Standard 31 'Work in partnership with families and parents/carers, at home and in the setting, to nurture children, help them develop and to improve outcomes for them'
Recognising families' contribution
Standard 31 sits within the section 'Communicating and working in partnership with families and carers', which contains three other standards through which EYPs must demonstrate that they recognise and respect the influence and contribution families make to their children's learning and development. They must also show that they can establish trusting and constructive relationships with them, that they can work in partnership with them, and that they can provide opportunities to share information about children's wellbeing, learning and development.
Understanding the issues
This section and this standard in particular outline how EYPs recognise the fundamental role that families, parents and carers play in children's lives and aim to ensure that early years practitioners have the skills and knowledge to work effectively in partnership with them to create the best outcomes for children. Standard 31 explains how better outcomes for children can be achieved when early years staff share their aims with parents and carers and encourage them to become involved in their children's learning.
EYPs must demonstrate that they understand the issues that can have an impact on children's learning and development and that they are able to provide continuity between home and the setting. They must also demonstrate that they are skilled in listening to parents' concerns and are able to support them in motivating, encouraging and nurturing their children at home.
Improving partnership working
In addition, EYPs must also lead and support other practitioners to work in partnership with families and parents and carers. They might do this by arranging for a less experienced colleague to shadow them on home visits and afterwards discuss the approach used, what went well and what might be improved. They might also prepare colleagues to work with parents/carers on activities with children in the setting, observe them doing so, give them feedback on their strengths and areas to be improved, and arrange further coaching or training as necessary.
Standard 31 is crucial in order for EYPs' practice to have the most positive impact on children's outcomes. Through working and learning together, early years practitioners and parents and carers can find the best ways to support and nurture children by meeting their individual needs.
is called 'Work in partnership with families and parents/carers, at home and in the setting, to nurture children, help them develop and to improve outcomes for them'. This Standard
