When flexibility is introduced to the free entitlement, gaps between attendance and different family members dropping off and collecting can disrupt continuity and reduce face-to-face contact between the setting and carers.
At Sunbeams private day nursery in Austhorpe, Leeds, managing director Kate Plews says, 'With working patterns for parents changing dramatically over the last few years, Sunbeams has responded to their needs to offer some flexibility to ensure childcare is able to fit in with family routine.'
Ms Plew adds, 'Offering flexibility does not mean we had to compromise the level of care - it means that we have had to adapt our practices to ensure we meet the individual needs of each child within the setting.'
The parent partnership ethos, policy and practice at Sunbeams has been recognised in a recent outstanding Ofsted inspection. The report says staff work extremely hard to develop outstanding partnerships with parents and other early years professionals, recognising that effective partnerships enhance children's learning and development.
Effective two-way communication is achieved through home-setting diaries. Parents are encouraged to write in the diary anything they feel is appropriate to their child's learning and development to inform staff and key workers, and to share this diary with other providers the child may attend for their additional comments and continuity.
Parents' evenings inform them about the different stages and areas of children's learning and development, and the experiences provided at nursery. Other opportunities for involvement are offered through 'stay and play' sessions, home reading folders and homework sheets. Parents are encouraged to look through and contribute to their child's developmental profile as often as they like.
Everyone can see at first-hand the positive effects of this inclusive ethos. In a recent quality questionnaire parents said they feel they are fully informed, supported and involved in their children's learning and development.
FURTHER INFORMATION
James Hempsall is director of training and research provider Hempsall's (www.hempsallconsultancies.com).
