where they are just not quite feeling themselves! Communicating this helps to ensure both parents and practitioners are mindful of how the child is feeling.
As all practitioners know, days in an Early Years setting can be busy and chaotic and there may not always be an opportunity to talk with a parent. However, it is important to still keep parents and guardians updated with any important setting information and information about their child. Notice boards, newsletters and online alerts on social media websites or official setting websites are a great way to keep parents in the know with what is going on in their child’s setting. Learning journeys for each child to take home on the other hand are a great personal touch to inform parents of what their child has been up too that day and any achievements they have fulfilled.