Connecting and Learning Together: Parental Engagement in ELC during the Pandemic

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TITLE OF DEVELOPING PRACTICE EXAMPLE

CONTEXT / BACKGROUND

Our nursery provides 1140 hours of early learning and childcare for 40 children during term-time. During session 2021-22 we have operated two bubbles and have strived to ensure that we adhere to current guidance and mitigations whilst providing high quality play experiences for the children in our care.

We are resolved to maintain and foster relationships with our families despite being unable to welcome parents into our building. During this session, through consultation with our parent body, we planned a series improvements and activities designed to improve relationships, communication and parental engagement.

Improved and stronger relationships became the foundation for increased parental engagement using a digital learning journal app. We value parental engagement and interaction and the lasting benefits this brings to the child.

Parenting can be a difficult role; juggling care-giving responsibilities, work, family life and so on. Parents may need easy to access, practical support or advice as their child develops and grows. Five of our team are Froebelian trained practitioners and are resolved not to ‘show’ or ‘dictate’ to parents. Our aim is to walk with our parents, empowering them to support their child.

WHAT WE DID

We began by asking our parents in what ways we could better support them and their child. We spoke to parents on the ‘phone and created a Microsoft Form Questionnaire to gather feedback safely and easily. It was vital that our parents were listened to.

Parents told us that they wanted:

· To see pictures and videos of what their child was doing, learning and playing. We suggested that this was possible using a digital app.

· For communication between nursery-home to be improved. They were missing the chats at the beginning and end of the nursery day.

· Practical, free, simple ideas to keep their child busy and entertained when not in nursery.

· To sometimes let us know what their child was doing and learning at home.

· For staff to maintain contact with them and their child including during Lockdown.

HOW WE DID IT

· We created a Microsoft Team for our ELC staff. It was important that communication amongst the Nursery Team was simple, easy and safe whilst operating 2 Bubbles within the one nursery. Information could be posted, stored and shared via Teams and meetings were conducted digitally too.

· We planned the range of different ways we could maintain and foster relationships as well as promoting parental engagement in their child's learning.

We introduced the digital app for parents. The app enables: two way communication between nursery and home, gives children and staff a place to document learning, encourages creative use of technology, is an easy way to share significant learning experiences and an opportunity to share links/ideas with families.

· Team work: our staff took shared responsibility for different aspects of communication with our families. We also made use of our unlisted YouTube channel to store and share videos.

· In order to support ideas for play and learning at home, we made use of what was freely accessible as well as our own ideas. We promoted Play Scotland ideas, Bookbug, Parentzone and Play, Talk, Read websites and our own local authority’s Sing at Home initiative.

IMPACT / OUTCOMES

Parents have reported that they feel more informed and able to talk about their child's learning. Relationships have been strengthened and developed despite parents not being able to enter the nursery setting.
96% of our families are accessing their child’s journal each week and all of these families say it has allowed them to talk to their child about their learning.
We know our wee people and their families better. This helps us plan and provide experiences which they are interested in and meet their learning needs.
Parents of children with social and communication needs have commented that the app enables them to talk to their child about their nursery day.
Children’s achievements are shared between nursery-home and home-nursery. This is beneficial for children’s self-esteem.
Parents regularly let us know what their child is doing and learning at home. This allows us to talk to the child about a new experience they have enjoyed and often extend the child’s learning.
Parents have access to free or low cost ideas for play and learning and we have evidence of parents trying out these ideas with their child.
The digital literacy skills of staff, pupils and parents have improved.
The app has been useful in supporting our P1 Transition programme.

FEEDBACK

"I need the ipad - I want to take a picture to show my mum!"

" I love seeing what H is doing each day. It is great to be able to talk to him about his friends and all the things he has been doing."

"My child can't tell me about her days in nursery yet. The app means that I can show her the pictures and we can share her day. It is so important for children with communication needs."

"My child was so happy to see his nursery teacher in the videos that staff made."

"J loved his 'Play at Home Pack' made by nursery staff. It kept him busy for days and the videos were great too."

"We really liked the little ideas the staff shared - simple things that kept M busy and happy. Her little sister loved them too."

96% of our families are accessing the app weekly.

100% of families agree that the app has helped them support their child during this session.