ABSTRACT

Partnership with Parents in Early Childhood Settings examines how practitioners can work effectively with parents and families, acknowledging the complex nature of these relationships. Drawing on policy, research and practice from kindergartens and early years settings in five European countries, it provides insight into how political, social and cultural contexts affect the relationships between educators and families and the impact this has on children’s early experiences.

The book is based upon learning from an Erasmus mobility project between educators from five countries in OMEP (the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education). It presents examples from practice and research from the different countries and highlights some positive and practical ways in which professionals can work with parents, as well as potential barriers to parental partnership and how these might be overcome. Each section focuses on a different country and allows for a detailed exploration into how relationships are developed and sustained for the benefit of young children and their families in different places. Throughout, the reader is encouraged to reflect on their current understanding of parental partnership and how they can plan for positive parental partnership working in the future. 

This thought-provoking text will be an indispensable resource for students of early childhood and teachers and practitioners, as well as academics and those with an interest in early years social and educational policy.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

part One|33 pages

England

chapter 1|10 pages

Policy

A divided context? Early childhood education and care in England

chapter 2|8 pages

Examples from Practice

Parents as partners in private nursery provision in England

chapter 3|13 pages

Insights from Research

Models of partnership with parents in early childhood settings in England

part Two|26 pages

Understanding family–school relationships in Croatia

chapter 4|6 pages

Policy Context

Early childhood education and care in Croatia

chapter 5|6 pages

Examples from Practice

Partnering and/or cooperating in Croatia

chapter 6|12 pages

Insights from Research

Collaborative competences of kindergarten teachers

part Three|35 pages

Norway

chapter 7|6 pages

Policy Context

Early childhood and care in Norway

chapter 8|17 pages

Examples from Practice

Kidsa Øvsttun – nature as an arena for learning through wonder, sense and movement

chapter 9|10 pages

Insights from Research

“Translating” the kindergarten to international parents

part Four|20 pages

Greece

chapter 10|5 pages

Policy Context

Early childhood education and care in Greece

chapter 12|7 pages

Insights from Research

Greece: a small-scale exploratory study exploring Greek practitioners’ views on partnership with parents and families of young children

part Five|38 pages

Poland

chapter 13|8 pages

Policy Context

Pre-school education in Poland

chapter 14|12 pages

Practice in Poland – A New Dimension of Professionalisation

The teacher cooperating with families

chapter 15|16 pages

Insights from Research – Kindergarten in Poland

Parental responsibility versus teacher responsibility

part |14 pages

Conclusion

chapter 16|12 pages

Learning from each other

Comparisons and ways forward