Parents sharing info about their children

[Kirstylob]

Hi,
I recently downloaded the 'Evaluation Schedule for Inspections and Registered Early Years Provision' and as part of 'how well the provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend' it says that part of the criteria is that practitioners 'help parents share what they know about their children'. Does this just mean the parents filling in the 'All about me' when the child starts? If not how do we help them share and how would we show this?
and under the same section does ' engage parents in their children's development and learning in the setting and at home' translate to building on experiences and achievements/interests done at home and in the setting?
I haven't quite tuned in to the Ofsted way of asking things yet!
Thanks for all your help.

[sarah707]

All about me - yes - but also keep asking for more info about the child's home and family / community experiences.

A lot of childminders do regular 'all about me now' documents to make sure they are up-to-date with what the child is doing at home.

engaging in learning - covers sharing a child's learning while with you so parents can follow it up at home.

I am sure all parents will love being told how to play with their children so we are all trying to come up with new and exciting ways of sharing without preaching.

I think you are doing just fine with Ofsted-speak!

[Kirstylob]

Thanks Sarah,
My DO did suggest last year that I send home a simple grid with the days of the week on and ask the parents to fill it in with an average week's activities. So that I could see what they regularly did together as a family or when they weren't with me, i.e ballet class, visit the library etc.
I did send it home and got them all back, perhaps it's time to do it again. All the children have grown up a bit more now and some new ones have arrived.
Thanks for making it clearer!

[clareg]

I send one of these home Termly xx

[sandy64]

thanks for sharing thats lovely would you mind if i took your idea and made my own

[sarah707]

I send one of these home Termly xx

Thank you for sharing Clare!

[clareg]

Welcome x help yourself ladies free to use it for personal use

[silvermist]

Thats really useful, thanks for sharing xxx

[miffy]

I send one of these home Termly xx

That's nice, thanks for sharing

Miffy xx

[danielleM41]

Hi,

All good suggestions so far. Just to add another option though...

I use some free software called Orbit Early Years. It allows you to collect evidence and do assessments and learning journeys etc all online, but what is really relevant here is that you can invite parents to join. If they join they can complete and update an "all about me" section, and they can also send you 'postcards' of what the lo does at home (which are really useful). They can also view the learning journey as it grows.

[Jo Jo]

Thanks for sharing

[kats]

Thank you for sharing

[eddie]

Perfect form! Thank you for sharing Clare, I'm going to put this out with my newsletter for parents!

[winstonian]

This is great, Thanks

[2kidsunder5]

I send one of these home Termly xx

I use this form too, we must be from the same area and had the same training, I posted it one here way back in September

[LinziH]

Thanks for sharing all this information, I have also been struggling with this this evening and feel all inspired again xx

[Kirstylob]

Thanks for sharing Clare, another idea pinched!!

[winstonian]

Thanks for sharing

[CMinderMandy]

Thankyou for sharing