Working in partnership with parents is central to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in England and the National Minimum Standards for Registered Childcare (NMS) in Wales and all settings are expected to be doing this.

However, practitioners cannot build partnerships on their own. Parents need to engage as this is a two-way process. As a parent, you can and should be sharing your views and have opportunities to do this in relation to your child’s education. Encourage your child’s setting to share with you what they are doing so that you can follow up with activities at home. for example, if they are learning a new song, ask for the lyrics so you can sing the same song with your child. If they are trying a new recipe, ask for the recipe so that you can make it home as well. If they are visiting a museum or a park, fine out where they are going and ask your child questions about their experience (e.g. what they saw there, what they liked the most and why).

Parent View gives you the chance to tell Ofsted what you think about your child’s school, from the quality of teaching to dealing with bullying and poor behaviour. The survey can be completed at any time; you don’t have to wait until the school is being inspected.

All families face difficulties, so you shouldn’t feel alone. There is support if you have a child with additional needs, if you are parenting alone, or if you dealing with the unique issues around building a stepfamily. The leaflets below where developed by the care for the family organisation and are available access for free. Here are also some ideas about how to involve your children with household chores, something which helps them develop independency, sense of responsibility and much more: .Jobs for Kids Sheets