Parent Partnerships in the Early Years

by Fitzgerald, Damien

• ISBN13: 9780826468734
• ISBN10: 082646873X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-29
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

Summary

Both home and school play a crucial role in the long-term development of a young child, yet many children experience a disjunction between their two worlds. This book explores strategies for developing effective partnerships between teachers and parents for a more integrated approach.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(2)
The Move Towards Parental Partnerships	3	(4)
Historical influences	3	(4)
Partnership with Parents	7	(20)
The development of parental partnerships	7	(2)
What are the benefits of family partnerships?	9	(4)
The role of practitioners in developing effective partnerships	13	(7)
Communication	20	(2)
Models of partnership	22	(5)
Strategies for Working with Families	27	(28)
Policies and procedures	27	(1)
Home visits	28	(1)
Transitions into early years settings	29	(5)
Parent conferences	34	(2)
Learning portfolios	36	(1)
Information sessions/workshops	37	(3)
Video-stimulated reflection	40	(2)
Family events	42	(1)
Newsletters	43	(1)
Setting information sheets	44	(1)
Home learning	45	(4)
Involving the family and community in the learning environment	49	(2)
Informal opportunities for interaction	51	(1)
Key worker system	52	(1)
Transition into school	52	(3)
Working with Fathers	55	(14)
The role of fathers in families	55	(3)
Barriers to father involvement	58	(3)
Promoting the involvement of fathers	61	(8)
Creating Partnerships: Overcoming Barriers	69	(18)
Valuing diversity: creating an inclusive setting	69	(3)
Gay-and lesbian-headed families	72	(2)
Creating positive attitudes	74	(4)
Resolving conflict	78	(2)
Supporting families during life transitions	80	(1)
Levels of involvement	81	(6)
Evaluation and Self-reflection	87	(6)
Parental partnerships: identifying the next steps	87	(6)
Conclusion	93	(2)
References	95