Parental involvement policy

3. Parental involvement policy Polstead Playgroup believes that children benefit most from early years education and care when parents and settings work together in partnership. Therefore our playgroup is run by a Parent Management Committee and as such is reliant on parental involvement to be successful. Our aim Our aim is to support parents as their children's first and most important educators by involving them in their children's education and in the full life of the setting. We aim to support their essential work, not replace. Method In order to fulfil these aims, we: are committed to ongoing dialogue with parents to improve our knowledge of the needs of their children and to support their families; inform all parents about how the setting is run and its policies through access to written information and through regular informal communication. We check to ensure parents understand the information that is given to them. encourage and support parents to play an active part in the governance and management of the setting by being a member of the Parents Management Committee. Apart from that parents are encouraged to help at the playgroup through a parents’ rota or make other practical contributions e.g. mending books, visiting the library. inform all parents on a regular basis about their children's progress; involve parents in the shared record keeping about their children - either formally or informally - and ensure parents have access to their children's written developmental records. provide opportunities for parents to contribute their own skills, knowledge and interests to the activities of the setting; inform parents about relevant conferences, workshops and training; consult with parents about the times of meetings to avoid excluding anyone; provide verbal information about opportunities to be involved in the setting in ways that are accessible to parents with basic skills needs, or those for whom English is an additional language; hold meetings in venues that are accessible and appropriate for all; welcome the contributions of parents, in whatever form these may take; inform all parents of the systems for registering queries, complaints or suggestions and check to ensure these are understood. All parents have access to our written complaints procedure and Complaints Book. provide opportunities for parents to learn about the curriculum offered in the setting and about young children's learning, in the setting and at home. guide parents to the appropriate person if they have queries, concerns or suggestions. Operate a system of observation and record keeping for all the children, enabling us to monitor children’s needs and progress on an individual basis. In compliance with National Standard 12, the following documentation is in place: admissions policy complaints procedure record of complaints activities provided for children parental contract This policy was adopted at a meeting of Polstead Playgroup Oxford Held on Signed on behalf of the Management Committee Role of signatory