In Denmark, parents constitute a majority on kindergarten and family daycare councils and legislation gives parent boards the right to influence their operation. Other countries across Europe are placing an increasing emphasis on working with parents as stakeholders in early years services.
In June, the Pre-school Learning Alliance launched the second phase of its Changing Lives, Changing Life campaign to put parents and their children at the heart of education policy. The campaign supports the concepts underpinning the Sure Start strategy but also seeks to secure practical changes in the way nursery education and childcare are delivered to reflect the real needs of children and their parents.
Thousands of pre-school staff and parents support our charter. Nearly 70 Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships (EYDCPs) in England have endorsed its contents and the prime minister has backed the campaign.
We believe parents should be encouraged and have the right to be full partners in early education and childcare. This development should go beyond the concept of parent governors and signal an inclusive approach to working with parents as full partners.
The defining characteristic of pre-schools has always been parental involvement. Each year, more than 20,000 adults participate in study courses as a result of being involved in their children's pre-schools. Many parents use this experience of learning as a springboard to further training.
An independent study in 1999 found that 41 per cent of parents involved in pre-schools went on to participate in education and training, while 35 per cent sought or obtained employment. Significantly, they had not anticipated any benefits for themselves prior to bringing their children to pre-schools.
Let's do all we can to maintain our proud tradition of involving parents who are, after all, the first and most important educators of their children.
For more information visit the Alliance's website at www.pre-school.org.uk or call 020 7833 0991.
