ABSTRACT
The foundation curriculum recognises the important role parents hold when it describes them as partners (p. 9). It requires each early years setting to establish an effective partnership with parents and describes the features of such a partnership in the following way:
respect and understanding for the role of parents is shown;
the part played by parents in their children's education is recognised and encouraged;
parents' accounts of their children's learning are listened to;
time and flexibility is there to allow children to settle;
parents are made to feel welcome, valued and necessary;
the knowledge and expertise of parents is used;
parents are kept fully informed in a variety of ways;
progress and achievement is recorded and discussed with parents;
learning activities are continued at home.
